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.