RYA Coastal Skipper practical sailing course syllabus

The Coastal Skipper course is intended to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a
yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.
Passage Planning
Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation,
victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required and
strategy.

Knows Customs procedures.
Preparation for sea
Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages.
Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating
responsibilities and equipment and engine checks.

Pilotage
Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of soundings, transits, clearing bearings,
buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations.

Can pilot a yacht by day and night.

Passage making and ability as skipper
Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew.
Can organise the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a yacht on passage.
Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends.
Is aware of crew welfare on passage
Can use electronic navigation equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including
the use of waypoints and routes.

Yacht handling under power
Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power.
All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide.

Yacht handling under sail
Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space.
Anchoring and mooring in various conditions or wind and tide.
Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing.

Adverse weather conditions
Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds.
Navigation and general in restricted visibility.
Emergency situations
Recovery of man overboard under power and sail.
Understands actions to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and
lifeboat rescues.

Reproduced with kind permission from the Royal Yachting Association

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