RYA training, coaching and milebuilding
RYA Coastal Skipper
The Coastal Skipper course is designed for sailors with a solid post-Dayskipper experience who are ready to step up to advanced skippering and working towards the Yachtmaster exam.
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It’s about taking full command — planning and executing longer passages, often at night, and handling both yacht and crew with confidence in more demanding situations of wind and seastate.
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During the course, you will gradually get the responsibility as skipper. You’ll make the key decisions — from navigation and pilotage to managing the crew in challenging conditions — while refining your seamanship to a professional level.
If you already hold the RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate but aren’t sure you’re ready for the leap, the Skipper training course can provide the ideal bridge towards Coastal Skipper entry level
The Syllabus
Passage planning
Plan coastal passages, considering weather, tides, crew capability, and yacht limitations.
Preparation for sea
Get a yacht and crew fully ready for extended passages, ensuring safety, efficiency, and comfort.
Pilotage
Create and carry out detailed pilotage plans by day and night, making use of transits, leading lines, lights, and buoyage.
Passage making and watchkeeping
Organise and manage a watch system for longer passages, ensuring safety and efficiency on board.
Yacht handling under power
Manoeuvre confidently in more challenging harbours and marinas, handling wind, tide, and confined spaces with assurance.
Yacht handling under sail
Take control in demanding sailing conditions: reefing and sail changes under pressure, helming with precision, and maintaining control in stronger winds.​​
Emergency situations
Take full command in emergencies — from man overboard recovery to towing, distress procedures, flare use, liferaft drills, and coordinating helicopter rescue.
Adverse weather
Learn strategies for heavy weather sailing, including storm preparation, sail plans, and crew management.
Rules of the road
Apply the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea with confidence in complex situations.
Meteorology
Interpret weather forecasts in detail, including synoptic charts, and make informed passage decisions.
Engine checks and troubleshooting
Maintain reliability at sea by carrying out pre-passage checks and resolving common mechanical issues.
Leadership and crew management
Develop your position as skipper, using process management and situational awareness strategies.
Who can join:
A RYA Coastal Skipper is supposed to "take yacht and crew out safely in all conditions of wind and tide, by day and night, sailing through unfamiliar waters". Which brings the required level close to what is expected of a Yachtmaster.
You need relevant experience being in charge as skipper, and a solid background at Dayskipper level, to successfully participate in the Coastal Skipper course.
Ideally you combine the Coastal Skipper training week with a Milebuilder around the Canary Islands, giving you the opportunity to be really in charge of a longer overnight passage.
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Pre-course requirements:​
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15 days at sea, 2 days as skipper,
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300 nm, 8 night hourse
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fully familiar and competent with the Competent Crew and Dayskipper practical syllabus
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Navigation and IRPCS knowledge at Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory level
Course Details
Course Duration: from Saturday 16.00 till Saturday 09.00 - 6 days on the water, 7 nights onboard
Student Number: 4 (coastal) skipper students max
Price: starting at €1250, including breakfast, lunch and beverages onboard, marina fees, fuel and use of bedding and lifejacket.
Availability: check the <calendar> under "RYA and Skipper training"
Your instructor: Richard van der Veen
The boat: a comfortable and fast Salona 45 with 4 double cabins and 2 heads (toilet/showers)
Home port: Marina Lanzarote, Arrecife
