The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical training course is a challenging week that develops and tests the skills and techniques required to skipper a yacht safely, on much longer coastal and offshore passages by day and night. Successful completion positions you perfectly to start notching up the 60 mile passages you'll need if you're aiming for the RYA Yachtmaster qualification.

Considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation is essential for longer passages. As a result, to book this course you must have 15 days sailing (including 8 night hours) and knowledge equivalent to RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster theory.


What‘s covered on this course?

This training course will test and improve your ability to apply navigational and meteorological skills with high level of confidence and accuracy. You will be asked to plan a passage and execute it, demonstrating your ability to take command. You will also be expected to recognise the potential issues associated with longer passages and manage all aspects of your yacht to maximise crew comfort and safety.

As well as passage planning, crew leadership and seamanship skills, you'll practice advanced chart work, use electronic navigation techniques, undertake pilotage by night and consider longer range weather forecasts. A Coastal Skipper must be good at boat handling too, so you will receive lots of practice mooring the yacht in various conditions. Additionally, while currently not part of the RYA syllabus we feel it essential that a Coastal skipper has experience of downwind sailing, so wherever possible we will incorporate, poled out headsails or use of a spinnaker into this course.

What experience do I need?

15 days sailing (including 8 night hours) and knowledge equivalent to RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster theory. If you haven't yet completed your Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory, why not take a look at our 12 day Coastal Combined Course or alternatively you could give it a whirl in the comfort of your own home and go at your own pace? Take a look at our online theory courses.

What's included?

  • Accommodation onboard throughout the course
  • A generous weekly budget to cover the food provisioning of the yacht
  • Waterproof clothing
  • Bedding and towels 
  • Safety equipment
  • Mooring fees
  • All charts and publications

Upon successful completion you will be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper tidal qualification. If you are looking to gain qualifications quickly you may wish to consider our Extended Yachtmaster Preparation Course or our Professional Yachtmaster Fastrack Program.

Course schedule:

Starts: 18:00 onwards

Ends: 16:30 

* Please note, the earliest return flight you could catch from Gibraltar Airport is from 17:00

This is a 5 day course.

Course cost from: £999

Option for own cabin from: £1399

To guarantee your own cabin for the duration of your course, please select available dates below.

Please note: If you choose not to guarantee your own cabin, you may be allocated a saloon berth.

If you are making a booking for two people and are happy to share a cabin with each other, you do not need to select the own cabin option.

What's next?

Once you’ve completed this course, experience is likely to be the only thing standing between you and the RYA Yachtmaster qualification. You may want to consider a Mile-building adventure or a Yachtmaster preparation week.

How to book:

It's easy! Just select the training course date you want below. Click on book, confirm that this is the course and date that you want and then complete your details on our secure online booking system. A 25% deposit is all that's needed, with the balance payable 45 days before your course starts.

SELECT YOUR COURSE

Book online now

Course cost:

From:

£1099


Option for own cabin:

From:

£1399

 

To guarantee your own cabin for the duration of your course, please select available dates below.

Please note: If you choose not to guarantee your own cabin, you may be allocated a saloon berth.

If you are making a booking for two people and are happy to share a cabin with each other, you do not need to select the own cabin option.

RYA Training Center

See what our clients say

  • Great week with Jolly Parrot our instructors Ian and Lissie were excellent and prepared us above and beyond for our Yachtmaster assessment at the end of the week. Would definitely recommend for any of your training.


    Ben
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  • Amazing 10 days with my instructor Ian working on my yacht master coastal prep course, which I successfully passed the day after the course. Great company couldn’t recommend them enough booking was easy and very well informed thanks to Rachel working behind the scenes.


    Greg
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  • Absolutely incredible! Recently, I completed Jolly Parrot’s ‘Novice to Day Skipper’ course, and it was one of the best experiences of my life! Not only did I learn to sail, but the course also improved my confidence massively. The instructors were all so lovely and incredibly knowledgeable. Greg was my instructor for the Day Skipper portion and I couldn’t imagine anyone better suited for the job - An excellent instructor with impeccable humour. I met some amazing people during this course (namely my crew mates Bene, Doug and Flo), and overall had a wonderful time :)


    Georgia
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  • Novice to Day Skipper course with Alex & Jason I was eager to learn to sail and at the same time to have relaxing time (holiday-like). It worked well for me, the instructors were cool and I was lucky to meet good colleagues sailors and have good time on the way. Keep rocking Jolly.


    Nikola
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  • 16-week Fast-Track I completed the 16-week Fast-Track program with Jolly Parrot, starting as a complete beginner with no prior sailing experience. From the moment I stepped aboard, the instructors—Ian, Greg, Rob, and Jason—became my guides, transforming my raw inexperience into something far more seasoned and confident. With their patience, skill, and unshakable belief in every student, they taught me far more than I could have imagined. If you’re considering joining, I can wholeheartedly recommend Jolly Parrot. The program is well-structured, and the instructors are highly knowledgeable, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop their sailing skills.


    Tobias
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  • We spent a wonderful 11 days in November 2021 with Jolly Parrot. I completed the Coastal Skipper Combined course and my wife the Comp Crew. Instructors Flipper, IanG, Hailey, and Tom were all exceptional in their own unique way and we came away with more rounded skills and knowledge as a result of their patient teaching methods. Clive and Rachel did a fabulous job of shuffling schedules and boats to accommodate our different experience levels. Expect to be challenged on the Coastal Skipper course! We made some abiding memories, some long-term connections and friends, and hope to return soon for the next challenge maybe a mile-builder.


    James
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