RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

This 5 day sailing course leads to the RYA Day Skipper practical qualification and provides an introduction to skippering a sailing yacht. Previous practical experience to Competent Crew level and beyond is assumed and expected. Similarly, knowledge of the Day Skipper shorebased syllabus (or equivalent) is required.

It is also recommended that students do not attempt to complete the RYA Day Skipper practical course without the perquisite knowledge and experience of crewing on large sailing large yachts.

The RYA Day Skipper course is your first formal step towards learning the skills required to be a competent and safe skipper, so you can look forward to a great sense of achievement on completion! Topics covered include pilotage, boat handling and crew organisation. The course develops personal skills such as communication and delegation and also provides an introduction to 'managing' the yacht on a day to day basis.

During the course you will have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment, to plan and make short passages, including exiting and entering new harbours and to practice close quarter boat handling.

An RYA Day Skipper Practical (Tidal) certificate is awarded on completion of the course. For those requiring non-tidal Day Skipper qualifications please contact us – the Non Tidal course can be arranged with one of our associate organisations in the Mediterranean.

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

Our RYA training 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 Cruising or Yachtmaster Instructor.

What To Do Next....

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

Simply call us on +44(0)7977 459671 or +44(0)1253 853075 to confirm availability and to discuss your 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.

If you are a group of four or five people, please contact us to discuss group discounts and to choose your preferred dates.

Other useful pre course information is provided in our Sail Cruising Courses - Preliminaries sheet

If you havent yet completed the Day Skipper Shorebased course and time away from work is an issue, have a look at our 9 Day RYA Day Skipper Combined Shorebased & Practical Course - this course is the most time efficient way of achieving both qualifications!

Useful Pre Course Reading

The following books are recommended and available by mail order.

RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course Notes
RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Notes
RYA Navigation Handbook (and associated Exercises)
RYA Sail Cruising - Syllabus & Logbook
RYA Introduction to Boat Handling for Sail & Power

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 Day Skipper?

Consider joining us on one of our sailing holiday cruises when opportunities will be available  to further develop your new found Day Skipper skills under the watchful eye of a professional skipper.

Soon you may consider chartering a yacht with a group of friends. Ambition Sailing is able to help you take the first steps to charter a yacht in a familiar area.

For those looking for more excitement and longer passages consider crew positions on mile building trips and offshore yacht racing!

If you wish to progress further and have gained the requisite experience, the next steps are the RYA Coastal Skipper Shorebased and Practical training courses. Consideration should also be given to the RYA specialist courses (First Aid, VHF, Sea Survival, Diesel Engine and Radar) to develop your skills in other key areas.