If you have never sailed before the best course to start with is an RYA Start Yachting Course where you can start learning from the basics. This course enables you to “try it and see” if you like sailing. This certificate is included in many of our youth sailing programmes.

Sail Camps and DofE

Beginners can also take a 5 day RYA Competent Crew course, which can also be conducted on 2 weekends. Or you can add a 3 day weekend to your Start Yachting experience.

If you achieved your Start Yachting qualification on one of our Sail Camps or DofE Expedition programmes, you can book one of our RYA weekends at a reduced price to complete your Competent Crew qualification.

The next step is the RYA Day Skipper Theory, followed by the RYA Day Skipper Practical Sailing Course which prepares you to take a boat out on your own as Skipper, and gives you the confidence to charter a boat in familiar waters. The practical course is usually 5 days but can also be completed over 2 weekends.

Having conquered the Day Skipper qualification, you can then complete your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course, giving you that extra confidence for passage making and night sailing. 

Completing your Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore qualification requires a little more work than your previous ones – after all, with these certificates you will be able to undertake passages up to 150 nm away from the shore (Yachtmaster Offshore)! And you can even have them commercially endorsed in order to work as a Skipper in the yachting industry yourself!

Completing your Yachtmaster Coastal + Offshore will require both theory and practical courses, extensive sailing experience as well a practical exam.

The ultimate aim of any aspiring sailor – this internationally respected qualification shows extensive experience and competence in sailing worldwide. Plus, the Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course will finally unravel the mysteries of the sextant and teach you all about astro navigation!