RYA Coastal Skipper

The RYA Coastal Skipper practical is an advanced motor course for the more ambitious skipper to improve their skills, take charge and learn to make full use of the boat on longer more challenging passages.

It is essential that you have attended the corresponding theory course or have navigation and theory skills to the level of the RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course as there is not time for the instructor to cover this too whilst on board.

By the end of the course you should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night as well as being able to handle the yacht in more demanding situations and conditions. It is a satisfying but intensive week and this course will help you gain the confidence on coastal passages.

You should have handling to the standard of the Day Skipper practical motor cruising course and navigation to the standard of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased course and have some skippering experience of at least;

• 15 days sea time (2 as skipper)
• 800 recorded miles
• 8 night hours

Minimum age: 17

What's Included?

• You will be coached over the full RYA course syllabus as you live aboard our motorboat.
• All meals are provided for the duration of the course including a home cooked wholesome and hearty evening meal, exactly what you need after a day’s our on the water!
• Accommodation on board you are required to bring a sleeping bag with you & you can expect to stay overnight at other local marinas
• Parking - available at Suffolk Yacht Harbour
• All mooring fees, safety equipment, fuel and tuition from one of our experienced RYA instructors.

Maximum teaching ratio - 4:1 

Course language - English

• 5 day course on board our motor yacht
• 5 day course on your own boat - please contact us for more information on own boat tuition and prices

RYA Coastal Skipper for Motor Completion Certificate - you are required to bring a passport photo with you. 

Waterproof Clothing - If the weather is not looking great or is forecast to be a bit chilly or windy you can hire wet weather gear from us.

Musto Waterproofs available in S, M, L, XL and XXL. £32.00 for the week

Comfort Pack- You are asked to bring the below comfort pack items with you; however if you don't want to bring your best duck down pillow or you haven't got a sleeping bag, don't worry you can hire a comfort pack from us!

A Comfort Pack comprises of a freshly laundered sleeping bag with liner, pillow, pillow case and towel. £16.00 for the week.

Passage planning

• Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the motor cruiser, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required and strategy
• Understands fuel consumption at various speeds and can calculate fuel required for passage including reserve
• Aware of the effects of fouling on boat speed and fuel consumption
• Knows customs procedures
• Preparation for sea
• Is aware of safety equipment for offshore passages
• Can prepare a motor cruiser for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment, fuel and engine checks

Pilotage

• Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of soundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations
• Can pilot a motor cruiser by day and night.
• Passage making and ability as skipper
• Can take charge of a motor cruiser and direct the crew
• Can organize the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a motor cruiser on passage
• Aware of the significance of meteorological trends
• Is aware of crew welfare on passage
• Can use electronic navigational equipment for pre-planning and undertaking a passage and can update when underway, especially the use of waypoints and routes.

Radar

• Understands the use of radar as an aid to navigation, pilotage, collision warning and collision avoidance

Boat handling

• Can control the boat effectively in a confined space including all berthing and unberthing situations in all conditions of wind and tide
• Can berth and unberth in simple situations using one engine on a twin engine boat and the use of lines whilst doing this
• Avoids excessive use of power
• Adverse weather conditions
• Preparation for heavy weather and handling in strong winds
• Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

Emergency situations

• Recovery of man overboard
• Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter rescues.