Up to £900 (approx 1,400 US $ or 1,100 Euros) to include the theory and practical courses, depending on the time of year you wish to do the practical course.
You will be able to confidently skipper a yacht in moderate conditions during daylight hours. You will be able to lead a crew safely in a range of situations and weather conditions. Many yacht charter companies around the world recognise this qualification and you should be able to marina hop around the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic on a charter yacht upon qualification.
You can skipper a boat on coastal passages in daylight hours, and if pushed should be able to navigate after dark in reasonable conditions.
This involves a theory course and a practical course. You can sit the theory course at many night schools, though you can also do an intensive theory course at a sailing school. The practical course is done over five days at a recognised RYA training establishment.
You can do this anywhere that offers RYA training.
Yes. RYA instructors operate around the globe!
You should have at a minimum five logged days on a yacht covering at least one hundred miles and four night hours. If you’re into sailing enough that you want to do this course, this is a very basic minimum for someone who is into sailing enough that they want to skipper a boat alone. A five day non stop passage could cover 1000 miles easily while gaining a minimum of 20 night hours. Even port hopping you could get from Dover to Penzance with a good few night hours!
The Theory course requires 40 hours of learning that can be done by online distance learning, night school or on an intensive week long course at a sailing school.
The Practical course requires five days of training at an RYA recognised training establishment.
You will only attain your Day Skipper once you have completed the theory and practical courses.
Theory: Seamanship basics, coastal navigation basics, chartwork, electronic chartwork, position fixing, plotting a course, weather forecasting, tides, meteorology, collision regulations, parts of a boat and a vessel’s construction, and finally emergency and safety procedures.
Practical: This will take you from being a good crewmember to being a skipper. As such you will learn the basics of preparing a passage right through to yacht handling under sail and night sailing.
You should consider taking the RYA Coastal Skipper course.
You can apply for the International Certificate of Competence through the RYA on completion of this course.
Look around this website for an idea of where to do the course. Look at the RYA website here (practical) or here (theory) for exact details of the course.
Further resources can be found here.