Aim of this course: To teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. Involving an overnight passage it’s ideal for competent Day Skippers who want to move on to more extended cruising in unfamiliar waters, in more challenging sailing conditions, and for longer periods of time.

Pre Course Requirements – Completion Certificate
The minimum requirements for this course are 20 days, 400 miles, 12 night hours and 2 days as skipper. Approximately a quarter of these requirements will be covered during the course.

Pre Course Requirements - DOT Certificate
The minimum experience for this course is 800 miles logged, 30 days living on board, 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours, sailing to Day Skipper standard. Restricted VHF Radio Operator’s Licence, First Aid certificate, plus pass the two - day exam.
It is possible to take the Coastal Skipper exam with 400 miles, 20 days, 12 night hours, 2 days as skipper if you hold a coastal skipper course completion certificate.

Course Syllabus:

Passage planning
Can plan a coastal passage including consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights, and tidal streams, publications, required and strategy, know customs procedures.

Preparation for sea
Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages. Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment and engine checks.

Pilotage
Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of soundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations. Can pilot a yacht by day or night.

Passage making and ability as skipper
Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew. Can organise the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a yacht on passage. Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends. Is aware of crew welfare on passage. Understands the practical use and limitations of electronic navaids and GPS.

Yacht handling under power
Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power. All berthing and unberthing situations in various situations in various conditions of wind and tide.

Yacht handling under sail
Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space. Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide. Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing.

Adverse weather conditions
Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds. Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.
 

Emergency situations
Recovery of man overboard under power and sail. Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues