Getting ready for your RYA Day Skipper Course can be a stressful time, so we at Ardent Training, an RYA-certified teaching school, have put together some frequently asked questions to help you!

This information is valid both for RYA Day Skipper Sail and RYA Day Skipper Motor. For more information about these, click for motor and sail.

What Are The Pre-Requisites for an RYA Day Skipper Practical Course?

• 5 days spent at sea
• 100nm cruised
• Ideally, 4 night hours, but not always possible
• Theory knowledge up to RYA Day Skipper Theory

How does the RYA define ‘waters familiar to you’? Do you have to have completed a certain number of hours in those waters?

In practice, “waters familiar to you” is about reducing risk for a skipper who is still consolidating their skills. Instead of taking your first passages in unknown or complex areas, you should build experience somewhere you know, then gradually expand your cruising grounds as your confidence and competence grow.

It isn’t to say you can’t go anywhere new. But if you do, take the time to seek advice from others who have sailed in the area and do some research.

Waters familiar to you are ones in which you are comfortable cruising in.

Would you recommend doing RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper Practical back to back or having a break between the 2 courses?

Both options have their merits, and which is best depends a bit on your background and how you like to learn.

Back-to-back: keeps momentum, efficient, immersive, but can be intense and a steep learning curve if you’re brand new.

With a break: gives time to consolidate and build confidence, but risks losing momentum if you don’t sail in between.

My recommendation would be, if you’re a complete beginner: do Competent Crew first, sail a bit more, then Day Skipper. If you’ve already got some sailing experience: back-to-back can work well, provided you’ve done your Day Skipper Theory.

Assuming success in the Day Skipper Practical Course, I have heard that it may not be recognised in the Mediterranean and you need something called the ICC. How do I get this?

The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is required by many Mediterranean charter companies. But, if you pass the RYA Day Skipper Practical, you can apply directly for one:

1. Head here: Apply for an ICC

2. Send in the ICC application form with a photo, your Day Skipper certificate, and the fee (note it is free for RYA members).

3. The ICC is valid for 5 years (sail or motor depending on your course).

In short: Day Skipper + RYA membership = easy ICC application.

Do we need the RYA Competent Crew or RYA Helmsman? Can we go directly to RYA Day Skipper Practical after having done the RYA Day Skipper Theory.

You don’t need to do Competent Crew or Helmsman before Day Skipper Practical. They’re optional stepping-stones.

The RYA requirement is simply that before Day Skipper Practical you should:

• Have Day Skipper Theory knowledge (tidal navigation, collision regs, etc.), and

• Have enough practical experience as crew to handle sails, steer, keep lookout, tie up, etc.

If you are already a confident and competent crew in your own right (through prior sailing, club crewing, holidays, or just experience), you can go straight to Day Skipper Practical after the theory.

In short: Competent Crew/Helmsman are useful if you’re a beginner, but not compulsory. You can go straight to Day Skipper Practical as long as you’ve got the crew skills and theory under your belt.

Do you have any advice for cheaply building mileage and experience up before going for RYA Day Skipper Practical? Having done RYA Competent Crew recently, I can appreciate it’s an enormous step up.

You’re spot on! The step from Competent Crew to Day Skipper Practical is big, and the cheapest way to bridge it is to grab as much real boat time as you can before the course. A few affordable ideas:

• Crewing on other people’s boats:
  • Join crew-finder sites (Findacrew, local yacht clubs, or even Facebook sailing groups). Skippers often need extra hands for weekend trips or deliveries.
  • Many will only ask for food share or a small contribution to running costs.
• Sailing clubs & yacht share:
  • Local sailing clubs or online platforms (like FlexiSail, SailTime, or Pay-as-you-sail groups) often run low-cost crewing opportunities.
  • Clubs are especially good for day sails and racing. Racing teaches sail handling fast.
• RYA mileage builders:
  • Some schools offer “mileage builders” or delivery trips. A lot cheaper than a course, and designed to get you watch-keeping, night sailing, and passage experience.

Don’t get too hung up on this though. The Day Skipper course is definitely a course. You are not expected to be a Skipper before you turn up. The instructor is there to teach you that bit. If you have done Comp Crew, and your RYA Day Skipper Theory is complete, you should be okay.

Does this certificate mean you can drive a rib up to 15 metres?

All rib certification comes under the RYA powerboat side. You will likely want an RYA Advanced powerboat course for this.

How does VHF and first aid training fit in with RYA Day Skipper course or practical?

At RYA Day Skipper level this is not required, but recommended. You can learn about the VHF SRC course here.

I do have my ICC for motor, and now I want to do my RYA Day Skipper Sail, does that make sense?

It does, but unless you have prior sailing experience, you will want to look towards the RYA Competent Crew or some sail learning first, as this is needed before the RYA Day Skipper Practical course. It does not have to be a skippered sailing experience, just knowledge and awareness of all sailing crew jobs on the sail vessel. Do you know when to adjust the topping lift?

If you’re not an RYA member, how much does the ICC cost?

£55 for an ICC, free with the RYA membership, which itself costs £55.