RYA Practical & Theory Sailing Courses

RYA Course Details and Syllabus

Read all about the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) scheme and its Theory and Practical Courses with Certificates for Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper as well as the Yacht Master Exams. Whether you are a first-timer wanting to be a useful crew member, or an experienced skipper wanting to expand your skills or obtain an internationally recognised certificate of competence, there is an RYA course for you.

RYA Practical Courses

The RYA Sail Cruising Scheme comprises a series of onboard practical courses, each one of which is complemented by a theoretical course that can be done either onshore or onboard. You can use the courses to simply increase your knowledge and confidence, or as a progression to the RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide.

The ideal introduction is the two-day 'Start Yachting' practical course and/or the two day 'Basic Navigation and Safety' theory course. Following which, courses generally take place over seven days. The minimum duration for most RYA practical courses is five days. We prefer to do these courses over seven days, to allow plenty time for teaching and some time for leisure activities. Please remember to take this into account when comparing fees with other establishments!

You can enter our programmer at any level, provided that you have the correct level of experience beforehand. But be realistic when assessing your current experience and abilities and if in doubt, discuss your requirements with your chosen training centre before booking your course.

RYA Theory Course Details

The RYA's navigation and seamanship theory courses are designed to help you unravel the mysteries of navigation, pilotage, passage planning and meteorology. They are great as stand alone courses, but also complement the various practical training courses. Whether you are a sailor or a motor boater, these courses equip would-be and experienced skippers with enough theoretical knowledge to go afloat and take charge of a yacht. The next logical step is to attend an RYA practical course to put these skills into practice.

Chartering and Cruising Abroad

If you want to charter or cruise abroad you are likely to need certification, often in the form of an RYA Certificate of Competence. You should also be aware of the local requirements for skippers, boats and licences wherever you go, and if possible, take with you translations of the certificates that you hold.

Basic Navigation and Safety Theory Course

In September 2007 the RYA launched a new two-day Basic Navigation and Safety course.

The course is aimed at a wide audience, including anyone new to sailing, motor boating, sea angling and diving as well as experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

Mindful of the fact that people are increasingly short of time for leisure pursuits the RYA have taken a new approach, aiming to give students an awareness and knowledge of basic navigation techniques and safety in just 16 hours.

This course is the perfect stepping stone to the more in-depth Day Skipper shore based course, or to courses on the water, such as the Start Yachting, Competent Crew or Day Skipper practical courses.

This course can be taken onshore as a stand alone course or it can be combined with a Start Yachting or Competent Crew practical course if required.

Start Yachting Practical Course

This course provides a short introduction to sailing on a cruising yacht. By the end of the course you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, rope work and be aware of safety on board. 

Competent Crew Practical Course

This course is for those who would like to become active crew members. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, handle a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines.

Day Skipper Theory Course

A comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship. Invaluable for learning how to make decisions on board and particularly useful if you are considering taking the Day Skipper practical course.

Day Skipper Practical Course

This five-day course gives you the chance to take charge on short passages under instruction. You will concentrate on pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and navigation. The course will be taken in tidal waters and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Course

This course is ideal for candidates for the Coastal Skipper practical course and Yachtmaster Offshore exam. Some revision of the Day Skipper theory course is included, plus more advanced skills in offshore and coastal navigation by day and by night, along with pilotage and meteorology.

Coastal Skipper Practical Course

This is a five-day advanced skippering course for those who have knowledge of sailing and navigation and want to undertake coastal passages by day and by night. Each student will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and by night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. The course will be taken in tidal waters and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Coastal Skipper Examination

The Coastal Skipper has the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and the Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the RYA web shop.

Coastal Skipper practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.

The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology and signals. Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shore based courses up to Coastal Skipper level.

Please refer to Appendix 3 for Notes on Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Exams
Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation Course (5 Days)

An RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is recognised worldwide as a highly respected qualification, proving your experience and competence as a skipper.

There is no formal training course leading up to the exam, i if you have sufficient experience and sea time, you can put yourself forward for the exam. However, those who have not previously taken RYA courses often find it useful to have a structured preparation course at an RYA centre prior to their exam. This preparation can be tailor-made for specific needs and helps to fill any knowledge gaps that may become apparent. It can also help to prevent a nasty disappointment!  

Yachtmaster Offshore Examination

The Yachtmaster Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour.

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the web shop.

Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.

See Appendices 1 & 2 for the definition of a passage and suitable boat requirements

Before you book your exam please check that you have:

1. arranged for the provision of a suitable boat
2. completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
3. obtained the necessary certificates
4. read the syllabus in RYA publications; G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
5. read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

If you need a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven.

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.

Please refer to Appendix 3 for Notes on Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Exams

Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

This course covers astro-navigation, worldwide meteorology and passage planning, and unravels the mysteries of the sextant.

Yachtmaster Ocean Examination 

A person holding a  Yachtmaster Ocean qualification is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world.

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and the Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the RYA web shop.

The Yachtmaster Ocean exam is an oral and written test of your knowledge of ocean passage making including planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management, yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs. You will also be questioned on your sights taken at sea during an ocean passage.

Oral Exam - The candidate must provide the examiner with:

1. A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage
2. Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passages, out of sight of land showing that the candidate has navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids.

The records must include as a minimum: planning, reduction and plotting of a sun run meridian altitude sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet.

During the oral test the candidate may be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, astro navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.

Written Exam - The written exam will include questions on star sight planning and reduction and worldwide meteorology. Candidates who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shore based certificate, Royal Navy Ocean Navigation Certificate or a DoT Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer will be exempt from the written examination.

Before you book your exam please check that you have:

1. completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
2. obtained the necessary certificates
3. read the syllabus in RYA publications: G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
4. read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

If you need a Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.

The Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.

Appendix 1

Definition of a Passage

•  Qualifying passages for Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean should be non stop by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. Passages such as recognised races which may not comply exactly with these requirements may be submitted to the RYA for approval before the voyage.

•  Trainee skippers undertaking 60 mile passages are strongly advised to obtain a Coastal Skipper qualification first.

•  For Ocean passages the following definition will apply.

"Throughout the passage the candidate must have acted in a responsible capacity either in sole charge of a watch or as skipper."

•  Candidates for the Ocean examination will be given the examiners instructions.

•  Ocean candidates may take their sights on a shorter passage than the qualifying passage. The Examiner must determine whether the candidate is competent at astro navigation.

Appendix 2

Suitable Boat Requirements

The boat used for the exam must be between 7m (23ft) and 24m (78ft) and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA book Cruising Yacht Safety (code C8). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications and be efficiently crewed, as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.

Appendix 3

Notes on Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Exams

Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster® Offshore - What's the Difference?

The definition of a Yachtmaster is: 'A yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astronavigation'.  

Yachtmasters should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night.

A Coastal Skipper has 'the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises, but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages'.

In other words, the theory is the same for both, but less practical experience and skill is required for the Coastal Skipper exam.  

Pre-exam Experience

As with any exam, the more practice you have beforehand, the more confident you will feel. Before your exam, be more adventurous than the usual weekend trip to your favourite anchorage. Enter some new harbours to refine your pilotage. Attempt the occasional night entry and be aware of the problems.

There is no requirement for you to attend an RYA course before your exam. However, it is often worth receiving some tuition, if only to find out your  strengths and weaknesses. Many centres offer an exam preparation service.

What Happens During an Exam?

Your RYA examiner will meet you onboard and talk you through the plan for the day. He understands that you could be nervous and will do his best to allay your fears and make sure you are clear about what he wants you to do. He is there to find out what you can do, rather than pick holes.

You will be asked to undertake a short passage, but you may have to plan a longer one. In general, you should skipper the yacht in your normal style. If this means putting the kettle on every half hour, then do it!    

Navigation

You must know your position reasonably accurately throughout the exam, but don't make the mistake of being so busy plotting fixes that you forget to look around you. Often, a quick glance on deck will confirm your position from a buoy or transit.

Make sure you know how to use a GPS, but there is no need to over-navigate.

You will usually be given practical problems involving tidal streams and heights. Make life easy for yourself and look them up beforehand - it's not cheating. Practice a few tidal calculations so you are happy with the methods you are going to use.  

Boat Handling

You need to know how your boat will react, its turning circle and any predictable quirks to its handling. There will be some close quarters manoeuvring, usually in a harbour, to demonstrate your skills at berthing and leaving pontoons, piles or moorings. Sailing yachts will complete this section under power, but make sure you practice manoeuvring under sail too, picking up mooring buoys and short tacking.  

Your examiner isn't looking for first-time-every-time success, but you will need to demonstrate competence and a good understanding of how the boat reacts at slow speed. Don't hesitate to change sails or reef, if you think it is necessary for the task.

Previous experience in a variety of conditions will be your biggest help in all these situations.  

Man Overboard

Exams almost always include a man overboard recovery exercise. The multitude of methods for this can be confusing, but pick one that works for you and your boat. However it's done, you must end up with the yacht stopped next to the man in the water. If you're sailing, check with your examiner whether you should handle the boat with or without the engine.  

Safety

Make sure you understand and follow safety procedures, and give a safety brief. If you decide that harnesses should be worn at night, take your own advice.  

Meteorology

Listen to the forecast before your exam and be prepared for questions about the current weather and how this might affect a passage plan. Understand how weather systems influence sea conditions and how to plan based on this knowledge. The type of boat and strengths of your crew can have a bearing on decisions based on the weather, so your examiner may ask you to consider various possibilities. There is rarely a definitive answer, so it is your informed opinions that are required.  

Skippering Ability

This is where your experience and knowledge will really show. Whether you are fully in command of the yacht is the most important assessment that your examiner will make.

A good skipper leads the crew and communicates with them, making sure they understand what is going on and listening to them when they have something to say. They do not shout a stream of commands, leaving their crew in a quivering mess. Quiet competence instills confidence, helping your crew feel safe in the knowledge that the right decisions are being made.  

Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster® Offshore - What's the Difference?

The definition of a Yachtmaster is: 'A yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astronavigation'.  

Yachtmasters should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night.

A Coastal Skipper has 'the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises, but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages'.

In other words, the theory is the same for both, but less practical experience and skill is required for the Coastal Skipper exam.

For more details refer RYA - www.RYA.org.uk

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