Coastal Skipper
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing Course Syllabus
The aim of this course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night.
This course lasts 5 days and costs GBP£1100
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.
Understands fuel consumption at different speeds and can calculate fuel required for a passage, including reserve.
Understands Customs procedures.
Understands yacht’s stability.
Pilotage
Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations.
Can pilot a yacht by day and night.
Emergency Situations
Recovery of man overboard under power and sail.
Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues.
Can describe to crew members the effect of cold water shock on a casualty who has been in the water.
Handling Under Power
Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power, including all berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide.
Can pick up a mooring, bow or stern-to.
Adverse Weather
Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds.
Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.
Handling Under Sail
Understands how to identify and take into account wind and current conditions when planning and executing manoeuvres.
Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space.
Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide.
Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing including down wind techniques.
Passage Making
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 navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes.
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.