RYA ICC Sailing Courses in Southampton

Many Mediterranean charter companies and port authorities now expect sailors to hold an International Certificate of Competence before taking charge of a yacht abroad. Designed for sailors with previous experience, these ICC preparation courses and assessments focus on practical skippering, yacht handling and navigation skills at a level similar to RYA Day Skipper.

⛵ Key Details

• Duration: Up to 4-hour assessment, weekend refresher or 5-day course
• Location: Shamrock Quay Marina, Southampton
• Course Type: ICC assessment and practical sailing preparation
• Minimum Age: 16

🧭 Key Skills

• Confined space yacht manoeuvres
• Mooring and anchoring techniques
• Navigation and pilotage
• Collision regulations and safety procedures
• Man overboard recovery

🌊 What to Expect

Sailing sessions are focused around the practical skills and decision-making expected during the ICC assessment process. Depending on the option chosen, guests may complete a standalone assessment, a shorter refresher weekend or a more in-depth five-day training course designed to strengthen confidence before assessment day. Practical exercises include yacht handling under power and sail, anchoring, pontoon manoeuvres, navigation exercises and man overboard recovery procedures.

Longer five-day courses provide additional time to revisit sailing techniques, build confidence skippering and spend more time handling the yacht in different conditions around the Solent. Training is adapted around the experience level of those onboard, allowing more time to focus on weaker areas before assessment. Throughout the course, Theo provides practical coaching based on real-world sailing situations rather than purely theory-led instruction.

Accommodation for the weekend and five-day course options is aboard a Bavaria 39’c yacht equipped with shared cabins, integrated heating and onboard facilities for liveaboard training. Depending on scheduling, joining the evening before departure may also be possible.

📍 Location

Tidal streams, busy marinas and varied coastal sailing routes make the Solent one of the UK’s strongest environments for practical skippering and yacht handling development. Conditions regularly change throughout the day, helping candidates gain experience working through realistic navigation and boat handling situations.

Shamrock Quay Marina provides quick access to central Solent sailing areas without lengthy delivery passages before training begins. Routes and exercises may vary depending on weather conditions, tides and the confidence level of the crew onboard.

🧤 Prerequisites

This is not a beginner-level sailing course or assessment. Candidates should already have practical sailing experience and feel reasonably confident handling a yacht under both sail and engine power before attending.

Preparation courses are available for sailors who want to refresh skills before assessment or improve confidence around marina manoeuvres and navigation. The minimum age requirement for the ICC is 16 years old.

⚓ Why Choose Us

Practical sailing ability and confidence are prioritised throughout every session rather than simply teaching candidates how to pass an assessment checklist. Theo’s experience sailing throughout the South Coast, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Far East helps bring realistic skippering knowledge into each exercise onboard.

Smaller group sizes create more opportunities for direct coaching, practical helm time and repeated manoeuvre practice during the course. Training takes place aboard a commercially coded Bavaria 39’c yacht inspected annually by the RYA for operational and safety standards.