Like the Day Skipper course, Our Solent and Southampton Coastal Skipper lessons consist of skippered passages in a variety of situations however there is more emphasis on passage making. It is a satisfying and intense week. You can use this qualification to obtain an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) by sending the certificate to the RYA with an application form.

The RYA Coastal Skipper Course lasts for five days. As emphasis is placed on passage making it is the one course that has to be carried out over 5 consecutive days.

Minimum Pre Course Experience: 15 days (2 as skipper), 300 miles, 8 night hours. Your level of experience will already be approaching that required for the Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence.

Recommended Knowledge: It is assumed you are up to Day Skipper Practical standard and have navigation skills to the same level as the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased course. There is insufficient time on the course to teach the basic skills of seamanship, helmsmanship and navigation, as well as teach how these skills should be applied by the skipper of a yacht.

Course Content: Skippering techniques for coastal and offshore passages, passage planning.

Ability after the Course: You will be able to skipper a yacht on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. On successful completion of the course you will be awarded a Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate.

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What to Expect

An exciting and challenging week ahead! You will be encouraged to stretch your limits and may experience a fair amount of night sailing. Throughout the course, you will be assessed, and certificates of satisfactory completion will be awarded to those who demonstrate:

• Adequate proficiency in basic seamanship, navigation, and yacht handling, showing an understanding of the techniques and skills required of a yacht skipper.
• A comprehensive grasp of the entire syllabus, ensuring you can safely and confidently go to sea as a yacht skipper.

Please note it will not be awarded if you cannot manage sea sickness effectively, which may significantly impact your capability to skipper a yacht safely, so please bear this in mind.

Where Will You Sail

You will sail and around the Solent. As the RYA Coastal Skipper course is about passage making you will probably venture further a field as well. Perhaps Weymouth, Brighton, maybe even across to France or the Channel Islands if the weather is favourable. So pack your passport!

The Solent is a great place to learn to sail and get qualified. There are numerous harbours, bays, creeks, rivers, marinas and anchorages making it ideal to practice a whole range of yachting skills. Because of the large volume of other boats and busy shipping activity, the Solent is always fun and interesting.

The Isle of Wight provides some protection from the worst of the Channel weather, meaning the sea within the Solent can stay relatively flat compared with conditions in the open sea. But at the same time the tides in the Solent provide students with a challenge to their seamanship and navigational skills.

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Accommodation

Accommodation during the RYA Coastal Skipper sailing course is on board the yacht. There are almost always three double cabins and two single berths in the saloon which is a large airy space. This provides accommodation for eight people. However, there would only ever be a maximum of 4 students on board, plus the instructor for this course.

You will get your own sleeping space be this a cabin or the saloon. If you have booked as a couple/with a friend you will share a cabin.

**Showers/Facilities**

Whilst we do have showers on board the yacht, most nights you can use the hot showers and facilities in a marina.

The only thing not included in the price are mooring fees. It depends on where you end up each night but they are usually about £40 per person for 5 days.

Food

Except for supper on the evening you join the boat, we cater on board for all meals. We provide food that is healthy and nutritious, including salads, vegetables, white and wholemeal bread, chicken, lean minced beef, salmon, muesli, cereal and yoghurt. In fact, just the kind of food that you might buy yourself. For snacks there is plenty of fruit, but also a supply of chocolate and biscuits.

If you have any special dietary requirements, be it vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free, or allergies, we can normally accommodate these. Just let us know when you fill out your Coastal Skipper booking form.

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Location

Our courses run from Shamrock Quay in Southampton on the South Coast.

**Getting to Shamrock Quay:**

Shamrock Quay is about an 8 minute taxi ride from Southampton Central Station, or 15 minutes from Southampton Airport if you’re flying in. If you are arriving by car you can park in Shamrock Quay Marina, with 24/7 security.

Occasionally a course may start on one of our boats when it is not at Shamrock Quay. It may be very close to Shamrock Quay or in Hamble. We will give you plenty of notice when this is the case.

Start / Finish Times

We find it is better if you arrive the evening before your course starts (arrive for 8pm). This way you can start getting to know the yacht, the skipper and your crew mates before the course really gets under way. If this is not possible then you need to be at the boat by 8.00am on the first day of the Sailing Course.

You can expect to get away by 3/3.30pm on the final day of your course. If you are catching a train we recommend you do not book a ticket in advance as we can’t guarantee you will get away at 3pm on the dot. It could be earlier or a little later.

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