Welcome to the Solent Sail School of Sailing

Here you'll find details of our 2007 programme of courses - content, pre-requisites, duration, typical itinerary, locations, prices and dates.

Make the most of the WINDY season. Take a course between October and March and enjoy lower prices plus better sailing.

Dates for the 2008 season can be reached via the 'dates & prices' link above.

In addition to the formal courses, we provide mile building opportunities via our monthly charter-a-berth trips, and own boat tuition.

We also provide general instruction in preparation for Department of Transport exams and larger boat experience.

And for powerboat courses, we recommend On the Water Training

We are an approved RYA training centre and offer the full range of RYA practical courses. Traditionally these courses take place over 5 days from Sunday evening until Friday afternoon, but we know it is difficult to justify using a week of your holiday for a sailing course so we have pioneered the weekend option whereby courses take place over 2 or 3 weekends, the former including one Friday or Monday as well. Our instructors are chosen for their sailing experience, teaching ability and inter-personal skills and we encourage your feedback to ensure that standards are maintained. We only use high quality yachts loaded with the sort of extra equipment that you want to use when you are chartering. And we provide good quality food throughout the course and plenty of it!
Course Pre course requirements & assumed knowledge Duration Course content Ability after course Boat Handling None 1 or 2 days 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. Experience of handling a yacht within a marina 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, ropework and be aware of safety on board. 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 3 weekends or 1 w'end & 1 3 day w'end 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. 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 arms would be skippers with enough 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 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 and use of the emergency tiller. Confidently handle a yacht within a marina Day Skipper Practical 5 days sea time, 100 miles & 4 night hours Basic navigation & sailing ability 5 days or 3 weekends or 1 w'end & a 3 day w'end 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 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 3 weekends or 1 w'end & a 3 day w'end 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. 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. 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

Please send questions or comments about this website to web@solentsail.co.uk.

Copyright © 2007 Solent Sail Ltd, Registered in England No. 2798092 at 5 Hilltop Road, Kings Langley, WD4 8NS
Directors M Thomas BSc FCA, J Bolton