# First Class Sailing > First Class Sailing is an RYA Recognised Training Centre, founded in 2000, that runs RYA practical sailing courses from Southampton on the Solent and RYA theory courses in Southampton, London and online. It also runs skippered sailing holidays, weekend trips, mile-building passages, offshore yacht racing and yacht charter in the UK and abroad. Key facts: - Practical courses and trips start from Shamrock Quay, Southampton. Classroom theory courses also run in London at the Cruising Association, Limehouse Basin. - Courses cover the RYA yachting scheme from Competent Crew (for complete beginners) through Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper to Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean, plus one-day courses such as VHF Radio, Sea Survival and First Aid. - Under the "Triple S" Guarantee, students who do not pass an RYA practical course first time are given further opportunities to pass free of charge (terms apply). - Dates and prices change often; the Dates & Prices page is the source of truth for current availability. - Contact: +44 23 8001 1077, info@firstclasssailing.com. First Class Sailing Ltd, Shamrock Quay, William St, Southampton, SO14 5QL, United Kingdom. ## Choosing a course - [Sailing Courses for Beginners](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-courses-for-beginners): Where to start with no sailing experience. - [Sailing Courses for Intermediates](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-courses-for-intermediates): Next steps for sailors with some experience or a Competent Crew certificate. - [Sailing Courses for Experts](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-courses-for-experts): Advanced courses and Yachtmaster preparation for experienced skippers. - [All RYA Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses): Overview of every RYA practical, theory, one-day and online course. ## RYA practical courses (Southampton and the Solent) - [RYA Practical Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-practical-courses): All on-the-water RYA courses, from Competent Crew to Yachtmaster. - [Competent Crew](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/competent-crew): 5-day live-aboard course for complete beginners. - [Day Skipper Practical](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/day-skipper-practical): Learn to skipper a yacht on short passages in familiar waters. - [Day Skipper Theory and Practical Combined](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/RYA-day-skipper-theory-and-practical-combined): Day Skipper theory and practical booked together. - [Coastal Skipper](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/coastal-skipper): Skippering on longer coastal and offshore passages. - [Yachtmaster Offshore](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/yachtmaster-offshore): Preparation for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical exam. ## RYA theory courses (Southampton, London and online) - [RYA Theory Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-theory-courses): All classroom theory courses covering navigation, tides, weather and collision regulations. - [Day Skipper Theory](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/day-skipper-theory-course): Classroom navigation course in Southampton or London. - [Yachtmaster Theory](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/yachtmaster-theory-course): Advanced navigation, passage planning, COLREGs and meteorology. - [Online Sailing Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-online-sailing-courses): RYA theory courses taken online at your own pace. - [London Sailing Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/london-sailing-courses): Theory and one-day courses at the Cruising Association in Limehouse, London. ## One-day RYA courses - [One Day RYA Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/one-day-rya-courses): All single-day courses, including VHF Radio, Sea Survival, First Aid, Diesel Engine and Radar. - [VHF Radio Course](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/vhf-radio-course): RYA Short Range Certificate course for marine VHF radio operators. - [Sea Survival Course](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/sea-survival-course): Liferaft and survival training, including a practical pool session. - [First Aid at Sea](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/first-aid-at-sea): RYA First Aid course for sailors. ## Sailing holidays, weekends and mile building - [All Sailing Holidays](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-holidays): Overview of all skippered sailing holidays and adventures. - [Weekend Sailing](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/weekend-sailing): Weekend trips from Southampton, including Channel hops, boat handling and taster weekends. - [UK Sailing Holidays](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/uk-sailing-holidays): Sailing holidays along the UK coast, including the Isles of Scilly, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. - [Sailing Holidays Abroad](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-holidays-abroad): Sailing holidays outside the UK. - [Caribbean Sailing Holidays](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-holidays/caribbean-sailing-holidays): Winter sailing holidays in the Caribbean. - [Norway Sailing Adventures](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/adventure/norway-sailing-adventures): Fjord and offshore sailing in Norway on a Challenger 72. - [Atlantic Ocean Sailing](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/3-atlantic-ocean-sailing-adventures): Ocean crossings and long offshore passages. - [Mile Building Trips](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/mile-building-sailing-trips): Offshore passages for logging sea miles towards RYA qualifications. - [Duke of Edinburgh Sailing](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/dofe/duke-of-edinburgh-awards-sailing): DofE Gold Residential sailing course. ## Yacht racing - [Yacht Racing](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/yacht-racing): Join a crew for offshore and inshore races. - [Rolex Fastnet Race](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/racing/fastnet-race): Crew places for the Fastnet Race. - [ARC Rally](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/racing/arc-rally): Crew places for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. - [Round the Island Race](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/racing/round-the-island-race): Crew places for the Round the Island Race around the Isle of Wight. ## Yacht charter - [Charter Options](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/skippered-charter): Skippered and bareboat yacht charter from Southampton. ## Dates, prices and booking - [Dates & Prices](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/dates-and-prices): Searchable schedule of upcoming courses, holidays and races with prices and availability. - [Gift Vouchers](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/gift-vouchers): Sailing gift vouchers for courses and experiences. ## About and contact - [About First Class Sailing](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/about-first-class-sailing): Company history, instructors and facilities. - [Triple S Guarantee](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/first-class-sailing-triple-s-guarantee): Full terms of the service, satisfaction and success guarantee. - [Contact Us](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/contact-us): Enquiry form, phone and email. ## Optional - [Blog](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/blog/): Sailing news, tips and course guidance articles. - [Southampton Sailing Courses](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/southampton-sailing-courses-on-the-solent): About sailing on the Solent from the Southampton base. - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.firstclasssailing.com/terms-and-conditions): Booking terms and cancellation policy.