Get ready for a full‑week skippering course on a traditional wooden sailing vessel, designed to prepare you for the Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore exam. You’ll live, learn and sail from Plymouth for seven nights in a small group, gaining practical experience in a real‑world setting. All onboard accommodation, meals, waterproofs and safety equipment are included to keep the focus on your training.
Across the week you’ll be immersed in a skippering environment, living on board and operating the vessel as a team. The first days focus on sharpening all core skills: sail handling, helm work on both sail and engine, close‑quarters manoeuvring, pilotage, passage planning and navigation. Expect day and night watches, real tidal streams, varied harbour entries and exits, making decisions, and performing as part of a crew under instruction. The instructor will assess your performances and tailor training to your needs, so you’ll receive plenty of individual feedback.
In the latter part of the week the focus shifts to consolidation and exam preparation. You’ll practise full passages, refine your command role, deal with real scenarios, master safety and emergency drills, and sharpen your tidal awareness and night navigation. When you and the instructor agree you’re ready, an external examiner from the RYA is brought on board to assess your performance in real conditions. Successful candidates earn their Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore certificate of competence.
The course takes place aboard a historic wooden sailing vessel operated by us, offering a genuine traditional sailing experience. She is rigged and maintained to a high standard, with classic oak frames, teak planking and strong structural design, giving you the feel of sailing a vessel with real heritage. The size and handling of the boat make her ideal for intensive training with a small group – everyone gets hands‑on involvement.
Below deck you’ll find comfortable bunk cabins, communal saloon and galley functioning as the live‑aboard environment for the week. On deck you’ll engage in raising and lowering sails, helming, watch‑keeping and crew duties. This vessel provides the perfect setting to build skippering confidence in real conditions, in a supportive but demanding environment.
Starting and ending at Plymouth Yacht Haven in Plymouth, the course gives you access to one of the UK’s most varied and challenging coastal sailing areas. From this base you’ll engage with tidal waters, estuaries, open sea passages and variable weather – all within reach. The combination of sheltered harbours and exposed coastal stretches makes this an ideal training ground for skippering.
During the week you’ll sail along the South Devon and Cornwall coast, tackling real tides, navigation around islands and headlands, and watching how weather and wind conditions evolve. The variety and complexity of the waters around Plymouth give you a full spectrum of skippering scenarios – excellent preparation for the exam and beyond.
Candidates should already hold the theory and practical experience required by the RYA for the Yachtmaster exam. For example, to take the Yachtmaster Coastal exam you’ll need approximately 30 days at sea, 800 nautical miles logged, 12 night hours and two days as skipper (reduced if you hold a Coastal Skipper certificate).
You must also hold a recognised radio operators certificate (for example GMDSS Short Range Certificate) and a valid first aid certificate. The examiner will expect these documents alongside your logbook and ID.
With a small group size of just four candidates, you receive intensive personal coaching, plenty of time at the helm and direct feedback from an experienced instructor. The live‑aboard format means you’re living and learning in the real environment of skippering a vessel for a week, not just day sessions.
In addition, your training takes place aboard a vessel with character and heritage, giving you more than just a standard course – you’ll appreciate traditional wooden boat sailing while preparing for serious qualifications. Booking this course also supports our wider mission to make sailing accessible and inclusive, so you’ll be contributing to something worthwhile as you build your skills.
About the centre
Mount Batten, Plymouth
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