Yachting - RYA Practical Day Skipper

Title: RYA Day Skipper Course

Price: £535 p/p

Duration: 5 Days or 2 weekends

Catchment area: Day Skipper Practical serving London, Brighton and the counties of Sussex, Kent and Surrey in the South East of the UK.  About 45mins from Eastbourne's sovereign harbour and 20 minutes from Newhaven harbour and Lewes to the East.  About an hour from Croydon and Crawley, and 40 minutes from Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport to the North.  About 45 minutes from Worthing, an hour from Littlehampton and 35 minutes from Shoreham Harbour yacht club.

Location: Brighton Marina.

Parking: Free in the marina multi storey car park.

Candidates: Beginner skippers, Novice skippers, Start skippering , Learning to sail, Start yachting, Starter sailors, starter skippers, New boat owners, Crew with Competent Crew Certificate, Next step after Competent Crew.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a RYA Day Skipper licence to drive a boat / sail a yacht?

In the UK, amazing as it may sound, legally you do not need to hold any certificate or licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat or sail a yacht.. for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  

In reality.. it’s more complicated than that!  It depends where you are sailing, which company/club/country, what type of boat, who you are on the boat with and the reasons you are on the water. ie leisure or commercial.  The Day Skipper qualification (practical and theory) will cover you for most scenarios, and is the next step after the Competent crew course.  In the mean time try taking a look at our recommended '6_steps_to_sailing.pdf' for sailing

Will my Day Skipper certificate allow me to sail in France?

Yes and No!  You will need at least an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) certificate and a VHF operator’s licence whether you are driving a powerboat or sailing a yacht in France. The Day Skipper Practical Certificate is deemed equivalent to ICC but you will need to send an ICC application form to the RYA with a copy of your Day Skipper Practical Certificate to receive a genuine ICC certificate.  Only this is guaranteed to be recognised by French authorities.  Day Skipper or ICC will not cover you however for CEVNI or VHF.  If you are going inland (French canals, lakes etc), you will also need to do a CEVNI test. You can do all of these here at SailnetUK.

Do I ever need to renew my Day Skipper Certificate?

No, your Day Skipper Certificate if for life.  However, if it has been a while since you have crewed then it would be prudent to do a sailing refresher course or 'brush up’.

Is there a Day Skipper exam at the end of the course?

No, the day skipper course is an attendance course with continual instruction and assessment.

Where will my Day Skipper licence be valid?

Remember this is not a ‘licence’ it is a certificate and is not a legal requirement anywhere.  However, if you are travelling abroad it would be prudent to get your the ICC certificate.  Once you pass the Day Skipper Practical course you can apply for it automatically without any further courses.  Although RYA qualifications are generally internationally recognisable, the ICC is a legal requirement in some countries.   Most Flotilla companies will accept a RYA Day Skipper certificate for flotilla and bareboat charter.

What is the right Day Skipper Course to take, there seems to be so many?

There are usually two types of RYA Day Skipper courses.  The straight 5 day Day Skipper course,and the split weekend RYA Day Skipper Course.  Day Skipper tends to be referred to in many ways -

Practical Day Skipper Licence, Day Skipper Practical License, Day Skipper Practical, Day Skipper Practical Course, Day Skipper Practical Courses, RYA Day Skipper Practical Course, Day Skipper Practical Training, Day Skipper Practical Training Course, Day Skipper Practical Training Courses, Yacht Skipper's Practical Licence, Yacht skipper's Practical Course, Boat skipper's Practical Licence, Boat Skipper's Practical Course.

...but don’t worry, it's usually the same course!

Is there a fee for issuing a Day Skipper Licence?

No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?

If you book over the phone however, a 2% credit card charge will apply.  Some meals and accommodation are provided but you need to bring money for mooring fees ( about £25), some of the meals & drinks out. If you don't have wet weather gear, you need to arrange to hire this.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my Day Skipper Course?

Some Training Centres can be draughty out of the way places incompatible with a sail training.  At Brighton Marina, you are in the heart of one of the biggest marinas in Europe, and only minutes from the open water.  To the West we have Shoreham, Littlehampton, Chichester and the Solent.  To the East we have Eastbourne's, Sovereign Marina, and to the South, the Coast of France.  Brighton Marina with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out afterwards too!  Our boats and our charter yachts, are modern and well maintained, and our main sail training area - The Sussex Heritage Coastline - is part of England's newest National Park - The South Downs.

Do you do group discounts, special dates, special offers or ‘on location’ training?

For groups of 4 or more, we are happy to discuss your specific needs, whether it be a Day Skipper Course group discount rate, a date to suit you, holding the course at your dive club, boat club, marina, crew house or business. Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.

What does the course cover?

1. Preparation for sea

• Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below. 

2. Deck work

• Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions

• Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping    from a buoy or an alongside berth 

3. Navigation

Is proficient in chart work and routine navigational duties on passage including:

• Taking and plotting visual fixes

• Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing

• Use of waypoints

• Working up DR and EP

• Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams

• Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift

• Knowledge of IALA buoyage

• Maintenance of navigational records

• Use of echo sounder and lead line 

4. Pilotage

• Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour

• Understands the use of leading and clearing lines.

• Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage 

5. Meteorology

• Knows sources of forecast information

• Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid 

6. Rule of the road

• Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

7. Maintenance and repair work

•  Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks

•  Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes 

8. Engines

•  Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system

9. Victualling

• Understands how to victual a yacht

10. Emergency situations

• Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard

• Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft

• Can operate a vhf in an emergency and send a distress message

• Understands how to secure a tow

• Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue 

Section B

Sail Training Candidates only - Watch Leader 

11. General organization

• Understands the organisation and is fully competent to take charge of a watch at sea and in harbour

Section C

Yachting Candidates only - Day Skipper 

12. Yacht handling under power

• Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide

13. Yacht handling under sail

• Can bring a boat safely to and from a mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide

• Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing 

14. Passage making

• Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew

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