The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is for confident Day Skippers ready to take their skills offshore and develop the competence required to manage a short offshore passage safely. 

You and your fellow crew members will plan and execute short offshore passages by day and night.   

Course content

Passage planning and preparation for sea

• Victualling and crew management
• Navigation, tides, weather
• Safety procedures, engine and equipment checks
• Crew briefing and procedures

 Passage-making and pilotage

• Plan and deliver pilotage into or out of port
• Watchkeeping
• Organize navigation deck work and domestics on passage
• Use electronic waypoints and routes 

 Yacht handling – power and sail

• Handle the yacht under power whilst berthing and un-berthing
• Steer and trim sails effectively on all points.
• Make correct use of preventer and pole when downwind at sea
• Pick up a mooring under sail

 Heavy weather and emergencies

• Prepare the yacht for heavy weather, including the use of storm sails
• Emergency drills, including man overboard recovery in an offshore setting

Location and sailing conditions 

You sail to various ports along the New South Wales coast. We plan the itinerary on the first day to take the best advantage of the weather. 

The scenery and anchorages are magnificent, and the weather is generally excellent for sailing.

You can expect to see dolphins and whales at certain times of the year and, of course, Flying Fish!

The yacht and the instructor 

This course will be run onboard one of our offshore-approved training yachts by an accredited RYA Yachtmaster Instructor.

You will take part in all aspects of running the boat. 

The Coastal Skipper course includes three days of liveaboard coastal passage-making. 

• 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.
• We provide food on board for the passage-making part of the course. 

Qualifications and experience

• 200 sea miles logged
• RYA qualifying passages
• RYA Coastal Skipper

• You have spent at least 15 days on board, including two as skipper, logging a minimum of 300 nautical miles and eight night hours.
• You hold the RYA Day Skipper practical certificate or have equivalent experience. 
• You will have a good grasp of navigation, equivalent to the knowledge gained in the Dayskipper Shore-based Theory course.

• At the end of the course, your instructor will give you feedback on your sailing skills and your ability as a skipper, making recommendations for your future training and experience.
• See our Yachtmaster Short Course options to progress to the next level.