Navigating the RYA Day Skipper Course: Tips and Tricks from our Yachting Experts
Embarking on the RYA Day Skipper Course is an ideal way to build a foundation in yachting and to work towards your sailing goals. Sometimes figuring out which course is right for you can seem like navigating uncharted waters. The Day Skipper Course may be the right one for you – in this comprehensive guide to the course, Thalia, our resident yachting expert, talks through some of the key information about the course.
Whether you’re new to sailing and seeking to earn your stripes or a seasoned sailor looking to refine your skills, we’ll provide some crucial insights into who the RYA Day Skipper course is for, and the process behind gaining certification. Join us as we cover the most frequently asked questions and provide you with answers to help navigate this course.
Read on, or click on the appropriate question to jump down to the answer you’re looking for:
What is the RYA Day Skipper course?
The RYA Day Skipper Practical is a 5-day course which teaches you to take charge of a sailing yacht on short passages during daylight hours. You will concentrate on the following topics:
- Pilotage
- Boat handling
- Seamanship and navigation
- Learn about vital safety equipment onboard
- Experience navigating at night
After completing this course, you should be able to skipper a 30-45ft sailing yacht in familiar waters. The RYA Day Skipper qualification is convertible to the International Certificate of Competence which allows you to charter yachts abroad!
What are the requirements to take part in the course?
Before attending your RYA Day Skipper course, you should have experience and be comfortable around yachts. You should feel confident using the ropes and stepping off to help with berthing. The recommended pre-course experience is 5 days, 100 miles and 4-night hours onboard a sailing yacht.
There is also the theoretical side which requires you to have knowledge to the level of the RYA Day Skipper Theory course. This is a 5-day shore-based course with a 2-part assessment. The course will teach you the key skills required to pass the practical course. Topics include:
- Navigation
- Pilotage
- Safety
- Weather.
We offer this course both in-person and online. The cost is £350 in-person and £300 online.
It is not a requirement for the practical course to have the RYA Day Skipper Theory certificate. However, you are required to have knowledge to the level the theory course teaches.
What is the cost of the RYA Day Skipper?
The 5-day RYA Day Skipper Practical course costs £695 at our Andrew Simpson Yachting base which includes tuition, all fuel and berthing fees, all safety equipment plus breakfast, lunch and soft drinks each day, and one evening meal. On the other three evenings the crew will look for dinner in a local pub or similar.
We also offer a 9-day combined Day Skipper Theory and Practical, the first four days of which are classroom based, and the final five are the Day Skipper Practical Course. This combined course saves you a day of tuition, and the cost for both is just £950.
What kind of boat will the course be on?
Our practical training takes place onboard our training yacht Duel of Plymouth; A 39ft Jeanneau Sun Oddyssey 389. With three double berths and a double berth in the saloon there is plenty of space for all crew members and their kit for the course.
Where will we go on an Andrew Simpson Yachting RYA Day Skipper Course?
We are based in Haslar Marina just inside the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. This gives us unrivalled access to the beautiful sailing and exciting locations of The Solent. We often stop in East Cowes, Southampton and cruise up the beautiful Hamble River, and on some trips may also venture past the Needles to Poole or Weymouth. Passages will be discussed during your course and are weather/tide dependent. If there is somewhere you would particularly like to go let us know and we will do our best to accommodate this.
So, what are you waiting for? Take the next step and find our upcoming dates and book by heading to the below links:
RYA Day Skipper Practical Dates
by Thalia Burke, Sales and Communications Coordinator, Andrew Simpson Yachting
Thalia has spent a substantial amount of time on the water, having been immersed in sailing since her early years. Her experience ranges from crewing small dinghies to achieving the Yachtmaster Coastal certification.
