Practical Training Courses
RYA Start Yachting Course
This is the most basic RYA Practical Course and consists of a single weekend of sailing, learning the basics of steering, sailing and acting a useful crew member during marina maneuvres.
We don't generally recommend this as an official course as the same experience can be readily gained by simply going on a Cruising or Adventurous trip at a cheaper price (see above).
Pre-course requirements: None
Course Length: 2 Days
RYA Competent Crew Course
This is the second level up on the RYA Yacht Training Scheme. It aims to give thorough teaching in all elements of crewing a yacht and by the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, be a useful crew member during marina maneuvres and assist in all the day to day routines.
We don't currently encourage members to go on this course as we feel the same experience can be readily gained by simply going on a Cruising or Adventurous trip and at a cheaper price! If there is a specific reason why you would like to do the RYA Competent Crew course then by all means we are happy for you to sign up on any of the RYA Practical Training courses we run and indicate that you would like to do the Competent Crew course. It is perhaps the fastest and most thorough way to gain the "crew training", but generally you gain fewer miles than on a Cruising or Adventurous trip...
Pre-course requirements: None
Course Length: 5 Days (3 if Start Yachting already held)
RYA Day Skipper Practical Course
The Day Skipper Practical course trains you to be able to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day. Ideally, you will have completed your Day Skipper Theory course, and have around 100 miles of practical experience as crew on a yacht. No previous skippering or boat handling experience is necessary. The course will lay emphasis on basic fundamentals of handling the boat under sail and power, so that on completion you will be confident to skipper a yacht from start to finish.
Pre-course requirements: RYA Day Skipper Theory + 100 miles & 5 days on board experience.
Course Length: 5 days, either continously or as 3 weekends, or a weekend + 3 day course.
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course
This course is for those with a good amount of previous yachting experience (minimum 300 miles & 10 days on board), which includes a knowledge of the basics of boat handling under power and sail. This course will extend all areas of skippering from boat handling under power and sail to navigation, pilotage and importantly command ability when skippering. It will stretch students and take them from a basic knowledge to a true fluency in sailing to enable them to safely skipper a yacht by day or night on coastal passages. This is the ideal RYA course to prepare students for their RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster exams, but in general it should not be thought of as an exam preparation course, but more a course that is done some time before the exam is done, in order to have time to lay down solid foundations and correct bad habits, after which the student should continue to build on their skills and what they have learnt before then returning to do exam preparation and take the exam. This is not always necessary, and exactly how this course and a subsequent exam is scheduled will depend on the student, their aims and timetable, and the advice of the Training Officer and Chief Instructor. Early discussion with the Training Officer and Chief Instructor is advised in order to individualise the training.
Pre-course requirements: RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory + 300 miles & 10 days on board experience.
Course Length: 5 days continuously.
RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachmaster Offshore Certificates of Competence
All CUYC Skippers must have as a minimum standard the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence. The other parts of the CUYC Training Scheme will actively prepare candidates and members will be asked at the appropriate point, if they wish to train to become a skipper. Anyone who would like to train to become a skipper should e-mail in the first instance the Training Officer
Candidates for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence must has the following minimum experience:
- 30 days on board a yacht
- 2 days as skipper
- 800 nautical miles (logged)
- 12 night hours (on watch)
- VHF/SRC License
- First Aid Certificate
The experience must have been gained within the pervious 10 years, and must have been whilst taking an active part in the handling of the yacht
The exam will last roughly 8 hours and will consist of the candidate demonstrating his/her practical ability in conducting the yacht safely on a short passage (c. 10-15M), including berthing and unberthing under power, picking up a mooring or anchoring under sail, and demonstrating a man overboard under sail. The exam will also include some practical navigation exercises such as pilotage, blind navigation, and EP/CTS/fixes. There will be theoectical questions covering safety, heavy weather sailing, IRPCS, meteorology, general seamanship, and the responsibilities of the skipper.
Candidates for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence must has the following minimum experience:
- 50 days on board a yacht
- 5 days as skipper (including 5 passages over 60M - two at night and two as skipper)
- 2500 nautical miles (logged)
- VHF/SRC License
- First Aid Certificate
The experience must have been gained within the pervious 10 years, and must have been whilst taking an active part in the handling of the yacht
The exam will last roughly 12 hours and will consist of the candidate demonstrating his/her practical ability in conducting the yacht safely on a short passage (c. 10-15M), including berthing and unberthing under power, picking up a mooring or anchoring under sail, and demonstrating a man overboard under sail. The exam will also include some practical navigation exercises such as pilotage, blind navigation, and EP/CTS/fixes. There will be theoectical questions covering safety, heavy weather sailing, IRPCS, meteorology, geneeral seamanship, and the responsibilities of the skipper.
The syllabuses of the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal and RYA/MCA Yachmaster Certificates of Competence are the same, but a higher levels of knowledge and expertise will be expected of Yachtmaster Offshore candidates, and the practical situations set will be of a more complex nature and require a more precise result.
CUYC Skipper
The CUYC Skipper is overall responsible for all actions of the yacht and on the yacht, including safety of the crew, and the navigation and seamanlike management of the yacht. He/she may delegate these responsibilities to the CUYC Mate and other members of the crew, but it does not detract from his/her ultimate responsibility for the yacht and her crew.
In order to become a CUYC Skipper it is necessary to gain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal or the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is the minimum standard for club skippers and allows them to freely charter yachts and run CUYC trips.
RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence
Candidates for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence must have completed the following qualifying passage and be holders of the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence:
- 600 miles run on the log
- 200 miles of which whilst more than 50 miles from land
- At sea continuously for more than 96 hours
- Be fully involved with the planning and execution of the passage as skipper or mate.
- Submit sights taken whilst on passage to include as a minimum a sun run sun and a compass check.
There are two exams; a written and an oral exam. Exemption from the written exam is gained for holders of the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased certificate. The oral exam will last roughly 4 hours and will consist of the candidate discussing his/her qualifying passage as well as general questions on ocean passage making, world meteorology, and celestial navigation. Questions may also be asked on any of the syllabus of the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore exam.