| Course | Pre course requirements & assumed knowledge | Duration | Course content | Ability after course |
Start Yachting  | None | 2 days | This course provides a short introduction to sail cruising for novices. By the end of the course, participants will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, rope work and be aware of safety on board. For dates and prices click here. | Basic sailing experience |
| International Certificate of Competence | | Assessment or Issued by RYA on attaining Day Skipper | Many countries require visiting yachtsmen to hold a certificate of competence. If you are planning to sail or cruise within Europe and the Mediterranean the RYA recommends skippers to hold the International Certificate of Competence (ICC). | |
| Competent Crew | None | 5 days or
2½ w'ends | This is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines. For dates and prices click here. | Useful crew member |
Day Skipper Shore based
| Some practical experience useful but not required | 40 hours and 2 exam papers | Beginners and Crew who would like to become actively involved in navigation should attend. The syllabus gives would-be skippers the knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. | Background knowledge to skipper a small yacht |
| Close quarters manoeuvring | Some practical experience useful but not required | A weekend | If you ever worry about berthing or handling a yacht in the marina, this is an invaluable day of instruction. We gently and carefully take you through the often ignored principles of handling a yacht and build your confidence and ability. We even show what to do if you ever get caught by a gust of wind or tide.
You'll spend the weekend with a small group of others practicing maneuvering in and around a variety of marinas and other berthing situations at a variety of Solent locations. Possible subjects covered include - turning in confined spaces, springing off, best use of wind & tide, short handed berthing, holding station, coming to a mooring under sail & use of the emergency tiller. | Confidently handle a yacht within a marina |
| 15/17 May | Fri eve 15 May to Sun eve 17 May | 2 days
£199 + £20 food, fuel etc | | 2 places available |
| Day Skipper Practical | 5 days sea time, 100 miles & 4 night hours Basic navigation & sailing ability | 5 days or
2½ w'ends | The practical course gives you a chance to take charge on short passages under instruction with plenty of advice and help from the instructor. Designed for tidal waters. Find out what happened on a real day skipper course click here. For dates and prices click here. | Skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day |
| Coastal Skipper / YM Shore based | Navigation ability to Day Skipper shore based standard | 40 hours and 3 exam papers | A course for more experienced skippers which takes them up to the theory knowledge required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Practical Examination. | Background knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day & night |
| Coastal Skipper Practical | 15 days sea time (2 as skipper), 300 miles & 8 night hours Navigation to CS shore-based standard, sailing to Day Skipper standard | 5 days or 2½ w'ends plus exam w'end | This is an advanced skippering course for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation and are usually aspiring towards the Yachtmaster Certificate. Designed for Tidal waters. For dates and prices click here. | Skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day & night |
| Large boat tuition | Coastal Skipper | A weekend | Experience handling and skippering a boat of at least twice the volume of a normal sea school boat. | Confidence to skipper or charter a larger boat |
| Yachtmaster Offshore preparation & exam | Navigation and sailing ability to Coastal Skipper standard | 5 days | Tuition and practice of advanced skippering skills for experienced sailors leading to the Yachtmaster exam. For dates and prices click here. | Confident and highly competent skipper |
| Race training | Some sailing experience | A weekend | Practice starts, rounding marks, crew organisation, race tactics. | Race experience - crewing, helming & skippering |
| Spinnaker training | Some sailing experience | A weekend | Hoists, drops, trimming, dip pole gybes, end-to-end gybes, broaching, wraps, using a snuffer. | Confidence in flying spinnakers for pleasure or racing |
| Heavy weather sailing | Some sailing experience | A weekend | Sail handling in strong winds, storm sails, active techniques for heavy weather, passive techniques including heaving to, towing warps and using a sea anchor. | Confidence in heavy weather |
