Richard
Found the whole experience very enlightening and educational
Take your sailing to the next level with a five-day practical course designed for aspiring skippers. You’ll develop the skills to manage a yacht by day, including navigation, passage planning, sail handling, and crew management. The course combines intensive learning with real experience sailing around the Solent and South Coast harbours.
The course is structured as a practical assessment, with each student learning and being evaluated while participating in all aspects of yacht operation. You will be involved in preparation for sea, deck work, passage making, anchoring, mooring, and watchkeeping under the guidance of an RYA-qualified instructor.
During the week, you will practise navigation techniques including visual fixes, waypoints, tidal calculations, and use of electronic navigation aids. You’ll also develop skills in meteorology, emergency response, and the practical application of Day Skipper theory. Each day includes on-water exercises and time in different harbours or anchorages, depending on weather and tides, to give real-world experience.
Living aboard the yacht allows you to fully immerse yourself in life at sea, practising day-to-day routines, sail changes, engine checks, and general seamanship. By the end of the course, students are competent to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day and take responsibility for the vessel and crew under supervision.
The course departs from Port Hamble Marina in Hamble Village, positioned on the northern edge of the Solent. This sheltered yet varied area provides excellent conditions for practical training, with consistent winds and diverse tidal currents.
Sailing routes may include Cowes, Yarmouth, Beaulieu River, Lymington, The Needles & Alum Bay, Newtown Creek, Portsmouth, Wooton Creek, Osbourne Bay, Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, and other anchorages along the South Coast. These locations provide students with experience in mooring, anchoring, navigation, and passage planning in realistic tidal conditions.
Accommodation is included onboard the yacht for all four nights. The yachts used are Cougar and Panther, Reflex 38’s, which are racing-style boats ideal for practical training. They accommodate up to 8 but carry a maximum of 5 students plus the instructor. Sleeping arrangements are in basic bunk-style cabins with access to a galley, toilet, sink, and shower.
Students are advised to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Onboard living provides practical experience of daily routines, watchkeeping, and the domestic side of life at sea. If travelling from afar, booking accommodation the night before or after the course is recommended.
Students must have completed the RYA Competent Crew Course or have equivalent sailing experience. They should also have completed the RYA Day Skipper Theory course or possess knowledge to that level.
Recommended pre-course experience includes 5 days at sea, 100 miles sailed, 4 night hours, and 5 days living onboard a yacht. Students must be at least 16 years old and capable of living aboard in close quarters while taking part in practical sailing tasks.
We are dedicated to creating engaging sailing experiences for a growing community of seafaring adventurers. Our courses combine structured instruction with hands-on practice in a supportive and friendly environment. We aim to help students develop competence and confidence on board, from sail handling to navigation and emergency procedures, ensuring they gain lasting skills.
Our instructors have extensive experience racing and teaching across the UK, Channel Islands, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Turkey, and the Caribbean. They focus on helping students overcome fears, take charge of a watch, and become confident skippers capable of handling yachts safely. The course is designed to be both educational and enjoyable, giving students the skills to take the next steps in their sailing journey.
Found the whole experience very enlightening and educational
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