Book your 5-Day Practical now, as these book out well in advance.
Our Team will call you to schedule your Competent Crew lessons on our J24s.
Course Summary

Course provided by Pacific Sailing School
Located at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Student Instructor ratio: 1 : 5
Course Duration: 16x 3-hr lessons + 2 x 5 day/4 night live aboard
Included: Course certificates and materials. All food on board, twin share accommodation on board, mooring fees, fuel.

Knowledge level/Experience: None 

Course Dates
Next Steps
Book a Course
Course Summary

Course provided by Pacific Sailing School
Located at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Student Instructor ratio: 1 : 5
Course Duration: 3 x 5 day/4 night live aboard
Included: All eLearning & Practical components. All food on board, twin share accommodation on board, mooring fees, fuel.

Knowledge level/Experience: Non required 

Course Dates
Next Steps

Competent Crew, Day & Coastal Skipper Package

This package combines the Australian Sailing AS (J24) Harbour Skipper Course (Start Crewing, Start Helming & Start Skippering) the Royal Yachting Association RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship, RYA Day Skipper Virtual Theory, RYA Day Skipper Practical, RYA Coastal Skipper Virtual Theory and RYA Coastal Skipper Practical courses.

COURSE DURATION
RECOMMENDED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
ABILITY AFTER COURSE:
HARBOUR SKIPPER COURSE OVERVIEW:

Harbour Skipper is a combination of the AS Start Crewing, Start Helming and Start Skippering courses.  In your 8 x 3-hour practical lessons + 2 six hour days on our J24’s you will have hands-on instruction on:

  • safety equipment and rigging the yacht; 
  • points of sailing, going about and the gybe, rotating 
  • helming (steering the boat)
  • reefing, picking up a mooring, man overboard
  • helming (steering the boat)

We also include 

  • 2 Theory and Social evenings
  • a 2-hour virtual introduction to navigation session
  • unlimited practice sessions for 6 weeks after course completion (available on a standby basis)
  • course kit with textbook, logbook and rope for knot practice
  • a free twilight race 
  • 1 x free Discover Sailing Gift Voucher (on request to give to a friend).
RYA ESSENTIAL NAVIGATION AND SEAMANSHIP OVERVIEW:

The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course is designed to help learn the skills of navigation, pilotage, passage planning and meteorology. They are great as stand alone courses, but also complement our various practical courses. Whether you are a sailor or drive a power boat, this on line course will equip would-be and experienced skippers with enough knowledge, at least in theory, to go afloat and take charge.

During the course you will be introduced to tidal awareness, charts, almanacs and the use of electronic navigation aids such as GPS. You will be taught about harbour entry and departure pilotage including knowledge of buoyage and a basic understanding of the collision regulations so you know who has right of way! Time will also be spent looking at sources of weather information and what impact this could have on your passage. Towards the end of the course you will put all this information together to plan an actual passage. You will also learn more about what safety equipment you should carry and how it is used.

RYA DAY SKIPPER THEORY COURSE OVERVIEW:

The RYA Day Skipper Package combines the RYA Day Skipper Theory and the RYA Day Skipper Practical courses.

The RYA Day Skipper course is a comprehensive introduction to chart-work, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship and is invaluable for learning how to start making decisions on board.

Students are taught the basics of coastal and inshore navigation and pilotage including chart-work, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, a knowledge of tides and the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea.

As well as navigation the RYA Day Skipper shore-based course will give you an understanding of safety procedures.

The blended eLearning and virtual course includes 16 modules which is approximately 40 hours and is blended with 4x 3-hour virtual sessions plus two exams.

Revisit exercises at any time, ask questions, your eLearning instructor can help ensure you are using these skills whenever you are skippering and passage planning for your next adventure. The online course can be completed at your own pace and revisited to refresh at any time in the future.

During the virtual sessions, the more challenging topics are taught to increase your knowledge in advance of completing the eLearning questions. This can enable a deeper understanding and help to reduce the time to complete the exercises. In addition, the instructor adds to the course with real life examples of the subjects covered.

RYA COASTAL SKIPPER THEORY COURSE OVERVIEW:

The eLearning and virtual course includes 16 modules blended with six – three-hour virtual sessions plus exams. The online course can be completed at your own pace and revisited to refresh your knowledge at any time in the future.

During the virtual sessions, the more challenging topics are taught to increase your knowledge in advance of completing the e-learning questions. This can enable a deeper understanding and help to reduce the time to complete the exercises. In addition, the instructor adds to the course with real life examples of the subjects covered.

This unique course is accessible from anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The virtual training sessions are run from 1800 to 2100 (Sydney time) midweek evenings this is the course for you. The course is first class and delivered by our expert RYA Yachtmaster Instructors.

RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL COURSE OVERVIEW:

It is important to complete the theory for each Course before the practical to achieve a successful outcome in the learning process.

The practical courses are live-aboard, each over a 5 day/4 night period.

RYA Yacht Master Coastal/Offshore Practical Course is a five-day advanced course for those who have knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Each student will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. The course will be taken in tidal waters and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. Your instructor will guide you through navigation, both offshore and in limited visibility, weather forecasting and passage planning, watch keeping, preparation for sea and handling heavy weather. You will put this all into practice as each student plans and executes passages taking complete command of the yacht.

Coastal skippers must be good boat handlers and you will receive plenty of practice mooring the yacht and have at least 4 hours night sailing. Weather permitting the yacht will undertake a longer coastal passage. At the successful completion of the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal course you will be awarded the RYA  Yachtmaster Coastal Course Completion Certificate and will be able to skipper coastal passages safely and confidently.

included in the as competent crew, RYA day AND COASTAL skipper packs
PLEASE NOTE:

If you have not participated in a practical course with Pacific Sailing School in the past 3 months, you will be required to pay a fee for Australian Sailing Insurance and Registration.  Our office will discuss this with you if applicable.

This package combines the RYA Competent Crew Course, the AS Start Skippering, the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship and the RYA Day Skipper Virtual Theory and RYA Day Skipper Practical courses.

Book your RYA Competent Crew online.  We recommend completing your Competent Crew before starting your RYA Day Skipper Theory. Please note, our 5 day/4 night live-aboard courses are generally booked out 3 months in advance.

Course Duration 2 x 5 Days and 4 nights live-aboard
Recommended Previous Experience:
ABILITY AFTER COURSE:
rya COMPETENT CREW COURSE OVERVIEW:

The RYA Competent Crew course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, and assist in all the day to day routines.

It is also an ideal stepping stone for dinghy sailors to try yachting and for those who have already done some crewing but wish to learn the right way. At the end of the 5 days you will have become a competent crew. With your new confidence you will find the course very enjoyable.

During your 5 days aboard you will visit anchorages off the beaten track and if the weather allows, complete a longer coastal passage. With a maximum of 5 students per course, your fully qualified instructors devote plenty of time to your individual needs.

Safety is paramount, you will learn how to operate all safety equipment including lifejackets, safety harnesses, and how to assist the recovery of a man overboard and participate in at least four hours of night time sailing during the course. You will be awarded the RYA Competent Crew Certificate and be an asset to any crew you join.

rya essential navigation and seamanship

The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course is designed to help learn the skills of navigation, pilotage, passage planning and meteorology. They are great as stand alone courses, but also complement our various practical courses. Whether you are a sailor or drive a power boat, this on line course will equip would-be and experienced skippers with enough knowledge, at least in theory, to go afloat and take charge.

During the course you will be introduced to tidal awareness, charts, almanacs and the use of electronic navigation aids such as GPS. You will be taught about harbour entry and departure pilotage including knowledge of buoyage and a basic understanding of the collision regulations so you know who has right of way! Time will also be spent looking at sources of weather information and what impact this could have on your passage. Towards the end of the course you will put all this information together to plan an actual passage. You will also learn more about what safety equipment you should carry and how it is used.

rya dAY sKIPPER THEORY COURSE OVERVIEW:

The RYA Day Skipper course is a comprehensive introduction to chart-work, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship and is invaluable for learning how to start making decisions on board.

Students are taught the basics of coastal and inshore navigation and pilotage including chart-work, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, a knowledge of tides and the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea.

As well as navigation the RYA Day Skipper shore-based course will give you an understanding of safety procedures such as distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, life jackets and life-rafts.

The blended eLearning and virtual course includes 16 modules and is blended with 4x 3-hour virtual sessions plus two exams. The online course can be completed at your own pace and revisited to refresh at any time in the future.

During the virtual sessions, the more challenging topics are taught to increase your knowledge in advance of completing the eLearning questions. This can enable a deeper understanding and help to reduce the time to complete the exercises. In addition, the instructor adds to the course with real life examples of the subjects covered.

as start skippering COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course equips participants with advanced sailing and boat handling techniques and includes a free Theory and Social Evening.

  • safety, responsibility and risk management
  • sailing skills as a helmsperson
  • IRPCS
  • meteorology
  • local knowledge
RYA DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL COURSE OVERVIEW:

It is important to complete the theory before the practical to achieve a successful outcome in the learning process.

You will be living aboard and helping with the running of the boat.  With a different anchorage each night, pilotage techniques, boat handling skills will become second nature.

This course is designed to teach you to be the “Skipper” or take charge. The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht and crew. These responsibilities include weather forecasting, victualling, engine maintenance, sail selection and handling, passage planning, watch keeping, navigation and pilotage. Your instructor will teach you these skills and you will put them into practiced as you skipper the yacht on short passages along the coast. 

You will complete at least 4 night hours sailing to experience night pilotage. You will be assessed as to your theory, sailing and seamanship skills.

This is a pass or fail course and a pass is the minimum requirement for the ICC. Students who successfully complete this course are awarded the RYA Day Skipper Tidal Practical certificate.

rya coastal sKIPPER THEORY COURSE OVERVIEW:

The eLearning and virtual course includes 16 modules blended with six – three-hour virtual sessions plus exams. The online course can be completed at your own pace and revisited to refresh your knowledge at any time in the future.

During the virtual sessions, the more challenging topics are taught to increase your knowledge in advance of completing the e-learning questions. This can enable a deeper understanding and help to reduce the time to complete the exercises. In addition, the instructor adds to the course with real life examples of the subjects covered.

This unique course is accessible from anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The virtual training sessions are run from 1800 to 2100 (Sydney time) midweek evenings this is the course for you. The course is first class and delivered by our expert RYA Yachtmaster Instructors.

RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL COURSE OVERVIEW:

It is important to complete the theory for each Course before the practical to achieve a successful outcome in the learning process.

The practical courses are live-aboard, each over a 5 day/4 night period.

RYA Yacht Master Coastal/Offshore Practical Course is a five-day advanced course for those who have knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Each student will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. The course will be taken in tidal waters and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. Your instructor will guide you through navigation, both offshore and in limited visibility, weather forecasting and passage planning, watch keeping, preparation for sea and handling heavy weather. You will put this all into practice as each student plans and executes passages taking complete command of the yacht.

Coastal skippers must be good boat handlers and you will receive plenty of practice mooring the yacht and have at least 4 hours night sailing. Weather permitting the yacht will undertake a longer coastal passage. At the successful completion of the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal course you will be awarded the RYA  Yachtmaster Coastal Course Completion Certificate and will be able to skipper coastal passages safely and confidently.

included in the RYA competent crew/DAY/COASTAL SKIPPER PACKAGE
PLEASE NOTE:

If you have not participated in a practical course with Pacific Sailing School in the past 3 months, you will be required to pay a fee for Australian Sailing Insurance and Registration.  Our office will discuss this with you if applicable.

Request your ICC Assessment