yachtmaster course southampton

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RYA Coastal Skipper

A course for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages under the guidance of the instructor.

About the course

On this 5 day course you’ll learn to skipper passages in a variety of situations during both the day and night. The course becomes gradually more challenging with each day, and our instructors will teach you the skills needed for:  

• passage planning
• day and night pilotage
• boat handling
• safely dealing with emergencies

This is a satisfying but intense course, and many candidates often work towards a Certificate of Competence. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.  

Required experience  

Before joining this course you should have the following yachting experience:  

• at least 5 days sailing experience
• at least 8 hours night sailing experience
• at least 300 miles total sailing experience
• at least 2 days skipper experience  
• RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory

We recommend that you have boat handling ability to the standard of RYA Day Skipper.

If you have any questions or want to discuss if this is the right course for you, please contact our Watersports Team:

Phone: +44 (0)23 8059 0110

Email: [email protected]  

Dates and times

This 5 day course runs Monday to Friday.

Monday 4 to Friday 8 November 2024

9 am to 4 pm

Monday 7 to Friday 11 April 2025

Monday 27 to Friday 31 October 2025

Our courses are available to everyone, but Southampton Sport members can book at a discounted rate.

Membership type

Southampton Sports Membership

Mayflower Member, Sports Pass or Non-Member

Included in the cost of the course are:  

• certificates upon successful completion
• use of lifejackets and lifelines
• morning breakfasts, snack lunches and tea/coffee/soft drinks
• 2 evening meals on board (5 day course)
• boat fuel  

Not included in the cost of the course are:  

• other evening meals 
• mooring fees for berths other than Southampton Town Quay Marina
• Cruising Scheme Logbook is available for purchase on the course for £7.99 

Booking a course

Book your course online

You can also:

• book by phone : +44 (0)23 8059 2119
• book by email : [email protected]
• book in person at Jubilee Sports Centre

Cancelling or rescheduling a course

You can cancel or reschedule a booking by contacting the Jubilee Sports Centre . Your options depend on how much notice you give us. Notice periods are based on the date of your booking, not on the start time.

Notice given

Refund options

7 days or more

Full refund or reschedule to another date

Between 48 hours and 7 days

Full refund if you present a doctor’s note stating why you can't complete your booking

Less than 48 hours

No refund available

When we might cancel your booking

We might need to cancel a booking if:

• the weather means we cannot safely run a course
• staff members are sick and their absence cannot be covered
• we cannot meet our minimum student-instructor ratio

If we need to cancel your booking, we’ll always try to give you at least 24 hours' notice. We’ll also offer to reschedule your booking.

Town Quay Marina

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Chieftain Training

RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

RYA & STCW Training Courses – Home

Stcw & rya training in southampton, gmdss courses in southampton and helensburgh.

Chieftain Training (RYA & STCW Training Courses)

Chieftain Training is based in Southampton, Solent and offers a wide range of RYA, STCW, MCA, AMERC, HSE and CIEH training courses for sailors, power-boaters, super-yacht crew, workboat skippers, ocean rowers, divers and seafarers. An additional GMDSS Centre is based in Helensburgh, Scotland.

The Southampton Centre is spread across two sites. The Powerboat Centre and the Shorebased Centre.

The Southampton Powerboat Centre offers all RYA Training courses within Powerboat , PWC and Motorboat training schemes from Powerboat Level 2 to Yachtmaster Offshore Power Practical , plus our home grown CT Radar Level 2 course.

The Southampton Shorebased Centre offer all RYA Shorebased courses, RYA Shorebased Instructor courses ,   STCW Basic Safety Week , First Aid at Work , Food Safety the full range of 5 GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress & Safety System) Courses, the full range of STCW First Aid & Medical Courses and various yacht and workboat engineering courses .

Chieftain’s range of RYA & STCW Deck Officer Courses prepare candidate for MCA Deck Officer Certificates of Competence (for Superyacht, Workboat and Merchant vessels), including Master 200 , Master 500, Master 3000 , OOW 3000 and Master Unlimited.

For inland and near coastal passenger vessels, Chieftain offers MCA Boatmaster (BML) License exam preparation courses for all MCA Boatmaster tiers and levels.

As well as RYA Survival courses, Chieftain regularly runs mandatory World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival  & Medical training for offshore yacht race crews competing in Cat 2, 1 and 0 events, such as the Fastnet, Middle Sea, Round Britain & Ireland, Trans Atlantic, Sydney Hobart, Vendee Globe, Route De Rhum etc.

Book Your STCW or RYA Training Today!

For more information on specific courses, please click on the menu links above. All of our courses can be booked online or email us . We are very happy to chat with you by email, phone or messenger and provide training advice.

Itchen River (Southampton) Small Craft Moorings

Aside from our STCW & RYA training courses, we have a small number of small craft moorings available at Mariners Wharf. See Southampton Boat Club for more information.

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We can help you to have fun on the water!

On your own boat or ours, we can give you the confidence & skills to cruise further.

Classroom Theory Courses

Classroom based theory navigation classes are a great way to learn the essential building blocks of successfully skippering a boat, be it sail or power.

Powerboat Courses

The Powerboat Scheme is applicable to Sportsboats, RIBS, Dories, Launches, and other boats which do not normally provide accommodation or cooking facilities.

Continue the fun!

One of the great aspects of training with us is that you can charter our training boats, so a boat you know and have confidence in at great rates!

Skill Building

We have a range of Mendez Marine Classroom & Practical skill building courses available to further your learning.

Training Courses

Mendez Marine run a full schedule of RYA training courses throughout the year.  We provide courses for those wanting to ‘dip their toe’ into the power boating world, upskill and develop their knowledge or take advanced courses – for pleasure or commercial reasons.

Our new classroom facility at Deacons House, Deacons Marina, Bridge Road Swanwick SO31 8EB has been open since April 2021. It is our primary shore-based training facility for all RYA Theory and one day support courses. It has been a great learning environment and students have been delighted with the facilities and technology available to support their learning.

Whether you are new to boating or looking to expand your knowledge or experience we are here to help you all. Whatever RYA training course you choose to do with us, from a VHF course through to a Yachtmaster® course or even just some basic boating skills either on the water or shore based, you can be assured of receiving professional training in a fun and friendly environment and on high quality equipment.

Mendez Marine

Have you harnessed the power of the wind and tide

Harness the tide Mendez Marine is widely respected and known to be a specialist Motor and Powerboat school. We know what we are good at and we work hard to ensure that we do that...

Build on your theory knowledge

Your practical boat handling skills are only as good as the underpinning theory knowledge that you have to go with it. Take time out this year to improve your understanding of IRPCS/COLREGS, Navigation, Weather etc....

Rob McInally

Rob has a friendly nature and has been a real hit with students young and old.

• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course

RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course in Southampton: Course Summary

• Course Duration: 6 days
• Course Cost: From £637.50pp
• Course Location:  Saxon Wharf Marina, Southampton, SO14 5QF
• Previous Experienced Required: Yes
• Minimum Age Requirement:  
• What The Course Includes:  Access to RYA E-Nav app, use of plotter and dividers, and more!
• What You Will Learn:  Sailing in foreign waters, electronic navigation, CTS, EP’s, DR, and more.

You have 2 ways to undertake this course, in your own time online or face-to-face with an Ocean Sports Tuition instructor at our classroom in Southampton.

The  RYA  Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course will teach you how to passage plan and navigate along offshore and coastal passages.

This course is ideal for students wishing to attend a Yachtmaster or Coastal Skipper Practical week and is aimed at motor boaters and sailors alike.

The course schedule is 6 days – five days teaching with one day for exams.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

This course is not for complete beginners. You will need navigation knowledge to a Day Skipper Shore Based  standard. Students will gain more from the course if they have had the opportunity to put this into practice.

Over the years that Ocean Sports Tuition has been teaching this course, we have found that both the online course and face-to-face tuition are a must before any practical course or exam.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

In your 2 day training course you will learn:

• Basic knowledge & understanding of meteorology
• Passage planning
• Rules on the water
• Electronic navigation

Included in the course are a number of assessment papers which your instructor will guide you towards.

OUTLINE COURSE CONTENT

There are 16 areas covered by the course syllabus:

• Dead reckoning and estimated position
• Satellite-derived position
• Use of waypoints to fix position
• Radar fixes
• Techniques of visual fixing
• Fixes using a mixture of position lines
• Relative accuracy of different methods of position fixing
• Areas of uncertainty

The magnetic compass:

• Allowance for variation
• Changes of variation with time and position
• Causes of deviation
• Swing for deviation (but not correction)
• Allowance for deviation
• Different types of compass
• Causes of tides - Springs and Neaps
• Tide tables - sources
• Tidal levels and datum
• Standard and secondary ports
• Tidal anomalies (Solent etc)

Tidal streams:

• Sources of tidal information
• Tidal stream information in sailing directions and Yachtsman's Almanacs
• Allowance for tidal streams in computing a course to steer
• Tide rips, overfalls and races
• Tidal observation buoys, beacons etc
• IALA system buoyage in region A
• Limitations of buoys as navigational aids
• Characteristics
• Ranges - visual, luminous and nominal
• Rising and dipping distances
• Light lists
• Harbour regulations and control signals
• Methods of pre-planning
• Clearing lines
• Use of soundings
• Transits and leading lines

GPS and chartplotters:

• Principles of operation and limitations of use
• Raster and vector charts
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a separate record of position
• Importance of paper charts

Echo sounders:

• Echo sounders
• Logs (speed and distance measuring):
• Importance of log as yacht's official document
• Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries

Meteorology:

• Basic terms, the Beaufort scale
• Cloud types
• Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information
• Land and sea breezes
• Use of a barometer as a forecasting aid

Rule of the Road:

• A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except annexes 1 and 3

Safety at sea:

• Personal safety, use of lifejackets, safety harnesses and lifelines
• Fire prevention and fire fighting
• Distress signals
• Coastguard and boat safety scheme
• Preparation for heavy weather
• Life-rafts and helicopter rescue
• Understanding of capabilities of vessel and basic knowledge of stability

Navigation in restricted visibility:

• Precautions to be taken in fog
• Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog
• Navigation strategy in poor visibility

Passage planning:

• Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and making and use at sea
• Customs regulations as they apply to yachts
• Routine for navigating in coastal waters
• Strategy for course laying
• Use of waypoints and routes
• Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy
• Sources of local and national regulations

Marine environment:

• Responsibility to minimise pollution and protect the marine environment.

WHAT DOES THE COURSE COST?

The course costs £637.50 per person for group face-to-face tuition.

We also offer this course on a one-to-one basis, the cost of this is £2499.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COST?

• Expert tuition
• Access to RYA E-Nav app
• Use of plotter and dividers
• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster course notebook
• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster exercise book
• Low instructor student ratio of 1:4 

Book Your Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course Here

Book online below, or call on 023 81 242159 .

If there are no courses listed below, please email us to enquire about availability:  [email protected].

We Can Also Help With...

Jet ski club, boat charter, safety boat services.

• RYA Powerboat Level 1 Course
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course
• RYA Tender Operator Course
• RYA Intermediate Powerboat Course
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Course
• RYA Powerboat Instructor Course
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor Course
• RYA MCA Advanced Powerboat Prep & Exam
• RYA MCA Commercial Powerboat Skipper Course
• RYA Helmsman Course
• RYA Day Skipper Motor
• RYA Coastal Skipper Motor Course
• MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence
• MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• RYA Cruising Instructor (Motor) Course
• RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Academy
• Superyacht Deckhand Course
• RYA PWC Proficiency Course
• PWC Instructor Course
• Own Boat Tuition
• RYA VHF Radio Course
• RYA Sea Survival Course
• RYA First Aid Course
• RYA Essential Seamanship & Navigation Course
• RYA Day Skipper Theory Course
• RYA VHF Radio Online Course
• RYA Essential Seamanship & Navigation Online Course
• RYA Day Skipper Theory Online Course
• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Online Course
• RYA CEVNI Assessment Online
• RYA PPR Online Course
• Instructors
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Course Feedback
• Gift Vouchers

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Late notice spaces available for selected courses - click here for details

Learn to Sail with Commodore Yachting

THE Solent’s premier yacht charters, sea school and RYA training centre. We lead, others follow!

Learn to sail with us! We are the experts in Sailing courses for beginners and experts alike.

RYA Yachtmaster Fast-Track

Only 3 spaces left for the most comprehensive 18 week Yachtmaster Fast-Track programe in the Solent. £1,000 deposit secures a place – book here

We are now able to offer finance* from Payl8r and PayPal on all holidays, courses & yacht charters (*Subject to affordability checks and acceptance)

Sailing, Theory & Powerboat Courses

Sail around britain, holidays, mile builders & channel hops, bareboat & skippered yacht charter, rya training centre & sailing school in the solent.

As The Solent’s premier yacht charter providers, sea school and RYA training centre, our boat training is offered by instructors with a huge range of knowledge and experience, passing on our passion for sailing to all who take part. Though we have been running for around 25 years, we are always pushing forward to become even better, so you get the best service.

We’re always here to offer personalised advice and mentorship, whatever your goals are for taking part in our boat training and RYA sailing courses. From beginner to experienced, you can learn to sail with the best instructors on the South Coast. All our courses take place in the Solent, around the coastline of Portsmouth, Southampton and the surrounding waters. We provide you with all the equipment and instruction you need to sail safely and have fun at the same time.

RYA Sailing Course Calendar

Take a look at our live RYA sailing and boat training course calendar and book your next RYA class or South coast sailing experience with us!

Our Boat Training and RYA Classes

One Day Courses

Courses which are just one day in duration, we have a great selection of both theory and practical courses that will appeal to everyone.

RYA Theory Courses

Take a look at the RYA classroom-based theory sailing courses we offer, from beginner to expert we have something to expand your sailing knowledge.

Online RYA Theory Courses

Bit pressed for time? We offer a range of online RYA courses which can be completed in your own time. You can also extend your online course here too.

Holidays & Mile Builders

For those looking for a relaxing getaway on the sea, or the ultimate adventurous sailing experience, our sailing school provides week-long cruises, mile building weekends, and our brand-new Sail Around Britain adventure that showcases some of the UK’s best ports and sailing locations. All journeys start from the South Coast.

Sail around Britain

Only 4 spaces left for this years epic 7-week all-inclusive sailing adventure across Britain – starting in Gosport. Sailing to locations including Brighton, Plymouth and the Scottish Islands you can expect 50 days of hard work and beautiful views – all while you learn to sail! Book your place here!

RYA Practical Sailing Courses

As members of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national sailing and boating activity regulator, we offer internationally recognised RYA sailing courses at our sea school based in Gosport, from beginner to advanced level. Our courses cover a wide range of topics, from boat handling and navigation to safety procedures, much more.

Powerboat Courses

Take a look at the RYA & Specialist power boat courses we offer, from beginner to expert, we have the powerboat course you are looking for.

Yacht Racing

From practice weekends, the Round the Island race, to the Iconic RORC UK offshore calendar including the Fastnet & RWYC Lonely Rock races, we have it all.

Commercial Courses

For those who work at sea for a living, or for newcomers to the industry we offer a full raft of courses which will give you the qualifications you need!

Yacht Charter at our Sea School

Experience the freedom and fun of yachting around the Solent, with our range of luxury yacht charter options. We offer charters for individuals and groups with our fleet of excellently maintained boats. Our yachts include full insurance and fuel, a full handover orientation, and guidance on safety procedures. We’re here to support and answer any questions you may have before and during your time sailing in the Solent.

Come and experience a true premier service with us aboard our immaculate fleet yachts, with the best instructors in the UK. We are the leading sea school and RYA training centre in the Solent, near Portsmouth and Southampton. We lead, others follow!

Tripadvisor Reviews

Customer reviews

A fantastic weekend of sailing, almost 130 NM in all, with a relaxed, but fully engaging skipper. Great set up and brilliant on the admin. Thanks Stef, Tom et al!

I did a weeks coastal skipper course getting ready for my yacht master and I have to say it was one of the best training weeks I’ve had - our training instructor was superb, exactly the sort of person that you want. He could inspire, provide discipline and impart knowledge as well as let you learn through your own mistakes. Tom and Steph run an excellent operation there and I highly recommend it. They’re flexible and very helpful when it comes to your journey into being a qualified sailor.

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