Pre Course Experience

RYA Start Yachting

No experience required for our RYA Start Yachting course.

RYA Competent Crew

• No experience required for our RYA Competent Crew course
• The RYA recommend the minimum age for this course is 12 years old. Children under 12 are generally not strong enough or large enough to use the yachts equipment effectively

RYA Online Theory

No experience required

However, before choosing Yachtmaster theory or Yachtmaster Ocean theory you should ideally be confident in your knowledge of the basics of navigation, meteorology and Rules of the Road.

Novice to RYA Day Skipper

• No experience required for our Novice to RYA Day Skipper course
• Minium age 16

RYA Day Skipper Fastrack

• RYA Competent Crew course.  Check you're up to scratch and can do everything on the Competent Crew Syllabus 
• 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht
• Minium age 16

RYA Day Skipper

• RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper theory.  Check you're up to scratch and can do everything on the Competent Crew Syllabus and have the Day Skipper Theory knowledge, and you'll know you're ready for this RYA Day Skipper practical course
• 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht
• Minium age 16

RYA Coastal Skipper Combined

• RYA Day Skipper or equivalent knowledge.  Check you're up to scratch and confident with all aspects of the Day Skipper syllabus and you'll know you're ready for this Coastal Skipper Combined course
• 15 days sailing, 2 as Skipper, 300 miles and 8 night hours
• Minimum age 17

RYA Coastal Skipper

• RYA Day Skipper and completion of Yachtmaster theory or equivalent knowledge.  Check you're up to scratch with your theory here.
• 15 days sailing, 2 as Skipper, 300 miles and 8 night hours
• Minimum age 17

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal

• RYA Coastal Skipper or equivalent experience (check your know your theory here and practical here)
• A minimum of 800 logged miles - half of which must be conducted in tidal waters, within the last 10 years, including 30 days on board, 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours.  Half of these qualifying miles must be gained on a vessel less than 24m loa and less than 80 tonnes
• For holders of the RYA Coastal Skipper qualification, the seatime requirement is reduced to 400 miles, 20 days living on board, two days as skipper and 12 night hours
• First Aid Certificate / STCW 95/10
• VHF Certificate
• You must over 17 years of age

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 

• RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Coastal or equivalent experience (check you know your theory here)
• A minimum of 2500 logged miles - half of which need to be conducted in tidal waters, within the last 10 years, including at least 5 passages over 60 miles with two overnight and two as skipper. Half of these qualifying miles must be gained on a vessel less than 24m loa and less than 80 tonnes
• First Aid Certificate / STCW 95/10
• VHF Certificate
• You must be over 18 years of age