Yachtmaster Prep (Sail) - Practical Course
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Questions Answered
Who Is This Course For?
The RYA Coastal Skipper (Sail) course is for skippers with previous Skipper experience.
Learn advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women. With considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.
RYA Coastal skipper Practical Course is the follow-on course from the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course.
Learn To Sail with Yacht Sail Training RYA Courses.
Become a RYA Coastal Skipper with a recognised RYA Sailing school and Learn to skipper on coastal passages by day and night with an RYA instructor on hand. To give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety.
Virtually all the course is hands on. This is very much a Practical Sail Training course.
Pre-course experience – RYA Coastal Skipper (Practical)
In order to complete the RYA Coastal Skipper course it is required to have spent the following time onboard a sailing yacht:
- Pre-course experience: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8-night hours
- Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shore based Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore
- Minimum duration: 5 days. (For longer periods check out Yacht Sail Training Private Tuition)
- Minimum age: 17*
- Course content: Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations
- Ability after the course: Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night
Students should have RYA theory level knowledge too RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory prior to joining this course.
Pre Course – Assumed knowledge
- Pre-course experience: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8-night hours
- Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shore based Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore
It is strongly recommended students should have completed:
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory prior to joining this course.
There is sadly not enough time onboard during a 5 or even 7 day practical training course to also teach 50+ hours of RYA Coastal Skipper Theory.
Please consider completing the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory either online or in a classroom before joining This course.
What Certificate Will I Recieve?
On successful completion you will receive:
RYA Coastal 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 Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Skipper shore-based 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:
Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
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 – 17*
*Yacht Sail Training however does have a 18 year old age limit for group courses.
Students under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Under 18 are only accepted on private courses.
For students younger than 17 please consider RYA Day Skipper or RYA Competent Crew Competent Crew Practical Courses or our Private Yacht Training Courses.
After Successful Completion:
On successful completion of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical, This Is the last step before heading off on your own to gain some mileage and further experience before you then consider taking the Yachtmaster Exams.
Please also consider:
You may require to apply for an ICC and a VHF license 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 Coastal 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,
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)
