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 We offer a full range of RYA practical courses, all of which are available on our school boat or on customer’s own boats. If you are not certain which course is appropriate please do not hesitate to contact us.
HELMSMAN’s COURSE
The RYA Helmsman’s course is a two day practical course and covers basic boat handling, helmsmanship, engine checks and safety. This short course is ideal for the new boat owner who is conscious of the potential difficulty and hazards of handling a motor cruiser in confined spaces. Because of this owners may find it particularly beneficial if they do the course on their own boats. No previous experience is required.
During the course we shall practice many boat handling techniques including mooring to a pontoon, picking up a buoy and anchoring. These techniques will be practised from the point of view of both the helmsman and crew.At the end of the course students will be able to handle a boat of a specific type in sheltered waters and will have improved their crewing skills.
DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL
The RYA Dayskipper practical course is a four day course and teaches the skills required to skipper a motor cruiser safely in familiar waters in daylight. Course members should have a basic knowledge of the theory of navigation and meteorology before attending and should be able to demonstrate basic boat handling skills. Whilst prior completion of the Dayskipper shorebased course is not essential it does provide an excellent base on which to build. All candidates must have two days at sea and have completed at least 100 miles before attending.
During the course we shall cover safety, boat handling, navigation and engine maintenance. Each student will also be given the opportunity to plan a short passage and subsequently skipper the vessel on that passage. During the evenings we shall cover navigation theory, collision regulations, pilotage and meteorology, and we shall also prepare passage plans for the following day.
We shall also carry out a short night passage so that students will be aware of the skills required to return safely to the marina if they are inadvertently late returning to their berths!
INTRODUCTION to MOTOR CRUISING
This course combines the content of both the RYA Helmsman’s and the RYA Day Skipper courses and lasts for five days. Complete novices may find this course very intensive but it should be suitable for anyone who has had some basic practical experience on a motor cruiser.
COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL
This is a more advanced five day course and teaches the skills required to skipper a motor cruiser safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. Course members should have a good knowledge of the theory of navigation and meteorology before attending and should be able to demonstrate the basic skills of seamanship and boat handling. Whilst prior completion of the Yachtmaster shorebased course is not essential it does provide an excellent base on which to build. All candidates must have 15 days at sea and have covered at least 300 miles before attending.
During the course we shall cover boat handling, use of radar and chart plotters, preparation for sea, pilotage, action to be taken in emergency situations and preparation for heavy weather. We shall also have evening sessions to cover navigational theory and meteorology.
At the end of the course successful students will be awarded an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate.
However experienced students may wish stay an extra day and take the Coastal Skipper practical examination Before applying for this exam students require to have cruised 800 miles and have spent 30 days on board a motor cruiser, including 2 days as skipper and have spent 12 hours cruising at night. (this is reduced to 400 miles and 20 days for students who have satisfactorily completed the RYA Coastal Skippers practical course) All candidates also need a VHF radio operators certificate and a current first aid certificate. The examination will be conducted by an independent RYA examiner and will last 6 - 10 hours.
RYA YACHTMASTER PRACTICAL EXAM PREPARATION
Whilst there is no specific RYA course for the Yachtmaster practical examination we are prepared to organise courses to meet students specific requirements.
Before applying to take the exam students require to have cruised 2500 miles and have spent 50 days on board a motor cruiser, including 5 days as skipper. They also need to have made 5 passages of at least 60 miles of which 2 must have been at night and 2 must have been as skipper. They also need a VHF radio operators certificate and a current first aid certificate.
The examination will last 8 to 10 hours for one candidate and will be carried out by an independent RYA examiner. Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as the skipper of an offshore motor cruiser, in particular in the areas of boat handling, pilotage, navigation, collision avoidance and meteorology. Before applying to take the exam you should ensure that you have a thorough knowledge of the content of the Coastal/Yachtmaster shorebased course and practical skills at the level of the Coastal Skipper practical course.
Whilst most candidates find it easier to do the revision course and take the exam on their own vessel we are only too happy to run the course on board our training vessel
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