Preparing for your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course

The RYA Coastal Skipper is an advanced skippering course intended for students who sail regularly are looking to improve their skippering skills so that they might undertake more challenging passages. If you have not skippered a yacht on your own before you will not have sufficient experience to pass this demanding course.

The following information is intended to help ensure you are suitably prepared for your course.

Good preparation ahead of a skippering course significantly increases the likelihood of a pass. For this reason we have prepared a revision check-list to help you get the most out of your Coastal Skipper Practical. A lot of the information can be found by referring to your Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased notes. We also recommend obtaining a copy of the excellent RYA Day Skipper Practical course notes and any good book on IRPCS. Above all you must practice your practical sailing skills, in particular skippering, before attending this course. If you do not have access to a boat or you have not sailed recently then you MUST arrange a sail with friends or attend a mile builder/brush-up course before attempting this course.

We regularly run 1-day shorebased Navigation brush-up courses and 2-day practical skills brush-ups. Contact us for more information.

Start your revision a few weeks ahead of your course so that you are not rushed.

Pre-requisites

First of all, you must ensure you have the pre-requisite experience as listed on our web site and in the RYA G15 log book. Please fill out and return the Sailing Log which we will send you with your joining instructions. Also bring your G15 log book or similar proof of sea miles and days at sea to the course.

Pre-course preparation

Preparation for your course is critical. Do not leave revision until the night before! Ahead of your course you should be revising the following:

 1. Basics

• Basic knowledge of sea terms, parts of a boat, her rigging and sails

• Ability to tie the following knots: figure of eight, round turn and two half hitches, bowline, reef knot, single and double sheet bend, rolling hitch
• Securing a rope to a cleat
• Sail trim on all points of sail
• Safe techniques for Gybing

2. Navigation

• Reading a chart, chart symbols, plotting a 3-point fix
• Working up DR and EP
• Reading a tide table
• Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
• Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
• Knowledge of IALA buoyage and lights

3. Boat Handling

• Setting sails efficiently on all points of sail.

• Use of Mainsheet and Genoa travellers

• Boat handling under power including prop-walk, berthing and unberthing in various states of tide and wind

4. Pilotage

• Can prepare a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, a harbour at night

5. Passage making

• Can plan a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew

4. Rules of the Road

• You will need to revise the IRPCS thoroughly and you must be able to answer quick fire questions on any aspect of the regulations including all day shapes and lights, Sound signals in restricted visibility, Sound signals when manoeuvring, Stand on/give way rules for motor and sailing vessels

5. Meteorology

• Knows where to obtain a weather forecast and can interpret a weather forecast including using a barometer for forecasting.

5. VHF Radio procedures

• You will need to revise your VHF radio procedures, Mayday procedure and channel uses know what the following channels are commonly used for 6, 8, 13, 13, 67, 70, 72, 77, 80

Common reasons for not passing a Coastal Skipper Practical

If you are unlucky enough not to make it through your instructor will suggest areas for development

Here are some of the reasons candidates do not complete the course successfully.

a)       Insufficient practical sailing skills, i.e. is unable to trim sails or has poor wind awareness.

b)       Did not demonstrate enough boat handling skill under sail or power

b)       Unable to demonstrate sufficient navigational knowledge including chartwork, course-to-steer, tidal heights and IRPCS.

c)       Poor skippering ability. Unable to take command, make the right decisions in a timely manner or organise crew. Usually due to a lack of experience.

Remember most Coastal Skipper students pass and tell us that they enjoyed their course immensely.

Good luck and we look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.