The RYA Training Scheme is acknowledged as one of the finest in the world. Certificates obtained by successful completion of the scheme’s various levels are recognised by insurers and maritime authorities as proof of competence. At the scheme’s highest levels, the certificates awarded can provide professional qualifications, recognised under maritime law and by marine related businesses.
The scheme encompasses the entire spectrum of experience, from complete beginner to professional skipper. It is not necessary to start at the beginning, many intermediate and advanced sailors join us at the higher levels (a word of caution: It is unlikely that you will be able to absorb the more complex parts of the syllabus if you do not have a firm grasp of the elements taught at the lower levels).
The RYA Training Scheme scheme breaks down into four levels:
.1. Competent Crew
A practical course run over 5 consecutive days or 3 weekends. This course is designed to turn a complete beginner into a useful member of a yacht’s crew. You will leave our home port on a school yacht and return only at the end of the course having visited a number of other local harbours and bays. You will do some night sailing, learn how to live on and operate the yacht, learn the basics of sailing, understand how to be safe at sea and become familiar with the language of sailing.
.2. Day Skipper
The first big step towards moving from being a crew member to a yacht skipper. After successful completion of this course you will be considered qualified to skipper a small family cruiser, in daylight and in settled weather, to and from ports you are already familiar with. The complete course is in two parts: A 5 day (or three weekends) theory course and a 5 day (or 3 weekends) practical course. The class room based theory course teaches the basics of navigation, the international regulations for the prevention of collision at sea and an introduction to meteorology. A course completion certificate is awarded to students reaching the required standard. The practical course is conducted on a school yacht. You will, with the help of your Instructor, learn how to skipper the yacht during a series of passages between a number of local ports and anchorages at day and night. During these exercises your Instructor will evaluate your performance and, if satisfied, sign-off your log book. Subsequently, the school will issue a course completion certificate. This course is the foundation for anyone intending to get seriously involved in yachting. We will accept students on a practical course without having completed a theory course but they must be able to show that they have independently reached a similar level of knowledge. There is not enough time on a practical course to re-teach the theory syllabus! Like the higher levels of certification described below, it is the practical certificate that provides the recognised qualification. The theory part of the course is simply that – the practical course teaches you how to apply the knowledge in a real marine environment.
.3. Coastal Skipper
After successful completion of this course you will be qualified to undertake more extended passages by day or night in a wide variety of weather conditions. Once again, the course is in two parts: A 5 day (or three weekends) theory course and a 5 day (or 3 weekends) practical course. The theory course, which is the same as for the Yachtmaster qualification outlined below, deals with advanced navigation, pilotage and meteorology. The practical course teaches advanced sailing, safety and practical pilotage. Each student skippers the school yacht for a number of passages and learns advanced skippering techniques. As this is a more advanced course, the RYA requires candidates to have the following experience before attending: 30 days at sea, 2 as skipper. 800 sea miles 12 night hours. A Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator's Certificate. A First Aid certificate. Navigation to Day skipper theory standard.
.4. Yachtmaster
The pinnacle of the RYA Training Scheme. Yachtmaster has been designed to recognise experienced sailors capable of undertaking complex, extended passages in any weather conditions in both tidal and non-tidal waters. To successfully obtain a Yachtmaster certificate of competence (recognised by the department of transport), candidates must be examined by an independent RYA Examiner. Candidates are required to prove their experience prior to acceptance for examination with the following: 2,500 sea miles (of which at least 50% must have been completed in tidal waters). 50 days at sea (5 as skipper). 5 passages over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. A Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator's Certificate. A First Aid certificate. Navigation to Coastal Skipper theory standard (for instance, completion of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory course described earlier).
There is no formal RYA Yachtmaster course. However, sail training centres such as Corfu Sea School can provide tuition and certification for all of the elements required to qualify for examination. We also offer a 5 day Yachtmaster Preparation Course which can be concluded with a further 2 day examination by an independent Examiner. This is highly recommended as it ensures that candidates are given the chance to brush up on any weak areas and practice for the examination itself.
After having been awarded the coveted Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence candidates can elect to add ‘endorsements’:
Yachtmaster Ocean
A 5 day theory course that teaches celestial navigation and ocean meteorology. Candidates subsequently need to complete an ocean passage of over 500 miles and sit an oral exam before the endorsement is awarded.
Commercial Endorsement
Required to work professionally as a yacht skipper. This endorsement is awarded after successful completion of a Sea Survival Course and a medical examination.
Additional Courses
International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
An internationally recognised certificate of competence for leisure boat owners and skippers The knowledge required is lower than for RYA Day Skipper but does satisfy, at a base level, port authorities and coastguard organisations (which are increasingly requesting proof of competence from those using the waters under their jurisdiction). We normally run this as a 2 day course and cover man-overboard techniques, basic sail handling and manoeuvres, basic navigation and an understanding of the ‘rules of the road’ at sea. The course concludes with a short practical and oral test.
First Aid
A 1 day course that teaches practical first aid techniques that can be used onboard a yacht at sea. (Required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster candidates).
SRC Restricted (VHF) Radio Operators Licence
A 1 day course that concludes with a test. Successful candidates will be awarded an internationally recognised Operator’s Certificate (required by law in most countries). (Required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster candidates).
Sea Survival
A 1 day course that with lectures about survival techniques and a practical pool session during which you will launch and board a life-raft. (Required for those wishing to add a commercial endorsement to their Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence).
Mile Building Cruises
2 and 5 day cruises to help candidates build the miles necessary to undertake the scheme’s more advanced courses.
And, finally…..
Detailed descriptions of all of the scheme’s courses are provided in the RYA publication, G15 (log book). Copies available on request. Our student to Instructor ratio is 5:1. As a RYA recognised training centre in the Mediterranean we teach the RYA non-tidal syllabus for all practical courses. This has been designed for those seeking to sail, primarily, in the Med and Baltic seas. Our theory courses, however, cover tidal streams, heights and predictions. The certificates we award for Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper practical course completion are marked ‘non-tidal’. There is no non-tidal version of the Yachtmaster qualification . We can, however, arrange for candidates to take their Yachtmaster exam here in Greece and provide preparation course for those with the necessary experience.
