Understand buoyancy and stability, carry out pre-departure engine checks, secure gear on deck and below, and select the right sails for the forecast conditions.
CategoryRYA Cruising Courses / Intermediate / On Water Practical
The RYA Day Skipper (2 + 3 day format) course is ideal for sailors who want to gain their Day Skipper qualification but cannot commit to a full five-day block. Delivered over two separate sessions — an initial two-day weekend followed by a three-day block — this flexible structure allows you to build skills progressively while fitting training around work and family commitments.
Aimed at those with some prior sailing experience, the course develops the practical skills and decision-making needed to take charge of a yacht in familiar waters during daylight hours. You’ll cover navigation, pilotage, passage planning, and boat handling under sail and power, as well as the leadership and safety responsibilities of a skipper.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence and competence to skipper a small cruising yacht, opening the door to bareboat charters and further RYA training.
Understand buoyancy and stability, carry out pre-departure engine checks, secure gear on deck and below, and select the right sails for the forecast conditions.
Build confidence preparing anchors and mooring lines, handling berthing manoeuvres, weighing anchor, and reefing or changing sails as the wind requires.
Learn to use and interpret AIS, calculate dead reckoning and estimated positions, allow for set, drift and leeway, and work with charts, tides, and waypoints while keeping accurate records.
Plan and carry out safe entries and departures in and out of harbours using transits, leading lines, and soundings.
Apply the “rules of the road” both in busy channels and in open water situations.
You can demonstrate awareness of other water users in both open water and close quarters, applying the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea effectively.
Gain awareness of different rope types, learn simple repair techniques, and keep the yacht in good working order.
Spot and prevent common engine issues, perform daily checks, clean filters, and calculate fuel needs for short passages.
Plan suitable supplies for the trip, taking into account crew numbers and voyage length.
Revise distress signals, liferaft drills, towing, helicopter evacuations, casualty care, cold-water survival, and man overboard recovery as skipper.
Practise manoeuvring in close quarters, coming alongside, leaving a berth, anchoring under power, and using moorings.
Steer and trim sails on all points, manage sail plans effectively, and handle approaches to buoys and anchors under sail.
Plan and execute day passages, considering hazards, tidal effects, crew capability, and the yacht’s limitations.
Gain experience sailing at night, understanding special pilotage needs, and identifying navigational marks while keeping a proper lookout.
The RYA Day Skipper course is the essential step for sailors who are ready to progress from being a capable crew member to taking charge of a yacht. At Sailcorp, we understand that not everyone can commit to a full five-day block, so we offer the Day Skipper in a flexible 2 + 3 day format. This structure allows students to begin with an immersive two-day session before returning for a three-day block, giving time to review, consolidate, and prepare for the final stage of training.
This course is designed for sailors with some prior experience, typically those who have completed Competent Crew or spent time on the water as active crew. It develops the knowledge, confidence, and decision-making required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely in familiar waters by day.
Training is delivered through a mix of practical seamanship and structured theory. Core subjects include coastal navigation, tidal calculations, buoyage systems, collision regulations, pilotage techniques, and weather forecasting. You’ll also learn to plan and execute short coastal passages, preparing a yacht, considering crew ability, and adapting to changing conditions. Practical elements cover boat handling under sail and power, manoeuvring in confined spaces, anchoring, berthing, and ensuring effective teamwork on board.
A defining feature of the Day Skipper course is the opportunity for each student to act as skipper under the guidance of the instructor. You’ll take responsibility for planning and leading short passages, building the confidence to make decisions and manage both yacht and crew in real situations. Safety is a constant focus, with modules on emergency actions, man overboard recovery, and anticipating risks before they escalate.
The 2 + 3 day format makes this course accessible for busy sailors who want to achieve the full RYA Day Skipper qualification without taking a full week off work. The break between blocks gives students the chance to absorb course material, practise skills where possible, and return ready to progress further.
On successful completion, you will be awarded the internationally recognised RYA Day Skipper qualification, confirming that you are ready to skipper a cruising yacht in local waters during daylight hours. This certificate also opens opportunities for bareboat chartering, club sailing, and progression to more advanced RYA training such as Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster.
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