There are currently two types of 'Coastal Skipper' qualification. The RYA course completion certificate and the examined RYA/MCA Certificate of competence.
Both certificates are supported by the same theory course - RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased. Completion of the theory course is not a pre-course requirement
but you will need the level of knowledge imparted by following such a course, irrespective of how you gain that knowledge.
The RYA Course completion certificate is gained by completing the practical course syllabus over five days on a yacht. At the end of the course if all the boxes are ticked
you will be awarded the certificate.
This is the same format as an RYA Day Skipper practical course and can be viewed as a step on from Day Skipper.
The RYA/MCA Certificate of Competence is somewhat more rigorous. You will be examined by an independent examiner in the same way as a Yachtmaster Offshore candidate is.
While there is no official requirement to take any pre-exam training most candidates do in fact join a school boat for a week of intensive pre-exam preparation.
The pre-course experience requirements vary between the two different Coastal Skipper certificates:
RYA Course Completion Certificate:
Minimum pre-course experience:
15 Days sea time, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours.
Assumed Knowledge: Navigation to Coastal Skipper Shorebased standard.
Sailing to Day Skipper Practical standard.
Course content:
Skippering techniques for coastal and offshore passages
Ability after the course:
Skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
Minimum course duration: 5 Days
RYA/MCA Certificate of Competence:
Previous experience and minimum sea time:
30 days sea time, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours.
Assumed Knowledge: Navigation to Coastal Skipper Shorebased standard.
Sailing to Day Skipper Practical standard.
Form of examination:
Practical
Certification required before examination:
VHF licence
First Aid certificate
Ability after the course:
Skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
Minimum exam duration:
6 to 10 hours for one candidate, 8 to 14 for two candidates.
Minimum age:
17
Note 1:
If you have an RYA Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate the seatime requirement is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as
skipper, 400 miles and 12 night hours.
Note 2:
If you need a Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of
practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work on commercial vessels up to 24m in length,
operating in category 3, 4, 5 and 6 waters - that is up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point in fine weather and daylight.
Note 3:
Certification required for commercial endorsement:
RYA Sea Survival certificate
ML5 medical
Courses
We have arranged our calendar for maximum convenience, grouping the essential courses together.
Coastal Skipper theory runs the week before the MCA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster exam prep week, with VHF Radio and First Aid scheduled for
the weekend in-between with Sea Survival and occasionally Offshore Safety around the same time.
RYA Coastal skipper practical (course completion certificate) courses run from Sunday evening to the following Friday.
RYA/MCA Coastal skipper exam prep courses run from Sunday evening to Friday when the instructor steps off the boat to be replaced by the examiner.
You can expect to sail well into the night and spend much of the next day on the water. Exams rarely run into Sunday. The number of students and
weather conditions dictate timings.
Dates and fees below, or click Calendar or call 08456 80 90 69 - 7 Days a week
Also see:
Package deals and Discounts
Our fee's include oilskins, moorings, food and all incidental costs except meals ashore and water taxis.
RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate
Sunday evening to Friday - £475 October - March, £550 April - September.
Dates
June 13 - June 18
June 27 - July 2
July 4 - July 9
July 11 - July 16
July 25 - July 30
August 1 - August 6
August 8 - August 13
August 15 - August 20
August 22 - August 27
August 29 - September 3
September 12 - September 17
September 26 - October 1
October 10 - October 15
October 24 - November 12
November 21 - November 26
December 5 - December 10
RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper
Sunday evening to Saturday/Sunday - £600 October - March, £650 April - September.
Exam fee extra, £149 - payable to the examiner on the day
Dates
February 21 - February 27/28
April 18 - April 24/25
June 6 - June 12/13
September 5 - September 11/12
November 14 - November 20/21
Click below for:
Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory
Coastal Skipper Resources:
Meteorology
IRPCS
VHF Radio Phonetic Alphabet
Further information can be found in RYA publication G15, Sail Cruising & Yachtmaster logbook and on the RYA website at: www.rya.org.uk
For more information call 08456 80 90 69 - 7 days week
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RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course & Exam - Notes from an Examiner
The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is a good step to take after RYA Day Skipper or a
good improver for those with some previous experience. It is not a beginners course and
assumes that you have a good grounding in navigation and sailing, such as by attending a
Day Skipper practical course and completing an RYA Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper theory course.
Talk to Mustang if you are not sure which course you would get the most from.
This is a five day course living aboard a sailing yacht and the syllabus for Coastal
Skipper is detailed in the RYA Syllabus and Logbook. It begins with an introduction to the
vessel and its gear, especially the safety aspects, then the work begins! As the Coastal
Skipper Practical course progresses the yacht will be making a number of passages during
daylight and night hours, and you will be taking charge of parts of the navigation and skippering
with guidance from your Instructor. You can expect to do some thorough revision of theory
topics such as weather, passage planning and navigation as you will need them! Much of the
Coastal Skipper course, then, is applying the skills to practical activities. During these you
are likely to practice night pilotage and improve your boat handling under sail and power.
It can be a very full week but enjoyed by all who take part.
Time spent preparing for the Coastal Skipper course is time well spent. Have a look through
the lights, shapes and sounds of the collision regulations and brush up on your tidal
calculations. Some research on the likely cruising area can be useful to ensure that you
get the most from the course. On successful completion of the week the RYA Coastal Skipper
Practical course completion certificate is issued. This is especially useful for those
going on to do the RYA Coastal Skipper practical exam as it counts for half of the experience
miles required.
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Value for money?
Our prices are not at the 'bucket shop' end of the market, and with good reason.
We have put together courses we would be happy taking as students.
Big boats, small crew, good food and great instructors.
None of which comes cheap...
Four students, not five
Only four students aboard a bigger than everage school yacht means more quality instructor time and a civilised living environment for you.
Great Instructors
The best instructors don't come cheap. Our instructors are the kind of people we like to spend time with, intelligent and relaxed. You'll like them too.
Home cooked food.
We put lots of great food aboard. Home cooked evening meals and plenty of snacks to keep you going.
Minutiae
We don't charge for foul weather gear, that’s £6 or £7 a day you don't have to find and we don't run a 'kitty' on board, there is no need. You only pay for meals ashore and water taxi's.
Free Course
The course fee includes a one day RYA shorebased course, take your pick.
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