RYA Coastal Skipper
The RYA Coastal Skipper is a 5 day course which is designed to teach students to assume full responsibility for the yacht and its crew over extended passages.
This course is an ideal bridge between the Day Skipper course and the full RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal examination course. Students should ideally have attained their Day Skipper Practical or have the necessary experience and passed the Yachtmaster Theory course.
The Coastal Skipper course concentrates on navigation, night pilotage, man overboard recovery techniques and practical meteorology. Students will take turns in skippering the yacht over extended passages during which they will assume responsibility for passage planning, preparing the yacht for sea, boat handling and watch keeping.
If you need to gain more experience or log more tidal miles, consider joining one of our mile builders. Ideally students will have also attained their VHF/SRC and first aid certificates.
During the course you will cover approximately 300 miles between Union Hall and the Kenmare River in West Cork, including at least 8 night hours sailing to experience night pilotage and identify navigation lights.
The course will finish about 4pm on the final day, after boat cleaning and individual debriefings.
Students can opt to take an additional exam to achieve the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate (additional exam fee payable directly to examiner).
Please note the pre-requisites differ.
Cabin Prices
| Single person (cabin sharing) | €840 |
| Two persons (cabin sharing) | €1,550 |
RYA Coastal Skipper
If you know when you want to take a RYA Coastal Skipper course, give us a buzz and we will endeavour to fulfill your chosen time.Book now +353 (0)27 29101
RYA Coastal Skipper
To book the exclusive use of our Hallberg-Rassy 'Merlin' for a RYA Coastal Skipper course for family or as a group of friends let us know your dates and we will endeavour to accommodate your request.Call us now +353 (0)27 29101
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Course Duration 5 Days (Tuesday to Sunday) Previous Experience Day Skipper Practical (15 days - 2 days as skipper - 300 miles - 8 night hours). A knowledge of navigation to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory level. Experience Gained Skippering techniques and navigation for coastal passages by day and night. More advanced boat handling and pilotage for experienced Day Skippers. -
Passage Planning
- Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights, and tidal streams, publications required and strategy
- Know Customs procedures
Preparation for Sea
- Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages
- Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment and engine checks
Pilotage
- Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations
- Can pilot a yacht by day and night
Passage Making and Skippering Ability
- Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew
- Can organise the navigation, deckwork, 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
Yacht Handling Under Power
- 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
- Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space
- Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide
- Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing
Adverse Weather Conditions
- Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
- Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility
Emergency Situations
- Recovery of man overboard under power and sail
- Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
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NOTE: Sailing itinerary is weather permitting and we reserve the right to change the destinations and order for your safety.
Day 1 - Tuesday
You will be met in Ahakista by your skipper and showen around Merlin and meet your fellow sailing crew. A trip to the Tin Pub or Arundel's by the Pier for a drink and get to know each other following an onboard evening meal.
Day 2 - Wednesday
After the initial safety briefing, you will learn the ropes and be shown how to prepare a boat for departure. Our first port of call will be Sherkin Island. As we sail up Dunmanus Bay you will be introduced to reefing (reducing sail area). This is to help you feel comfortable and (for some of you) familiar with your new surroundings on board. You will be introduced to boat preparation and handling in and around a marina on arrival to Sherkin Island.
Day 3 - Thursday
Instruction on boat handling will continue on prepartion of a boat to leave a marina before making the passage to Bere Island. You will explore Roaringwater Bay sailing past many of it's islands as sail training instruction continues. You will be introduced to Man Overboard (MOB) procedures and continue to practice reefing.
Day 4 - Friday
The schedule is flexible and depends on crew development, the level you are working at and the winds. We aim to sail to Glengarriff Harbour and prepare for our night sail passage. Berehaven situated between Bere Island and the Beara peninsula provides an ideal training area for sailing exercises before making the sail down Bantry Bay to anchor for the evening in Glengarriff.
Day 5 - Saturday
Following a late breakfast you will fine-tune your sailing, anchoring and general boat handling skills in Dunmanus Bay.
Day 6 - Sunday
Following a tidy up sailing session on Sunday morning we begin the de-briefing, cleanup and issuing of your certificates. Finally the course ends at about 4 pm.
Included in your course
- RYA qualified instructor/skipper
- 5 nights accommodation on 'Merlin'
- Breakfast and lunch with coffee and tea
- Safety gear including auto life jacket and safety harness
- Marina fees and diesel
Next Step: After completing the Coastal Skipper practical course it is really important to consolidate what you have learnt by completing some more sea miles. This could be achieved by joining us for an Ocean Passage .
Prices exclude:
- Flights & transfers.
- Meals and drink ashore.
- Travel and Medical Insurance.
- Wet weather gear.
