This course teaches you the skills needed to safely skipper a yacht in familiar non-tidal waters by day.

You will be taught boat handling in non-tidal waters to a very high standard, basic pilotage, seamanship and navigation, safety and much more. The course duration is 5 days, including at least one night passage of 4+ hours. The sixth day gives you the opportunity to take the boat without the instructor to either practice or just lie in the sun!

Whilst it is a reasonably intense course, there is still time to stop at a different port each night and enjoy the Ionian islands. You will have plenty of time at the helm and without tides to worry about, your learning can really focus on everything else - in particular the boat handling and sail trim.

Min Age: 16 years. We suggest that you have completed at least 5 days sea time including 100 miles and 4 night hours prior to taking the course. This is commonly achieved in the form of a Competent Crew course. It is also essential to have knowledge of the day skipper theory before taking the practical course.

Assumed knowledge: Basic navigation and sailing ability.

What is the Price and what is included?

Following courses: Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory and Mile Building trips

What books do you recommend and where can we do the theory?

The RYA (see link below) have a fantastic collection of books for studying and refreshing all aspects of the Day Skipper Theory and Competent Crew. In particular our clients have found the following books very useful so far:

Alison Noice: Day Skipper Exercises

Chris Slade: RYA Navigation Exercises

RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Notes

RYA Competent Crew Course Notes

Tom Cunliffe: Day Skipper Practical and Theory

Alison Noice: Day Skipper for Sail and Power

Your Day Skipper Theory is best completed in the form of a 5 day course in the UK. See the RYA website (www.rya.org.uk) for a list of all schools nearest to your postcode. If you are stuggling to find the time to complete 5 days, courses are sometimes split over weekends or at night schools. Online Theory courses are also available although please note you will need more than a few weeks in order to sucessfully complete and learn the Day Skipper Theory online.

The Coastal Skipper course teaches the skills and techniques required to safely skipper a yacht on a coastal passage by day or night in non tidal waters. The 5 days provides a great opportunity to sail further afield within the Ionian, meet more challenging conditions and gain more experience in sail and power handling, passage planning and emergency situations. Also available is the Yachtmaster Coastal Preparation and Exam.

Min Age: 17 years. Pre Course Experience: Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory, previous skippering experience, 300 miles and 8 night hours.

What is the Price and what is included?

Sail Ionian also runs Coastal Skipper Tidal Courses in the Caribbean.

Following Courses: Yachtmaster Preparation and more mile building

Why not combine a sailing holiday with one of our 5 day RYA sail training courses. You and your group will receive bespoke instruction from one of our instructors for the duration of the course and depending on its sucess are able to take the boat without a skipper for the rest of your sailing holiday. This gives you the chance to practice as a team of sailors and really build your confidence. During the course, we ensure everyone has a go at sailing and mooring the boat, whatever age or ability.If you and your crew would like to be qualified and are mixed abilities, we are happy to teach different courses on the same yacht.

Included in Price: Welcome pack, dinghy with outboard, any mooring fees, log books, all extra course material and certificates. Fuel, travel and cleaning are priced in addition to cost.