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The Day Skipper Practical Course is your first real step into taking command at sea. Whether you’re planning to charter, sail with friends and family, or begin working towards more advanced qualifications, this course equips you with the skills and confidence to take responsibility for a yacht and its crew on short coastal passages.
Skippering a yacht for the first time is a truly memorable experience — both exciting and empowering. The RYA Day Skipper Practical Course is designed to give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take command of a yacht and manage all aspects of life at sea.
As a skipper, your responsibilities extend well beyond simply steering the boat. You’ll be expected to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the yacht and crew. This includes everything from navigation and passage planning to weather forecasting, provisioning, sail handling, watch keeping, engine checks, and pilotage. Leadership plays a key role too, as you’ll need to coordinate meals and delegate day-to-day tasks onboard — all of which you’ll learn and practise during the course.
Throughout the week, you’ll live aboard the yacht, visiting picturesque harbours and anchorages while developing practical seamanship and boat-handling techniques. You’ll also complete a minimum of four night hours, giving you first-hand experience of night pilotage and navigation by lights.
By the end of the course, you’ll feel confident taking charge of a cruising yacht on short coastal passages during daylight hours — ready to skipper safely, capably, and with assurance.
