RYA Day Skipper (Sail) - Practical Course
Questions Answered
Who Is This Course For?
The Rya Day Skipper Sailing course is for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills, looking to learn to sail and charter yachts.
Learn To Sail with Yacht Sail Training RYA Courses.
Become a RYA Day Skipper with a recognised RYA Sailing school and Learn to skipper a short passage with an RYA instructor on hand. To give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety.
Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn't.
Virtually all the course is hands on. This is very much a Practical Sail Training course.
Pre-course experience - RYA Day Skipper (Practical)
In order to complete this RYA course it is required to have spent the following time onboard a sailing yacht:
- 5 Days Sailing (As an active crew member)
- 100 Nautical Miles Of Sailing.
- Experienced 4 Night Hours of Sailing
- Completed the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course (Online or Classroom) OR have sailing theory knowledge to Day Skipper level before commencing the course.
Students generally complete the RYA Competent Crew Practical course prior to this course and then the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course before joining.
Pre Course - Assumed knowledge
Basic navigation, helmsmanship.
It is recommended that you complete the RYA Day Skipper shore-based course before taking this practical course so you have the theory knowledge to complete the course.
There is sadly not enough time onboard during a 5 or even 7 day practical training course to also teach 40 hours of RYA Day Skipper Theory.
Please consider completing the RYA Day Skipper Theory online or in a classroom before joining.
What Certificate Will I Recieve?
On successful completion you will receive:
RYA Day Skipper Sailing Qualification.
RYA Day Skipper courses can be taken in either sail or motor yachts (This course is specifically for Sail) and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.
This is very much a hands-on course with little time to teach navigation or other theoretical subjects.
It is therefore recommended that you take the RYA Day Skipper shorebased course prior to your practical course so you can put those skills into practice on the water.
Course content
- Preparation for sea
- Deck work
- Navigation & Pilotage,
- Meteorology
- Rules of the road
- Maintenance & repair work onboard
- Engines checks & maintenance
- Victualling
- Emergency situations
- Yacht handling under power
- Yacht handling under sail
- Passage making
- Night cruising
Ability after the course:
Pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and navigation, Can skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day
Minimum duration
This course is ran over 5 Days.
All your time is spent onboard throughout the course.
You will be sleeping and living onboard.
If you prefer a longer period onboard check out our Private Yacht Training Courses.
Minimum age - 16*
*Yacht Sail Training however does have a 18 year old age limit for group courses.
Students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on And Are only accepted on private courses.
For students younger than 16 please consider RYA Competent Crew Practical Courses or our Private Yacht Training Courses.
After Successful Completion:
On successful completion of the RYA Day Skipper Practical the next stage would be the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory Course followed by RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
Once completed this will then enable you to charter your own yacht in the future.
RYA Day Skipper is one of the minimum requirements for chartering a yacht in alot of countries.
Please also consider:
You may require to apply for an ICC and a VHF license on completion of the RYA Day Skipper practical course in order to use your qualification when chartering a yacht.
ICC Certificate:
The ICC is available free to all RYA members who are UK residents.
Working Commercially With RYA Day Skipper Qualification:
If you need a Day Skipper certificate in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed.
You can then work on commercial vessels up to 24m in length, operating in category 5 and 6 waters - that is up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point in fine weather and daylight.
Please note: If you will be working in category 5 waters, you will need to hold both the shorebased and practical Day Skipper certificates, and get them commercially endorsed.
If you hold a non-tidal Day Skipper certificate and want to work in category 6 waters, you will also need to hold the Day Skipper shore based theory certificate.
Further information regarding category waters can be found here: 'Where you can work with RYA qualifications' has further information on the categorisation of waters.
Where Will We Sail?
During the course you will visit some some if the 1000 islands in Croatia that will include the islands of Brac, Solta, Hvar and Vis all weather dependent, but expect to have an enjoyable training holiday.
Cruising / Training Islands / ports:
Split, Brac, Solta, Hvar, Pakleni Islands and occasionally Vis island also depending on weather conditions. Each night is spent in a new port, anchorage or marina.
Do We Offer - Private Yacht Training? - YES
You are able to charter the whole yacht for yourself so you can take your RYA courses in a more relaxed environment with more one to one training.
Most RYA courses are allowed a maximum of 5 students onboard + your RYA Instructor.
Price includes:
Included:
- Travel to the marina and any optional Island tours and water taxis if you decide you wanted to do them after a day’s sailing.
- Food Provisioning & Moorings
Do you take deposits?
Yes we can accept deposits for all courses that are more than 120 days prior to Embarkation.
We normally request a 30% deposit for these bookings.
Remaining balance must be paid on or before the 120 days before Embarkation.
Where Do We Embark?
Milna (Brac Island)
In 2023 Yacht Sail Training is moving its home base to Milna on the Island of Brac. To allows us to expand the sailing courses we offer.
Milna is an amazing port with a great vibe, restaurants, bars, good shelter and as it is away from the mainland also some amazingly clean beaches.
Brac island is a short ferry ride away from Split Old town ferry (30 - 60 minutes) with up to 30 crossings a day either direct to Milna or too Supetar.
Note: A taxi on the island may be required if travelling too Supetar.
See our how to get to Milna information in the booking system.
Do You Offer Classroom Courses?
In 2023 - Yes We will be offering various classroom courses.
Including: RYA Day Skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore & VHF Courses.
Check back as dates for Shorebased courses will be released soon.
Shoreside Accomodation In Milna (Brac Island)?
Yes - We also offer shoreside accommodation within Milna allowing you to arrive a few days earlier or stay for a few days after.
Note: Accomodation in July & August can fill up quick everywhere in Croatia.
All accommodation we offer in Milna is a short walk to the marina (up to 15minutes walk away)
Can We Embark Elsewhere?
Yes - We are able to offer this for Private Training Courses allowing you to embark on the mainland from Marina Kastela, Split, Trogir or Marina Baotic or from a local islands including Hvar, Solta and also Vis.
Note: There is an extra transfer charge for this. Please email us for further details*.
Why not consider a Speedboat pick up from the mainland to Milna instead?*
Contact us directly for more information.
*Transfer charge is approx €750
**Private speedboat from mainland approx €250 (one way)
