Day Skipper

Course Details

Content: Navigation, pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and skippering techniques.

Skippering a yacht for the first time can be a daunting yet exhilarating experience. The Day Skipper Practical Course is designed to teach you to "Take Command" of a small yacht by day in familiar waters safely and confidently. A skipper does much more than navigate. They are responsible for the complete safety and well being of the yacht and crew. These responsibilities include weather forecasting, vitualing, engine maintenance, sail selection and handling, passage planning, watch keeping, navigation and pilotage.

Your experienced and patient instructor will teach you these skills and you will put them into practice as you skipper the yacht on short passages around the Solent. There is particular emphasis on boat handling for Day Skippers and during the 5 days you will practice mooring under various conditions of wind and tide. Students live aboard for the duration of the course and visit many different harbours and anchorages to practice pilotage techniques. You will complete at least 4 hours of night sailing to experience night pilotage and identifying lights.

Students who successfully complete the Day Skipper course are awarded the Day Skipper completion certificate and will be qualified to charter yachts and can obtain an ICC.

Duration: 5 days (Sunday to Friday) or 3 weekends. Maximum 5 students per course.