RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL COURSE

• All meals and refreshments while onboard

• Accommodation onboard

• Instructor and all safety equipment

• Rental of oilskins/waterproofs is £5 p/d

• Any food or drinks ashore are at everyone own expense

• Mooring fees for nights spent in marinas outside the MDL network will be split among students, this may amount to approx £25 p/person.

Please contact us at info@londonschoolofsailing.co.uk to discuss payment options

Please see our BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS for details about changing your course once booked

• Minimum sailed time: 15 Days (2 days as skipper)

• Minimum mileage sailed: 300 miles,

• Minimum hours sailed at night: 8 night hours

• Theory knowledge: To Yachtmaster theory level

The Competent Crew course is 5 days and 4 night s long and must be continuous to allow for longer passages.

You will be sailing on one of LSS’s sailing yachts kept on the River Hamble. They are able to sleep 8 people comfortably but will have a maximum of 5 plus the instructor.

The boats are Cougar and Panther, Reflex 38’s. These are race boats which make for excellent training vessels. Please do note that the accommodation is basic (but comfortable) bunk beds.

The boats are based in Port Hamble Marina in the Hamble Village.

The Solent, which the River Hamble is on the Northern edge of, is the perfect training area between Southampton Water and the Isle of Wight.

Notorious for consistent winds, wicked tides, and a gorgeous variety of harbours, rivers and anchorages to visit.

An average week will see you visit any of the below:

• Cowes

• Yarmouth

• Beaulieu river

• Lymington

• The Needles & Alum Bay

• Newtown Creek

• Portsmouth

• Wooton Creek

• Osbourn Bay

• Langstone Harbour

• Chichester Harbour

  and many other little anchorages.

During the event, accommodation on the boat is provided.

If travelling from afar, it might be advisable to book accommodation the night before or after the event dates.

After passing your Coastal Skippers, you will now find chartering boats easier as they will have more piece of mind giving you larger boats and in perhaps more advanced sailing locations.

After more experience in these areas and more miles logged you’re getting yourself in the zone for taking on the Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore qualifications!

We will be in marinas and harbours every day most likely so you won’t need to shower on the boat. The boats are fitted with a functional toilet, sink, showers and kitchen (galley) for cooking.

Please take a look at our kit list here.

Please don’t forget your sleeping bag and pillow.

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.

• Passage planning

  • Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capabilities of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required and strategy

• Preparation for sea

  • Knows customs procedures

  • 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

  • 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

• Passage-making and ability as a skipper

  • Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew

  • Can organise the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a yacht on passage

  • Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes

  • Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends

  • Is aware of crew welfare on passage

• Yacht handling under power

  • Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power

  • All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide

• Yacht handling under sail

• 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

• Adverse weather conditions

  • Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds

• Emergency situations

  • Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

  • Recovery of man overboard under power and sail

  • Understands actions to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues