Your week on board is hands-on, engaging, and designed to build real confidence. You’ll take part in short passages, practical coaching sessions, and focused drills to develop your skills as a skipper.

You’ll build your yacht handling, seamanship, pilotage, and navigation skills with expert guidance from a friendly, supportive instructor.

Wherever possible, you’ll take charge and make real decisions as skipper, gaining valuable leadership and command experience.

By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to skipper a small sailing yacht with confidence in familiar waters by day.

RYA Day Skipper – key skills & training

Yacht preparation & deck work

• Prepare the yacht for sea, including engine checks, sail selection, and stowage
• Plan provisions and manage life on board
• Reef and adjust sails to suit conditions
• Take charge during mooring, anchoring, and picking up a buoy

Navigation & pilotage

• Use charts, GPS, and visual fixes to navigate safely
• Understand dead reckoning (DR) and estimated position (EP)
• Work with tides, streams, and course adjustments
• Plan and execute pilotage using buoys, transits, and depth information

Meteorology & rules of the road

• Interpret weather forecasts and recognise changing conditions
• Understand collision regulations (COLREGS) for safe navigation

Engines & maintenance

• Understand basic engine systems and routine checks
• Gain awareness of common maintenance tasks and fault finding

Emergency procedures

• Man overboard recovery and onboard safety procedures
• Use of distress signals and VHF radio in emergencies

Yacht handling & passage-making

• Steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sail
• Plan and execute short coastal passages
• Gain experience in night pilotage and onboard routines

Sailing location & conditions

Sydney Harbour – a world-class training ground

• Sail on iconic Sydney Harbour, ideal for developing skipper-level skills
• A flexible itinerary is planned on day one to make the most of conditions
• Experience a mix of sea breezes and varied conditions for real-world learning

We also run Day Skipper courses in the Whitsunday Islands during July and August — a fantastic opportunity to train in warm, tropical waters. View Whitsundays courses.

You can expect to see dolphins, whales, and, of course, Flying Fish along the way.

The yacht and the instructor

RYA-qualified instructors – Learn from experienced professionals delivering expert guidance in Flying Fish’s friendly and supportive style.

Safety and ratios – We follow RYA teaching standards, with small groups to ensure maximum hands-on experience.

The group is limited to five students, and you’ll train on one of our Beneteau 40 cruiser-racer yachts, taking part in all aspects of boat operation.

• Tuition, logbook, pre-course reading.
• Life jackets and safety harnesses are provided, and we can loan you wet weather clothing if required.
• All vessels have an enclosed bathroom on board.
• Please bring your own lunch and snacks.
• We provide tea, coffee and water.  

Qualifications and experience

• 150 sea miles logged
• RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate
• On successful completion of the RYA Day Skipper Practical, you will be able to apply for the International Certificate for Operator of Pleasure Craft (ICC) from the RYA for a cost of approximately UK 50 pounds. You will then be able to Skipper/Charter vessels in the Mediterranean and other countries worldwide.

• You have completed the RYA Competent Crew course or have at least one week’s experience on a sailing yacht and are confident as a crew member under supervision. Experience on dinghies or keelboats is helpful.
• You have a basic understanding of pilotage and are familiar with navigation using paper charts.
• If your knowledge of navigation and safety is limited, we recommend completing the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory course. Alternatively, you can take the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course online before you start.
• For a deeper understanding, you may also wish to complete the COLREGS (IRPCS) Rules of the Road online course, which, combined with Essential Navigation, covers much of the Day Skipper theory syllabus.
• The minimum age for RYA Day Skipper certification is 16.

• We recommend anyone operating as a Day Skipper should also hold a First Aid certificate and a Marine Radio Licence
• Your next Flying Fish course should be RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Shore-based Theory.

• William Jamieson - Sydney, Australia
• RYA Day Skipper Practical 
• 
• "My wife and I had an absolutely amazing experience with Mathew on Let Loose. His kindness, patience and teaching methods helped us build the confidence we needed to tackle our next adventure - bareboat skippering in Gippsland in a few weeks time. We’ve worked with several RYA instructors, but we founds Mathew’s gift for teaching beyond compare.  Thank you so much. We will be back!"
• Rob Scott - Queensland, Australia 
• RYA Day Skipper Practical
• 
• "I cannot speak highly enough of the RYA Day Skipper course Flying Fish offers. The combination of expert instruction, practical hands-on experience, a world-class boat, and a stunning environment made this a truly unforgettable experience. I am confident about taking on the responsibilities of a Day Skipper, and I owe it all to Jim and your fantastic team. Thank you once again for providing such an outstanding course. I look forward to levelling up with the Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Fast Track soon."
• Lyndsay Barnes - UK
• Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track
• 
• “ Joining the Flying Fish Yachtmaster programme was one of the best decisions I ever made, My new office is floating on Sydney Harbour. If you’re considering doing the course, sign up now and don’t give it a second thought. But be warned, it could change your life ”

• Booking information
  • If you book some time in advance, you can secure your place on the course by paying a 20% holding deposit via the links provided above. This deposit will reserve your position until sixty days before the course start date, when the remaining balance of the course fees will be due.
  • Please be aware that the deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to any other course or event offered by Flying Fish.
  • If you book multiple courses, you will receive a 10% discount on your order when you purchase three or more courses in a single transaction.
  • We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment, as spaces are limited.
  • View our Terms and Conditions.
• What if the weather is bad?
  • Sailing is an all-weather sport. We like to say there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!
  • We very rarely cancel a course due to bad weather.
• What type of yacht will I learn on?
  • At Flying Fish, our basic training boats are Beneteau First 40.7s. These yachts provide an excellent balance between comfort and performance and are great for learning.
  • The layout of the 40.7 is very practical, with two double rear cabins, a forward cabin, a comfortable saloon, and an enclosed toilet and shower unit.
  • The yacht sleeps six in comfort or eight using the saloon bunks. They are fully equipped to live on board.
• Can I book a private sailing course for a group or family?
  • Yes! We regularly welcome private groups of friends or family on bespoke courses.
  • A private RYA Day Skipper course is a great learning adventure to experience with your friends or family. What’s more, you can save money as you pay for four places on the course and can bring a maximum of five. The minimum age is 16.
  • If you like the sound of this, please get in touch via the enquiry button at the top of the page and let us help you plan your adventure.
• What should I bring with me?
  • Food – BYO lunch and snacks. We provide tea, coffee and water on board.
  • Quick-dry clothing (shorts, T-shirts, long-sleeved tops).
  • Lightweight waterproof jacket.
  • Non-slip shoes.
  • Hat, high-factor sunscreen, and sunglasses.
  • Thermal base layer and fleece for colder months.
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers (loan sets available).
  • Life jackets are provided on board by Flying Fish.
  • A sense of adventure and a team spirit!