Deciding which RYA sail cruising course to take can feel overwhelming, so here is a clear, step-by-step guide to help you choose the right starting point.

I Want a Taster of Sailing

If you’ve never stepped aboard a yacht before and simply want to try it, the RYA Start Yachting course is ideal. It runs over 2 days and gives you a gentle introduction to the basics, without any pressure. Most people finish the weekend excited to learn more.

If you decide you’d like to continue afterwards, we recommend adding the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Theory course. It’s a short introduction to core topics such as navigation, tides and weather. You can complete it online at your own pace. Having this theory under your belt will make your practical RYA Competent Crew course much easier and more enjoyable.

I Want to Learn How to Sail

If you’re ready for a full dive into sailing, the RYA Competent Crew course is the place to begin. This 5-day course teaches you how to become an effective crew member and introduces you to life afloat.

You can take it without any prior knowledge, though doing the Essential Navigation and Seamanship Theory course beforehand gives you a helpful head start.

I Want to Charter a Sailing Yacht

If your goal is to skipper a yacht on holiday, you’ll need your RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate.

Before taking that course, you should complete the RYA Day Skipper Theory course. This covers essential skills such as navigation, tides, pilotage and meteorology, and is available online with Ardent Training.

Once the theory is completed, you can take the 5-day RYA Day Skipper Practical course at any RYA centre worldwide. Recommended experience includes 100 miles, 5 days at sea and 4 night hours. After passing, the certificate will allow you to charter a yacht almost anywhere in the world.

I’ve Completed Day Skipper. What Should I Do Next?

If you’ve recently finished Day Skipper, well done. You may choose to stop there and enjoy the freedom of chartering, but if you’d like to progress, the next step is the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course.

This course builds on everything you learned as a Day Skipper and adds new skills such as advanced navigation and passage planning. Even if you don’t intend to take more practical exams, the knowledge makes a big difference to your confidence and decision-making on the water.

I’d Like to Learn to Sail Offshore

If you’re aiming to skipper longer passages, explore new coastlines or sail out of sight of land, the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is designed for you. Over 5 days you’ll learn techniques for coastal and offshore sailing, including advanced boat-handling in unfamiliar areas.

To prepare properly, you’ll need the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course. Suggested experience includes 15 days at sea, 300 miles, 2 days as skipper and 8 night hours. It’s also worth speaking to the training centre about the sailing conditions and the level they teach to, so you can choose a course that matches your experience.

I’d Like to Work Commercially on Yachts

If you want to work commercially, you’ll usually need either the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, plus a commercial endorsement. You can work with Coastal Skipper or even Day Skipper, but the Yachtmaster licence is what opens the most doors.

The first step is completing the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course. After that, you must ensure you meet the required mileage and experience:

Yachtmaster Coastal (within the last 10 years):
• 800 miles
• 30 days at sea
• 2 days as skipper
• 12 night hours
• GMDSS VHF certificate
• RYA first aid certificate

Yachtmaster Offshore (within the last 10 years):
• 2500 miles
• 50 days at sea
• 5 days as skipper
• 5 passages over 60 miles, including 2 as skipper
• GMDSS VHF certificate
• RYA first aid certificate

Most candidates then complete a Yachtmaster Prep Week, where an instructor refines your pilotage, boat handling and seamanship before your exam. You can learn more about the Coastal exam here and the Offshore exam here.

After passing the exam, you’ll need sea survival training and a medical to gain the commercial endorsement.

I’d Like to Sail a Yacht Around the World

For anyone dreaming of true blue-water voyaging, the next step is the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean qualification.

It includes the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course, followed by an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral. Anyone can take the theory, but to sit the exam you must complete a qualifying ocean passage of at least 600 miles and more than 4 days, acting as watch leader, mate, or skipper. You must also have used celestial navigation during the passage.

Upon completion, your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore ticket will become your RYA Yachtmaster Ocean ticket, and you will be able to skipper vessels worldwide.