RYA Practical Courses: Day Skipper

5-Day RYA Day Skipper Course: Mylor, Falmouth

The RYA Day Skipper course is meticulously designed to impart the necessary skills for skippering a yacht in familiar waters during daylight hours. This comprehensive training includes several crucial components: pilotage, which focuses on the navigation of a vessel in confined or challenging waters; boat handling under both sail and motor to ensure adept maneuvering in various conditions; and deck work, which covers essential operations and safety procedures on the deck of a yacht.

The majority of the course will take place around the Fal Estuary,
Helford Passage and surrounding coastline of Cornwall. We are lucky to
be able to call this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty our base, there
are various marinas, visitors pontoon, moorings and anchorages so we
have everything on our door step. As part of the course we need to
undertake a longer passage, the destination is decided by the conditions
on the course but a trip to Fowey is normally the plan. This gives
another port to explore, different buoyage to navigate and some lovely
pubs for dinner!

Real-World Application

In addition to these practical skills, the course emphasizes the real-world application of navigational knowledge gained from the Day Skipper theory course. This includes chart reading, plotting courses, and understanding tides and currents. Participants will also learn about boat maintenance to ensure the vessel remains in optimal condition, and how to handle emergency situations effectively to safeguard everyone on board.

Passage Making and Night Cruising

Passage making, which involves planning and executing short coastal trips, is another key aspect of the training. Moreover, the course introduces night cruising, teaching the skills needed to navigate and operate a yacht safely after dark.

Experienced and Adaptable Instructors

Our instructors are not only RYA trained and certified but also bring a wealth of personal experience to the table. They understand that each student comes with unique needs and skill levels. With this in mind, they are adept at adapting their teaching methods to bring out the best in each individual, ensuring that everyone leaves the course with a high level of confidence and competence in their newfound skills.

There is a huge amount to cover on the Dayskipper course so we run full days often into the evening, typically breakfast is around 7:30 and we are looking to start sessions by 8:30. If there aren’t any night exercises planned we would be looking to be moored up for the night by 18:30, although planning for the next day may well continue after dinner. All timings are pretty flexible depending on conditions and how time can be used most efficiently to give you the best course possible.

RYA Day Skipper Sailing Course

The course spans five full days, starting at 17:00 on Sunday and concluding at 15:00 on Friday, with participants required to spend all five nights on board as part of the training.

Sailing Skill Development: Progressing through Course Levels

Our RYA courses are the perfect introduction to sailing, where the syllabus is laid out to offer a clear progression from total beginner to competent and independent skipper. As the courses progress in difficulty you will see more pre-requisites listed, it is important to be honest and realistic with these as you will get far more out of being on the appropriate course rather than trying to race ahead.

To book or find out more about our RYA courses please use the contact form below or give us a call.

  • Mixed group courses our teaching ratio is 1:4
  • For private courses our maximum ratio is 1:5
  • Breakfasts and lunch are included for each day.
  • 3 evening meals are provided
    • 2 evenings we will go ashore for dinner – the cost of this is not included.
  • There is always plenty of snacks onboard, cereal bars, fruit etc but if you have any specific favourite snacks it is best to pack some your self.
  • Teas, coffees, herbal teas, squash and juice are onboard.
  • Please do notify us at the time of booking about any specific dietary requirements.
  • Everyone is expected to pitch in with the preparation of meals and drinks through out the day. Meals are generally made in advance and frozen so they can be cooked easily throughout the week.
  • The majority of our courses take place on our larger 2 boats, these are both 3 cabin boats.
  • Your instructor will take one cabin.
  • This leaves 2 cabins and the saloon berths for the group.
  • A single occupancy rate is offered if you would prefer to have a cabin to yourself.
  • If we have a small group and our 33ft boat is available we may choose to take this rather than cancel a course.

The RYA Dayskipper course is designed to run with a crew of other Dayskipper candidates or with Competent Crew participants.

  • Lifejackets and safety kit
  • Food onboard
  • Fuel
  • Marina fees
  • Passport picture for your certificate
  • Copy of your theory certificate
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Sailing footwear – non-marking nonslip soles, wellies and or shoes
  • Suncream
  • Anti seasickness medication
  • Any required medication
  • Layers to go under waterproofs
  • Hats, cap and woolie hat
  • Gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm clothes for the evenings
  • Sleeping bag and pillow
  • Phone charger and 12v plug
  • Note book and pencils
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Head torch with a red light function (not essential but useful)
  • Spare glasses if you need corrective lenses
  • Wash kit and towel
  • Foam earplugs
  • A soft bag is far better than a suitcase

We have waterproof trousers available to rent for £30 per course, please let us know if you require these when you book on.

EMAIL

info@takeaturnyachting.co.uk

PHONE NUMBER

07762 460 243

ADDRESS

Take A Turn Yachting, Mylor Yacht Harbour Falmouth TR11 5UF

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