What Is The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical?

What is the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical? This week’s blog tells you everything you need to know and answers any questions you may have. In a previous blog, we discussed RYA Yachtmaster Theory and how it builds upon your established Day Skipper Theory knowledge. The same idea applies to the topic of this week’s blog. It will build upon everything you have learned up to this point and encourages mile-building.

Do you actually need to have completed the prior courses to do RYA Coastal Skipper Practical?

In theory, you don’t have to have completed the prior course to take RYA Coastal Skipper Practical. However, with a course of this level it’s important you do meet the minimum requirements in terms of experience and knowledge. It’s recommended you have 15 days (2 as skipper), 300 miles, and 8 night hours. Your level of experience should now be approaching that required for the Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence. It is also just as important that your theory is up to the standard of Day Skipper and Yachtmaster theory. This course does not have time built in to teach basic seamanship and navigational skills. It’s aim it to teach you how to apply these skills as a skipper of a yacht.

What Is The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical?

Much like the Day Skipper course the Coastal Skipper course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations however there is more emphasis on passage making. The course will take place at least over a consecutive five day. You can use this qualification to obtain an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) by sending the certificate to the RYA with an application form.

What can I expect to do?

If your doing Coastal Skipper it should be a given you already know and understand the basic and more advanced level sailing skills. The idea behind this course is to build on those skills. When compared to Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper will provide a relatively tough week of sailing. Your skills will be pushed and there will be a fair amount of night sailing. You will be assessed by your instructor during the whole five days with certificates of satisfactory completion awarded to those who pass.

For a more detailed look at the course syllabus please see the like below.

www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/coastal-skipper

Where will we be Sailing?

Much like most of our courses, you will sail around The Solent. However, as this course is all about making passages it is very likely you will sail further afield to places such as Weymouth and Brighton. Dependent on the weather you could cross the Channel to France or The Channel Islands.

Will I Need To Bring Any Equipment? 

If you are a seasoned sailor or have completed the prior course you should already have everything you’re going to need. Just remember First Class Sailing will provide you with state-of-the-art Waterproofs free of charge alongside safety equipment such as lifejackets and harnesses. If You want to make sure you have everything covered you can find a full list of equipment you may need for your course on each course information page. Items range from simple such as clothing, sleeping bags, and pillows. To more specialist equipment such as Non-slip/non-marking waterproof sailing boots.

What skills will I have after the course?

After you pass and have your certificate you will be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. Finally, you can choose to develop your skills further. At this stage in your learning, the path you now choose is very flexible with several further course options available. You can find more information about course options by following the link below.

www.firstclasssailing.com/first-class-sailing-rya-course-progression-plan

Want to get started?

If you are interested in taking RYA Day Skipper Practical click here to see availability and dates. You can also E-mail info@firstclasssailing.com or call 0203 006 3717

Find out more about this course by following the link below. 

www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/coastal-skipper

Posted by: First Class Sailing