Coastal Skipper Practical Course

The Coastal Skipper  5 day course provides intensive instruction to develop the skills required to skipper a sailing yacht on longer passages. Practical experience to Day Skipper level and beyond is assumed and expected as a prerequisite. Similarly, good knowledge of the Coastal Skipper shorebased syllabus (or equivalent) is required.

The RYA Coastal Skipper course develops your skills to execute  more demanding pilotage and passage planning / making scenarios. It also builds your confidence by developing your sail and power close quarter boat handling skills in evermore challenging circumstances. Blind navigation and the skills to navigate safely and efficiently at night are also developed. There is significant emphasis on sailing safety and emergency procedures.

An RYA Coastal Skipper Practical (Tidal) certificate is awarded on completion of the course.

The opportunity to take the RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster (Coastal) practical exam at the end of the course is also available. Ambition Sailing have a long standing reputation for producing high quality Yachtmaster exam candidates..

For those requiring non-tidal Coastal Skipper qualifications and examination please contact us – we can arrange the Non Tidal course and Yachtmaster (Coastal) exam  in the Mediterranean for you.

The Details

Solent based weekend and weekday courses starting from Shamrock Quay Marina, Southampton.

Prices are from £435 and include accommodation, meals on board, fuel and overnight public mooring fees.

Our yachts are fitted out to a high specification including the personal safety, deck and navigation equipment necessary to complete all aspects of this demanding course. The yachts are also fitted with home comforts such as refrigerated cool box, showers, 240v shore supply and cabin heating.

Courses generally run with a low student to instructor ratio (maximum 4:1), however we are happy to consider groups of five people if booking as a group.

Your instructor will be a fully qualified RYA Yachtmaster Instructor.

What To Do Next....

Please choose a 2 day plus 3 day weekend’ combination or a 5 day period from our schedule of dates and prices. Other dates may be available - please ask.

For groups of four or five people, please call us to discuss group discounts and to choose your preferred dates.

If required, the Yachtmaster Coastal exam will be arranged as an additional day immediately following the completion of the course.

Simply call us on +44(0)7977 459671 or +44(0)1253 853075 to confirm availability and to discuss your training requirements in more detail, then complete and return one booking form per person with a 30% deposit payment.

Once the full course fee has been received we will send a formal booking confirmation and Joining Instructions to you.

Other useful pre course information is provided in our Sail Cruising Courses and Yachtmaster Coastal Exam – Preliminaries sheets

If you already have skills and experience equivalent to the Coastal Skipper level and wish to take the MCA Yachtmaster Coastal exam without completing the RYA Coastal Skipper course, please see our Yachtmaster Exam prep activities

Other useful pre course information is provided in our Sail Cruising Courses and Yachtmaster Coastal Exam – Preliminaries sheets

Useful Pre Course Reading

RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Notes
RYA Introduction to Boat Handling For Sail & Power
RYA Navigation Handbook (and associated Exercises)
RYA Weather handbook
International Rules For The Prevention Of Collisions At Sea (Col Regs)
RYA Sail Cruising - Syllabus & Logbook

It is handy to build up a small library of useful books and manuals covering seamanship, navigation and other specialist subjects such as weather. Please see our recommended list of reading and equipment.

...and after Coastal Skipper?

Consider joining us on one of our holiday cruises when opportunities to develop your Coastal Skipper skills are available under the watchful eye of a professional skipper. If you feel the need to brush up on your boat handling skills, try one of our popular intensive boat handling under sail and power weekends.

Emphasis should also be given to all RYA specialist courses (First Aid, VHF, Sea Survival, Diesel Engine, Radar, ISAF Offshore, Yacht Maintenance) to ensure you have appropriate skills to hand for longer passages.

Charter a yacht with a group of friends to develop your confidence and skills. Ambition Sailing is able to source top quality charter yachts in a variety of fantastic cruising areas worlwide.

Watch leader positions on delivery / mile building trips and offshore races may also be available.

The next formal step is to work towards the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, coveted worldwide. Ambition Sailing has significant experience of preparing people for this challenging exam and can help by providing opportunities and advice! Call us for further information. This qualififcation is mandatory for those wishing to progress to RYA instructor level or operate commercially.