The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing Course is an advanced five-day liveaboard training program designed to develop the skills and confidence required to skipper a yacht on extended coastal and offshore passages, including at night. It is a natural progression for those who have completed the RYA Day Skipper course and are ready to handle more complex navigation, decision-making, and leadership responsibilities.
This course is focused on real-world skippering experience. Under the guidance of a qualified RYA instructor, you’ll plan and execute passages, manage a crew, and deal with a wide range of challenging situations, from busy ports to changing weather conditions. Emphasis is placed on developing sound judgement and practical skills that go beyond basic boat handling—preparing you to take command in unfamiliar waters and higher-pressure scenarios.
Navigation plays a key role throughout the course. You’ll refine your skills in advanced chartwork, tidal calculations, and pilotage. You’ll also use electronic navigation tools such as GPS, GNSS, and chartplotters to create and follow detailed passage plans. A significant part of the training is carried out at night, where you’ll be expected to maintain situational awareness, run effective watch systems, and navigate using lights, leading lines, and transits.
Sailing conditions and locations are chosen to provide a varied and realistic experience of coastal cruising. This includes skippering longer passages between ports, managing the yacht in confined areas, and sailing in tidal waters. Heavy weather techniques, reefing, anchoring, and emergency drills are incorporated to ensure you’re prepared for a wide range of offshore scenarios.
As the course is liveaboard, you’ll also gain practical experience in managing life on board—rotating through all crew positions, taking responsibility for safety briefings, meal planning, and yacht checks. Leadership and teamwork are integral components of the course, and you’ll be given the opportunity to take full command of the vessel for parts of the training, with constructive feedback from your instructor.
To enrol in this course, you should already have a solid understanding of navigation and meteorology to RYA Day Skipper theory level. You must also meet minimum experience requirements: 15 days at sea (including two as skipper), at least 300 nautical miles logged, and a minimum of eight night hours. These prerequisites ensure you’re ready to benefit from the advanced training the Coastal Skipper course offers.
On successful completion, you will receive the RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate, which demonstrates your capability to skipper a yacht on longer passages in coastal and offshore waters. It is also an important step towards preparing for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence exams.
This course is ideal for those looking to expand their sailing horizons, charter yachts in more demanding locations, or take the next step in their professional or personal sailing journey.
