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Sailboat

RYA coastal
skipper course

The RYA Coastal Skipper practical sailing course is the advanced practical qualification that when achieved gives you the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night. This course builds on and refines the navigation and boat handling skills taught at Day Skipper level. The aim is to extend your knowledge, awareness and standards of navigation and seamanship so that you can exercise good judgement and make appropriate decisions in und familiar and challenging circumstances.


The course runs for 5 consecutive days from our base in Ramsgate. It is possible that for operational reasons and to ensure the highest quality of instruction that the course may finish at an alternative destination in which case private transport will be provided back to Ramsgate or to suitable public transport if preferred.


During this course you will learn how to plan and execute longer passages taking particular account the weather and sea conditions. There is no exam at the end of the course, but you will be continually assessed by your instructor and after successfully completing the course you will be awarded a RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate.


Over the 5 days we will visit a number of different anchorages and/or marinas and you will live on board for 4 nights with the other students and the instructor. There will be an opportunity to experience a few hours night sailing. All meals are provided on board but there will be opportunities to go ashore during some evenings.


The course will begin in Ramsgate at 09.00 on the first day of the course and finish by 17.00 on the last day. The sailing area is likely to be from Ramsgate to the Thames Estuary, the Medway and the Essex and Suffolk coasts.


Pre-Course Requirements

  • RYA Day Skipper qualification recommended – or equivalent skills

  • Suggested experience of 15 days on a sailing yacht, 2 days as skipper, 300 NM and 8 night hours

  • Minimum age 17. All under 18’s to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Knowledge of navigation and helmsmanship. It is recommended that you complete the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory course before taking this practical

  • course.
     

What’s Included?

  • Accommodation onboard

  • All meals (except breakfast on day 1 and dinner on the final day)

  • Tea/Coffee and snacks

  • An allocated bunk

  • Undersheet, pillow and pillowcase

  • All safety equipment including personal issue lifejacket

  • All mooring fees

  • Fuel and gas

  • RYA Certificate/Qualification card


Course Syllabus Overview
By the time you have completed your RYA Coastal Skipper Course with Ramsgate Sailing
you will have covered the following

  • Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and streams, publications required and strategy

  • Knows Customs procedures

  • Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages

  • Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating, equipment and engine checks

  • Can prepare a pilotage plan with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port/harbour regulations and tidal considerations

  • Can pilot a yacht by day and night

  • Passage making and ability as skipper

  • Can take charge of the yacht and direct the crew

  • Can organise deckwork, navigation and domestic duties of a yacht on passage

  • Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends

  • Is aware of crew welfare on passage

  • Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes

  • Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power

  • All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide

  • Yacht handling under sail in a confined space

  • Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide

  • Can sail efficiently on all points of sail

  • Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds

  • Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

  • Recovery of man overboard under power and sail

  • Understands actions to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues

Navy Wave
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