What to Expect on an RYA Competent Crew Course: A Day-by-Day Guide
Updated: 27 March 2026.
If you’re considering learning to sail, you may be wondering what to expect on an RYA Competent Crew course. For many people, this is their first experience of life on board a yacht, and it’s designed specifically for complete beginners.
This guide walks through a typical course step by step, from your first evening on board through to your final day. You’ll get a clear picture of what you’ll learn, how each day works, and what it’s like to live and sail as part of a crew.
If you’re thinking about booking, you can also view our RYA Competent Crew course in Southampton to see upcoming dates and options.
🎥 Watch this short video to see what a Competent Crew course is like in practice:
What Is the RYA Competent Crew Course?
The RYA Competent Crew course is a 5-day practical sailing course designed for complete beginners. It’s theideal starting point if you want to learn how to sail, build confidence on the water, and become a useful member of a crew.
The course takes place on board a modern cruising yacht, where you’ll live and sail throughout the week. You’ll gain hands-on experience in helming, sail handling, ropework, and onboard safety, while also learning what life is like at sea.
- No previous sailing experience required
- Taught by experienced RYA instructors
- Liveaboard training on the Solent from Southampton
- Includes food, accommodation, and safety equipment
👉 For full details, including course dates and options, see our RYA Competent Crew course in Southampton.
For more insights on what to expect on an RYA Competent Crew course, check out our detailed breakdown.
What to Expect on an RYA Competent Crew Course – Day by Day
Here’s what a typical week looks like on an RYA Competent Crew course, from your first evening on board through to your final day.
Joining the Yacht (Evening Before)
You’ll usually arrive around 8pm the evening before your course starts. This gives you time to meet your instructor and fellow crew mates, get settled on board, and familiarise yourself with the yacht.
After a short briefing about the week ahead — including where you might sail and the expected conditions — you’ll stow your gear and settle in for your first night on board.
‘Down below’ on a yacht
🧭 Day 1: Safety and Sailing Basics
After breakfast, the course begins with a safety briefing, including lifejackets, harnesses, and essential onboard procedures.
You’ll learn:
- key parts of the boat and their functions
- how to handle lines and fenders
- basic knots such as the clove hitch and figure of eight
- how to raise and lower sails
By mid-morning, you’ll head out for your first sail, passing under the Itchen Bridge and into Southampton Water before reaching the Solent.
The pace is steady, giving you time to settle in, try steering, and get comfortable moving around the boat. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at your first marina, ready for supper on board and your first full day complete.
👉 For a more detailed breakdown of what you’ll learn, see our guide to the RYA Competent Crew syllabus explained.
🌊 Day 2: Learning the Ropes
With the basics in place, day two focuses on developing your sailing skills.
On day three, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what to expect on an RYA Competent Crew course as you practice new skills.
You’ll practise:
- tacking and gybing
- points of sail
- additional knots such as the bowline and sheet bend
- reefing in stronger winds
You’ll also begin to understand how to handle the boat when coming alongside and leaving marinas.
By now, you should have a good grasp of what to expect on an RYA Competent Crew course.
Down wind sailing on a Competent Crew course
⛵ Day 3: Building Confidence on the Water
By now, you’ll feel more comfortable aboard. Expect more sailing and seamanship exercises:
- Practising sail trim and points of sail
- Man overboard recovery drill (yes, it’s as important as it sounds! – But don’t worry – no one has to go into the water).
- Introduction to charts, navigation, and buoyage
- Taking more initiative as part of the crew
Again you will dock somewhere new — often in another picturesque harbour or marina — where you might enjoy a walk ashore or another cozy dinner onboard. Other places in to stop of at include Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, Lymington, Portsmouth Harbour and Newtown Creek.
As an aside, it is worth mentioning that the Competent Crew course is designed by the RYA and part of a recognised scheme that enables people to progress and advance in their sailing know how. We have a ‘course progression guide’ so you can see what the other courses are and how they fit in with each other.
💨 Day 4: Crewing Skills – Seamanship in Action
This is the day where everything starts to click.
You’ll put your knowledge into action:
- Tacking and gybing with confidence
- Getting to grips with weather forecasts
- Learning to reef (reduce sail) in stronger winds
- Practising anchoring and weighing anchor
- Helming
- Keeping a good watch and adhering to the rules of the road
You’ll rotate roles with your fellow crew members — a there are chances to lead small tasks and grow your confidence.
Visiting Yarmouth on a Competent Crew course
🏁 Day 5: Final Sail & Competence Check
Your final day is all about consolidating skills and showing how far you’ve come.
You’ll:
- Handle sail hoists, tacks, and gybes. You may well not need any prompting at this stage
- Take the helm with more independence and steer a course by looking at the compass
- Have chances to show your understanding of the rules of the road
- Assist with final berthing and yacht tidying
At the end of the day, your instructor will debrief you and the crew. There’s no formal test — assessment is ongoing throughout the course — and assuming you’ve taken part and demonstrated the basics, you’ll be awarded the RYA Competent Crew certificate.
What Should You Bring on a Competent Crew Course?
Here’s a simple packing list for your RYA Competent Crew course. You don’t need specialist gear — just practical clothing and a few essentials.
- Sleeping bag & pillow
- Warm, layered clothing (weather can change quickly)
- Non-marking shoes (deck shoes or trainers). Sailing wellies are a good thing to have and these can be purchased in the chandlery in Shamrock Quay for around £45. (Or any other chandlery).
- Waterproofs – we can supply these free of charge.
- Toiletries & towel
- Headtorch (optional, but useful!)
- A sense of adventure
A full kit list will be provided before your course.
👉 For a more detailed checklist, see our guide on what to pack for a Competent Crew course.
Student Experience: Richard’s Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Just passed my RYA Competent Crew with Paul – excellent instruction, made wonderfully fun with his top humour. What a great way to learn yacht sailing – a different marina every night, comfortable berths on board a brand new boat, and tremendous company to boot. Even me losing a treasured hat to the wind triggered a full (and successful) ‘man overboard’ drill – priceless!”
The boat(s)
Here is a tour of one of the boats you would likely do a Competent Crew course on:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Competent Crew Course
Do I need any experience to join?
No! The course is designed for complete beginners.
Will I get seasick?
Some people do, this can happen on the first day — but most adjust quickly. Bring seasickness tablets if you’re concerned.
Do we sleep on the boat?
Yes — it’s part of the fun! You’ll have a berth (bed) onboard and share communal spaces like the galley and heads (toilets).
What if the weather is bad?
Courses go ahead in most conditions, and you’ll learn to reef and sail safely in various weather. If it’s dangerous, your instructor will adjust plans.
For more detailed answers, see our Competent Crew course FAQs guide.
Is the RYA Competent Crew Course Right for You?
The RYA Competent Crew course is more than a sailing qualification — it’s an unforgettable experience. You’ll learn practical skills, gain confidence on the water, and share adventures with a small group of like-minded people. Whether you dream of crossing oceans or just want to try something new, this is where it all begins. Many of our students go on to the more advanced courses and then to charter yachts in places like the Med. Some go on to sail much further a field and we even have some alumni who having started with Competent Crew have gone on to sail around the world.
👉 Ready to Take the Helm?
If you’re ready to learn to sail, the next step is choosing a date that works for you.
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- Beginner-friendly, no experience required
- Liveaboard training on the Solent
- Small groups for more hands-on learning
Courses are run over 5 consecutive days, (either a Monday to Friday or occasionally a Wednesday to Sunday), or over 2 weekends (a 2 day and a 3 day weekend).
