Richard
Found the whole experience very enlightening and educational
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Spend five days learning essential sailing skills while living and working on a cruising yacht. This course introduces beginners to seamanship, helming, sail handling, safety, and life on board. Sailing around the Solent and South Coast harbours, you’ll gain confidence while enjoying a week immersed in the routines of yacht life.
The course begins with an onboard safety briefing and familiarisation with the yacht’s layout. You’ll learn about the parts of the boat, ropework, sail handling, and helming techniques before taking these skills onto the water. Daily tasks are structured to give you hands-on experience while sailing in the Solent.
Each day, you’ll practise manoeuvres, docking, anchoring, and lookout duties, with guidance from the instructor at every stage. Weather and tides determine the route, giving experience across different conditions and harbours. Evenings are spent in marinas or quiet anchorages, allowing time to rest and consolidate skills.
Living and sleeping on board provides a practical understanding of the interior workings and domestic routines of a yacht. By the end of the course, you’ll be capable of taking part in general duties, handling sails and ropes, steering under sail and power, and contributing meaningfully as a member of the crew.
The course sails from Port Hamble Marina in Hamble Village, located on the northern edge of the Solent. This area offers sheltered waters, consistent winds, and a variety of tidal conditions ideal for beginners.
You’ll visit a mix of harbours and anchorages, including Cowes, Yarmouth, Beaulieu River, Lymington, The Needles & Alum Bay, Newtown Creek, Portsmouth, Wooton Creek, Osbourne Bay, Langstone Harbour, and Chichester Harbour. Each location offers opportunities to practise manoeuvring, mooring, and anchoring while enjoying the scenic Solent and South Coast waters.
Accommodation is provided on board the yacht for the full five nights. The yachts used are Cougar and Panther, Reflex 38’s, which sleep up to 8 but carry a maximum of 5 students plus the instructor. Sleeping arrangements are in basic but comfortable bunk style cabins, with access to a functional galley, sink, toilet, and shower.
If travelling from afar, it may be advisable to arrange accommodation the night before or after the course. Onboard accommodation allows you to live the routines of sailing fully, from watchkeeping to meal preparation, giving a real feel for life on a cruising yacht.
No prior sailing experience is required, though some familiarity with yachts or dinghies can be helpful. Participants should have a reasonable level of fitness and be confident in water.
You must be prepared to live aboard a yacht in close quarters, take part in daily sailing and domestic tasks, and work as part of a team to manage the boat safely and efficiently.
We are all about creating memorable sailing experiences that can be shared with a growing community of seafaring adventurers. Our focus is on practical, hands-on learning in a friendly environment, so you gain real skills that last rather than just short-term theory. We help sailors build confidence from the ground up, whether that’s learning knots, helming for the first time, or contributing as a crew member.
With over a decade of teaching and racing experience, our instructors bring real-world insight from sailing across the UK, Channel Islands, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Turkey, and the Caribbean. They thrive on helping students overcome fears, develop competence, and become capable, confident crew members. The team is committed to making sailing approachable, social, and rewarding, giving you the skills and confidence to enjoy life on the water safely.
No previous sailing experience is required. The course is designed to introduce complete beginners to cruising, covering personal safety, seamanship, helming, and general duties on a yacht. Everyone progresses at a similar pace, guided by the instructor.
Participants with some prior sailing experience may find aspects easier initially, but the course is structured so that all students gain confidence and practical skills. The aim is to become a competent crew member by the end of the week.
Each day starts with a briefing and demonstration of skills, from ropework and knot tying to sail handling and helming. Students then apply these skills on the water, rotating through tasks to gain hands-on experience.
Evenings are spent in a harbour or anchorage, allowing rest and reflection. Each day builds on the previous one, with students gradually taking on more responsibilities to develop competence and confidence.
The course explores the Solent and South Coast, including harbours and anchorages such as Cowes, Yarmouth, Beaulieu River, Lymington, The Needles & Alum Bay, Newtown Creek, Portsmouth, Wooton Creek, Osbourne Bay, Langstone Harbour, and Chichester Harbour.
Weather and tides determine the exact route. This variety gives practical experience in open water, narrow channels, docking, anchoring, and watchkeeping, helping students develop versatile sailing skills.
Students sail on Reflex 38 yachts, Cougar and Panther, which are racing-style boats adapted for training. They sleep up to 8 but carry a maximum of 5 students plus instructor, with bunk-style cabins, galley, sink, toilet, and shower.
The yachts provide a realistic sailing experience, allowing students to practise helming, sail handling, ropework, and daily routines in a live-aboard environment.
Yes. Accommodation is provided on the yacht for all five nights, giving you practical experience of life aboard, from watchkeeping to meal preparation.
Overnight stops are in harbours or quiet anchorages, subject to weather and tides. Living on board allows you to develop familiarity with both deck and interior routines.
All meals and refreshments while onboard are included. Students participate in meal planning and preparation, learning the practicalities of living aboard.
Any meals or drinks purchased ashore are not included and are paid for individually.
Most evening meals are eaten ashore.
Safety instruction covers personal safety equipment, man-overboard procedures, fire precautions, emergency equipment, and proper use of lifejackets and harnesses.
Drills and practical exercises reinforce knowledge on board, ensuring students can respond appropriately to different situations.
Students should bring layers suitable for changing weather, swimwear, towels, personal items, and any medication required. Waterproof clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended.
A sleeping bag and pillow are needed for the bunk-style cabins. A detailed kit list is provided prior to the course to ensure proper preparation.
The RYA Competent Crew course prepares you to take part in further training, such as RYA Day Skipper Theory, or to gain experience as a crew member on other yachts.
Graduates can confidently join social cruises, charter trips, or racing events to build sea miles, improve skills, and progress in their sailing journey.
About the centre
Port Hamble Marina, Satchell Ln, Hamble-le-Rice, Southampton SO31 4QD
Found the whole experience very enlightening and educational
Operated by The London School of Sailing, a partner of adventuro.
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