Minimum duration: 5 days 5-day Sailing School or x3 Weekend Sailing Schools
Basic navigation: Students would be expected to be able to draw an EP, have a reasonable idea of tidal heights and tidal streams, basic chartwork and seamanship.
Sailing ability: Students ought to be able to sail a boat around a triangular course one leg of which is to windward. Gybing should not be a surprise.
NB. Basic navigational knowledge may be gained by completing an RYA Day Skipper theory/shorebased course. Without reservation we recommend this course, completed during 'night school'; as an intensive course (rather mind bending, but suits some); or by correspondence.
NB. Basic navigational knowledge may be gained by completing an RYA Day Skipper theory/shorebased course. Without reservation we recommend this course, completed during 'night school'; as an intensive course (rather mind bending, but suits some); or by correspondence.
Alternatively you can certainly attain this level of knowledge by home study. Recommended reading:
RYA Navigation (includes practice charts).
RYA Day Skipper shorebased notes
The required sailing ability may be gained by completing the Competent Crew course; it may also be acquired by crewing for 5 days on any cruising yacht of over 7m in length.
The course is designed for those who wish to further their confidence by improving both their knowledge and understanding and also to take the step of being in charge of a yacht. We have many students who have considered this level of ability sufficient enough to consider purchasing a yacht. They have gone on to increase their mileage and experience and have returned to complete their Coastal Skipper qualification.
Many also feel comfortable, after course completion, to charter yachts in the Mediterranean. Although this experience is non-tidal, it is invaluable 'skippering' practice, which is all-important when considering the Coastal Skipper.
This level of knowledge is recommended for partners of experienced yachtswomen and men in the event of their having to take command.
Course content may be found within the RYA Cruising logbook G15 . Its emphasis shall be upon the two most difficult aspects of skippering a yacht for the beginner: pilotage and boat handling. Passage making is less important, though shall inevitably be enjoyed with particular benefit for any Competent Crew or Coastal Skipper students on board.
The course is conducted entirely on board one of our Sail Training yachts, which offer comfortable accommodation for 4/5 students and 1 instructor. Being a small company, run by Tim & Roland who are also your instructors, we can assure all our students first class instruction within an enjoyable, fun atmosphere. Your instructor freshly cooks all evening meals; so don't expect to lose any weight!
The course is conducted entirely on board one of our Sail Training yachts, which offer comfortable accommodation for 4/5 students and 1 instructor. Being a small company, run by Tim & Roland who are also your instructors, we can assure all our students first class instruction within an enjoyable, fun atmosphere. Your instructor freshly cooks all evening meals; so don't expect to lose any weight!
We have set out here to describe a typical Day Skipper course, which in practice is virtually impossible as sailing is always weather dependant, however, there are certainly many constants.
Join us on the yacht at Neyland Marina and meet your fellow crewmembers. We shall discuss what each student is hoping to achieve over the course and come up with a game plan, with due consideration of the weather. This is when our Day Skipper candidates can blind us with their meteorological knowledge - a basic one anyway. Charts shall, no doubt, make their way onto the table.
We shall enjoy our first meal together and then possibly try one of our local hostelries before climbing into our bags.
We shall make our way through the boat from stem to stern, pulling everything out of the cupboards and lockers. As we proceed we shall discuss all the gear and safety equipment encouraging everyone's input.
The day shall be spent familiarising ourselves with the boat, sailing within the vast Cleddau estuary, practising tacking, gybing, reefing and sail trimming. We shall eventually find ourselves being piloted into an anchorage and lying to our anchor or onto a swinging mooring for the night; close enough to take the dinghy ashore for a refreshment.
Difficult to describe as of course our destinations shall be totally weather dependant, we shall certainly do a minimum of 4 night hours.
Rest assured our Day Skipper students will get plenty of pilotage and close-quarter boat handling practice, visiting many of our harbours and islands around the Pembrokeshire coast. We encourage our Day Skippers to take their turn in skippering the yacht for a typical day-sail passage; naturally your instructor shall be on hand to answer questions.
RYA Cruising Log Book. Contains all syllabi for the courses which will be duly signed off by your instructor and will also be your personal log of sea miles, night hours etc. £4.75
RYA Cruising Log Book (G15) - £4.75
RYA Book of Navigation - £12.99
RYA Day Skipper practical and shorebased course notes - £ 7.90
Also available: books, nav gear etc.etc
Available from ourselves, plus p&p
For more info on our courses, contact us