The Day Skipper course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7 to 15m LOA) to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard requried to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which teh student is familiar.

The Watch Leader course is conducted onboard a large yacht (over 15m LOA) or a sail-training vessel to teach watch keeping, seamanship and navigation up to the standards requried for taking charge of a watch on deck, at sea or in harbour, under the supervision of a deck officer.

Each course has some similar parts:

• Preparation for sea
• Deckwork
• Navigation
• Pilotage
• Meteorology
• Rules of the road
• Maintenance and repair work
• Victualling
• Emergency situations

The Day Skipper syllabus includes:

• Engines
• Yacht handling under power
• Yacht handling under sail
• Passage making

The Watch Leader course includes:

• Use of the tender
• General watchkeeping

This course takes place either over five days, or over three weekends, on board our yacht on the Solent.

Some familiarity with sail cruising is required to pass the Day Skipper certificate, and we strongly recommend a Day Skipper Navigation qualification, or equivalent proficiency in order to pass this certificate.

Competent Crew or Start Yachting courses would act as a precusor to the Day Skipper course, as would crewing on yachts with others.

The cost for the five day week-long course is £525 (ex VAT) or for the three weekend course, £630 (ex VAT). For more information, or to book this course, please complete our online enquiry form.