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 ideally 4 night hours prior to taking the course. This is commonly achieved in the form of a Competent Crew course. It is also strongly recommended to have knowledge of the day skipper theory before taking the practical course.

Assumed knowledge: Basic navigation and sailing ability.

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

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

This is a preparation week or two weeks before taking the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Examination. It is a thorough week of training including plenty of night sailing, sailing and powerboating exercises and navigation plus much more.

Min Age: 17 years. To take the exam candidates require minimum: 30 Days Seatime, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (min half of these miles must be tidal). Also required VHF licence, First Aid Certificate.

Following Courses: Mile Building, Yachtmaster Offshore further specialist courses.

This is an intensive preparation week or two weeks before taking the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination. Sailing will not be limited to the Ionian. It is a thorough week of training including plenty of night sailing, sailing exercises and power handling exercises as well as navigation and passage planning and much more.

Min Age: 17 years. To take the exam candidates require minimum: 50 Days Seatime, 5 min passages over 60 miles in which min 2 were as skipper, 2500 miles (half in tidal waters), experience navigating and skippering at night. Also required VHF licence, First Aid Certificate.

Following Courses: Mile Building and further specialist courses.

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 RYA courses on the same yacht. Get a Quote

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

Price for RYA Instructor: £700 (total) *PLUS price of your yacht for the week

We would suggest a Bavaria 35/36/38/40 as the best option for 3 or 4 people on a course and a Bavaria 30/32/36 for 2 people. The skipper will sleep on board for most nights during the course and will need a cabin. See yacht prices.

If you have time for a second week sailing bareboat in the Ionian, this gives you the opportunity to build confidence in a familiar area, practice everything you have learnt and of course lie back and relax in the sun!

If you do not fancy the idea of an intensive course and a skipper for 5 days of your holiday, but want to learn, why not try our assisted sailing?