Sailing school
RYA courses
RYA certification is the qualification the rest of the world recognises. If you intend to charter a yacht abroad, skipper your own boat, or work on the water professionally, this is the ladder worth climbing.
The course ladder
Each certificate builds on the one before. You do not need previous experience to start at the bottom of it.
- Start Yachting — a two-day introduction for complete beginners
- Competent Crew — become a genuinely useful member of a crew
- Day Skipper (Practical) — skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day
- Day Skipper (Shorebased) — navigation, tides, collision regulations, weather
- Powerboat Level 2 — the standard qualification for handling a powered boat
- VHF Short Range Certificate — legally required to operate a marine radio
How courses run
Practical courses are taught aboard, living and sailing as a crew. Shorebased theory can be taken in the evenings or over consecutive days. Small groups — you get real time on the helm rather than a turn every second hour.
Where it leads
Day Skipper is the qualification most international charter companies want to see before handing over a yacht. Beyond it lie Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster, which we can plan a route towards including the sea miles you will need to log.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is an RYA certificate valid internationally?
Yes. RYA qualifications are the most widely recognised recreational sailing certificates in the world, and Day Skipper or above is what most overseas charter operators ask for before bareboat hire.
Which RYA course should I start with?
With no experience, Start Yachting or Competent Crew. If you have already sailed a fair amount and want to skipper, go to Day Skipper — but do the shorebased theory first, because the practical assumes it.
Do I need the shorebased theory before the practical Day Skipper?
It is strongly recommended and most students find the practical course very hard going without it. Navigation, tidal calculation and collision regulations are examined material that cannot be absorbed in a week on the water.
How many sea miles do I need for Yachtmaster?
The mileage, night hours and passage requirements are set by the RYA and are substantial. We will plan a realistic route to build them, including qualifying passages, rather than pretend it is a short course.
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