RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Syllabus
The RYA Coastal Skipper Sailing Course is designed to teach you the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising sailing yacht, between 7 -15 meters in length, safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.
The course is 5 days in duration.
Minimum age is 17.
Pre-Course Experience:
- 15 days actively sailing a sailing yacht at sea
- 300 sea miles
- 8 night hours
- 2 days as skipper
Practical Course Syllabus
1. Passage planning
Knowledge of
- The effects of fouling on boat speed and fuel consumption
Understands
- Fuel consumption at different speeds and can calculate fuel required for a passage, including reserve
- Customs procedures
- Stability
Can
- Plan a coastal passage, taking into consideration the capability of the vessel, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required, and strategy
2. Preparation for Sea
Understands
- What safety equipment is required for offshore passages
Can
- Prepare a cruising vessel for sea, including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities, equipment, and engine checks
3. Pilotage
Can
- Prepare a pilotage plan, taking into consideration soundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations, and tidal factors
- Pilot a cruising vessel by day and at night
4. Passage-making and Ability as Skipper
Understands
- The practical uses of integrated electronic aids to navigation, including AIS, radar, electronic navigational charts (ENC)s, and raster navigational charts (RNCs)
Can
- Take charge of a yacht and direct the crew
- Organise the navigation, deck work and domestic duties of a cruising vessel on passage
- Be aware of crew welfare on passage
- Use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes
5. Yacht Handling Under Power
Understands
- How to identify and take into account wind and current conditions when planning and executing manoeuvres (practical experience where possible)
Can
- Control the cruising vessel effectively in a confined space under power, including all berthing and unberthing situations
- Pick up a mooring bow or stern-to
- Avoid excessive use of power
6. Yacht Handling Under Sail
Understands
- How to identify and take into account wind and current conditions when planning and executing manoeuvres (practical experience where possible)
Can
- Use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space
- Consistently pick up a mooring
- Sail efficiently on all points of sail, including downwind techniques
7. Adverse Weather Conditions
Understands
- How to handle a cruising vessel in strong winds
- General conduct in restricted visibility
Can
- Prepare a cruising vessel for heavy weather
- Navigate in restricted visibility
8. Emergency Situations
Understands
- The actions to be taken when abandoning to a life raft, and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
- How to carry out the aftercare requirements on a casualty who has been in the water
Can
- Describe to a crew member the effects of cold-water shock on a casualty who has been in the water
- Recover a man overboard under power
- Recover a man overboard under sail