RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
EXPERIENCE | PROGRESSION | CONFIDENCE | COASTAL PASSAGES
5 days 1000 Max 4 students
A course for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.
Upcoming Course Dates
Course date 1: Mon 06 Jan - Fri 10 Jan | 1 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 20 Jan - Fri 24 Jan | 1 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 27 Jan - Fri 31 Jan | 1 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 03 Feb - Fri 07 Feb | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 17 Feb - Fri 21 Feb | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 03 Mar - Fri 07 Mar | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 10 Mar - Fri 14 Mar | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 17 Mar - Fri 21 Mar | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 24 Mar - Fri 28 Mar | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 5: Mon 31 Mar - Fri 04 Apr | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 07 Apr - Fri 11 Apr | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 14 Apr - Fri 18 Apr | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 21 Apr - Fri 25 Apr | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 28 Apr - Fri 02 May | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 05 May - Fri 09 May | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 12 May - Fri 16 May | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 19 May - Fri 23 May | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 26 May - Fri 30 May | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 02 Jun - Fri 06 Jun | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 09 Jun - Fri 13 Jun | 1 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 16 Jun - Fri 20 Jun | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 23 Jun - Fri 27 Jun | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 5: Mon 30 Jun - Fri 04 Jul | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4000 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 07 Jul - Fri 11 Jul | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 14 Jul - Fri 18 Jul | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 21 Jul - Fri 25 Jul | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 28 Jul - Fri 01 Aug | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 04 Aug - Fri 08 Aug | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 11 Aug - Fri 15 Aug | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 18 Aug - Fri 22 Aug | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 25 Aug - Fri 29 Aug | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 1: Mon 01 Sep - Fri 05 Sep | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 2: Mon 08 Sep - Fri 12 Sep | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 3: Mon 15 Sep - Fri 19 Sep | 2 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 4: Mon 22 Sep - Fri 26 Sep | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Course date 5: Mon 29 Sep - Fri 03 Oct | 3 places left | €1000 per person | €4200 private group
Note: You are supposed to meet the mini experience requirement sugggest by RYA before joining this coastal skipper practical course, as well as you shall have completed the Coastal Skipper/YM theory course before this CS practical course. If not, you can join our Coastal Skipper Pacakge course.
Please contact us if you're interested in private course or on a different date 😉
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RYA Coastal Skipper is the next progression in your sailing development after the Day Skipper courses. If you’re thinking of a career in sailing or up-skilling yourself, this is the next step towards a Yachtmaster.
The course is designed to give an experienced RYA Day Skipper the confidence to undertake longer and more complex passages which may involve sailing at night or involve watch keeping systems.
The student will learn to skipper extended passages by day and night with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being in charge of the yacht and managing the crew over longer periods of time.
Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.
It is a satisfying but intensive week, with candidates often working towards a Certificate of Competence. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to skipper coastal passages safely and confidently, and will be issued with the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical certificate, which is recognised around the world for chartering purposes. It is also one step closer to the Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence.
We would expect you to have attended the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shorebased course before doing this CS Practical course, as there is insufficient time to teach you theory during the practical week.
Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions including night navigation, advanced yacht handling under sail, anchoring under power and sail and much more. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.
This qualification can be MCA-endorsed for commercial use.
- Pre-course experience: 15 days, 2 as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours.
- Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Shorebased course level. It's highly recommended you complete the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shorebased course beforehand.
- If not, you can take the 10 day combination course, which is made up of 5 days in our classroom or online completing the shore-based theory following 5 full days practical on board our training yacht.
- You do not need to hold a certificate in the theory to attend the practical course, but you may find it a tough challenge.
- Duration: 5 days, Monday to Friday
- Minimum age: 17.
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.
Planning the passages
- 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.
- Customs procedures
Preparation
- 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 planning
- Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerationsb.
- Can pilot a yacht by day and night
Making passages and skipper ability
- 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
Handle a yacht under power in wind
- Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power
- All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide
Handle a yacht under sail in wind
- 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
Tough weather conditions
- Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
- Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility – without electronics!
Emergency procedures simulated
- Recovery of man overboard under power and sail
- Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
Supporting course books:
RYA Yachtmaster Handbook
RYA Navigation Handbook
Passage Planning
Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. During the RYA Coastal Skipper course your instructor will guide you through navigation, both offshore and in limited visibility, weather forecasting and passage planning, watch keeping, preparation for sea and handling heavy weather. You will put this all into practice as each student plans and executes passages taking complete command of the yacht. Coastal skippers must be good boat handlers and you will receive plenty of practice mooring the yacht and have at least 4 hours night sailing. Weather permitting the yacht will undertake a longer coastal passage.
The yacht you will be sailing is called “Lookfar”, a Bavaria 44 Cruiser, and is moored in Manoel Island Marina, pontoon D, near the Paparazzi restaurant. She will be ready for you to join at 9:30 am on the first day of the course.
Accommodation onboard during the course can be arranged if needed, usually from Monday to Friday. The accommodation is included in the course price. Sunday evening boarding and Friday night sleep onboard may be possible by agreement.
From our base in Manoel Island we will be sailing around the Maltese Archipelago including the picturesque sister Islands of Comino and Gozo (if weather permits).
Great winds in beautiful, sunny surroundings 52 weeks of the year! Join us! You will be made very welcome...
If you choose for accommodation onboard, full bedding is supplied, sheets, pillows and blankets. Also, we provide towels for use on the yacht but not beach towels. If you should require more than one towel during the week, please do bring your own additional towel.
- Packed lunch
- Sunglasses
- High factor sun cream
- Deck shoes if possible, otherwise soft shoes with a non marking sole, or just barefoot
- Shorts (Please be aware that these are liable to get dirty, so not your bestones!)
- T-Shirts
- Wash Kit
- Fleece or jumper for the evenings and windy days at sea
- Soft bag as opposed to a hard suitcase (we can store luggage if you are staying on)
- Light long sleeved shirt if you need to cover up in the sun
- Baseball/sun hat (preferably with a clip to stop it blowing overboard!)
- Sea sickness tablets should you need them
- Phone/ Ipod / lap top chargers – 12V (cigarette style chargers) if needed
- RYA Log book if you have one
- And above all, enthusiasm!
Please note that the temperatures in Malta are normally very warm during the day but it can be cold in the evenings and windy days at sea. It is a good idea to bring a small light rain mac if you have one and also a pair of long trousers and a warm fleece, just in case. Please note that We don't provide wet weather gear onboard.
- Experienced instuctors who speak English as mother tongue.
- Port fees, mooring fees, fuel, tourist tax, and gereral maintenance.
- We will provide teas and coffees, etc. We do not provide alcohol.
- We can have three double cabins and one bunk bed cabin availble for students' accomodation.
- We would sugguest you have some light breakfast in the cafeteria nearby the marina (BusStop Lounge, 200m away) and organise a packed lunch.
- External marina facilities such as showers and toilets are onshore by the marina gate.
- Shops and restaurants are plentiful and all within walking distance. Our base marina is located in the most popular tourist and business area of Malta.
- RYA Coastal Skipper certificate upon successful completion of the course.
It highly recommended to take RYA Marine Radio VHF course. VHF course will be useful if you want to do chartering in the future, because you are required to hold a VHF certificate for that purpose. The course is designed and created by RYA, and it will be given online. Once you complete the online course, you will have a 30 minutes exam with us during your stay in Malta. Usually it takes 1-2 days to complete. You can do it before, during, or after CSP course.
We also recommend you to take RYA First Aid course. The RYA First Aid course is designed to teach you exactly what to do in these situations. From the minor ailments such as headaches, sunburn and small lesions through to the immediate response to serious medical emergencies. This course covers the situations that a yachtsman is likely to encounter. This course is a must for all who sail, and skippers should encourage their crews to attend. Remember it may be you who needs attention! At the completion of the course you will be issued with the RYA Small Craft First Aid Certificate. This certificate is valid for 3 years from the time of issue and is a prerequisite for those taking the Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Examinations.
To book VHF course and First Aid course, simply add it in the Course Booking Page, and we will send you a log-in and joining instructions after receiving your booking.
If you need a flight to Malta International, the airport code is MLA. There is only one airport in Malta.
On arrival at Malta airport, there is a kiosk at the exit from the airport where you can pre pay the taxi to the boat. The cost of this is usually 25 Euro.The taxi drivers speak good English.
Cheaper transport option would be use taxi app such as: Bolt, Ecab, Cool. There are plenty of taxi connected to these apps.
You will have a short safety brief on arrival to familiarise yourself with the boat and meet your crew mates!
For more details about course, logistics, accommodation, booking, and certificate, please refer to the FAQ's section.
At this stage of the RYA scheme it is really worthwhile consolidating what you have learnt by completing more sea miles. This could be achieved by joining our Malta-Sicily Mile Building Trip, or just coming along for another week or weekend of refresher/consolidation training. Following this you should look to join the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Preparation week followed by the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper examination.
Next step: RYA Yachtmaster Preparation And Exam »