Coastal Skipper - Syllabus

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course Syllabus

In addition to the skills expected of a Day Skipper the Coastal Skipper will be tutored in the following:

The aim of the course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.

1.                  Passage planning - Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht and the crew, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required and strategy. Knows customs procedures.

2.                  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.

3.                  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.

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

5.                  Yacht handling under power - Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power.  Can handle berthing and un-berthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide.

6.                  Yacht handling under sail - Can use 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.

7.                  Adverse weather conditions - Preparation of the yacht for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds.  Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.

8.                  Emergency Situations - Recovery of a man overboard under power and sail.  Understands action to be taken when abandoning the yacht to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues.