RYA Day Skipper Practical
The RYA Day Skipper Practical is a 5 day course which is designed to teach students to assume full responsibility for the yacht and its crew.
On the Day Skipper course students will skipper the yacht on short passages in West Cork and there will be much emphasis on boat handling and navigation. A full safety briefing is given before the yacht sails.
Keeping the crew well fed is an important part of cruising. Apart from breakfasts, meals are organised according to a rota which you will know in advance. When it is your turn, you prepare a meal of your own choosing and wash up afterwards.
You will visit different harbours and anchorages to practice pilotage techniques. The course aims to provide you with the skill and confidence required to plan and undertake a short passage in tidal waters as the skipper and be able to berth the boat safely. Man overboard recovery techniques will also be practised with a dummy, such as a fender tied to a mooring line, substituting for the real thing. The instructor will debrief students after each exercise or passage.
During the course you will cover approximately 100 miles between Union Hall and the Kenmare River in West Cork, including at least 4 night hours sailing to experience night pilotage and identify navigation lights.
The course will finish about 4 pm on the final day, after boat cleaning and individual debriefings.
Cabin Prices
Single person (cabin sharing) | €840 |
Two persons (cabin sharing) | €1,550 |
RYA Day Skipper
If you know when you want to take a RYA Day Skipper course, give us a buzz and we will endeavour to fulfill your chosen time.Book now +353 (0)27 29101
RYA Day Skipper
To book the exclusive use of our Hallberg-Rassy 'Merlin' for a RYA Day 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 5 days, 100 NM, 4 night hours aboard a sailing yacht. Assumed Knowledge Basic navigation and sailing ability. Ideally you will have attended the shore based RYA day skipper theory course or have a good understanding of the following: Tidal heights, tidal streams, compass variation, Course to Steer, passage planning, compass bearings, clearing bearings, 3 position fixes and knots. A basic understanding of lights and shapes. Course Content Preparing the yacht and crew, pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling including sailing to a buoy/anchor and mooring alongside. Experience Gained Can skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. Consider building on these skills before the next qualification steps. -
The Yacht
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Basic knowledge of nautical terms, parts of a yacht, rigging and sails.
Ropework
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Ability to tie the following knots:
- figure of eight
- round turn and two half hitches
- bowline
Underway
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Has experienced sailing a yacht on all points of sail.
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Can steer a yacht under sail or power.
Rules of the Road
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Can keep an efficient look out at sea.
Meteorology
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Knows where to obtain a weather forecast.
Man Overboard (MOB) Recovery
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Understands the action to be taken to recover a MOB.
Clothing and Equipment
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Understands and complies with the rules for the wearing of safety harnesses’.
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Lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids.
Emergency Equipment and Precautions
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Is aware of hazards on board a yacht.
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Knows the action to be taken in the event of an emergency.
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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, lunch and dinner with coffee and tea
- Safety gear including auto life jacket and safety harness
- Marina fees and diesel
Next Step: After completing the Day Skipper 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 a Day Skipper Plus course or an Ocean Passage . Following this you should look to join the RYA Yachtmaster Theory course before taking the RYA Coastal Skipper practical.
Prices exclude:
- Flights & transfers.
- Meals and drink ashore.
- Travel and Medical Insurance.
- Wet weather gear.