Course Overview
Tight berths, crosswinds and short-handed manoeuvres can create unnecessary stress even for otherwise confident sailors. This two-day clinic explains the forces acting on a yacht under power and builds a repeatable approach to planning, communication and control.
You will practise how windage, prop walk, prop wash, rudder effect, momentum and lines can work for you. Exercises are selected for the yacht, conditions and participants rather than forced into a rigid sequence.
This is a practical skills-development course rather than a separate RYA certificate. It is arranged by enquiry and normally delivered on a weekend.
Who Is This Course For?
Day Skipper-level sailors, cruising yacht owners, short-handed crews and Yachtmaster candidates wanting concentrated marina-handling practice.
Prerequisites
- Practical ability around RYA Day Skipper level is recommended
- Comfort moving safely around a yacht and handling lines
- Experience, goals and preferred weekend reviewed before confirmation
Typical Itinerary
The instructor builds the weekend around the conditions and the manoeuvres that matter most to the group.
- Day 1: yacht characteristics, forces, planning, crew briefs and core berthing exercises
- Day 2: short-handed methods, more demanding wind/current scenarios and consolidation
What Is Included
Included
- Two days of practical coaching, normally 09:30–17:00
- Use of the training yacht and its safety equipment
- Personal skills review and next-step guidance
Not included
- Overnight accommodation unless agreed in advance and subject to availability
- Flights, transport, travel insurance and personal expenses
- Formal RYA course certification
- Dinner and personal provisions
Delivery dates and final inclusions are confirmed before payment. External examination or certification fees remain separate unless your written quote explicitly includes them.
Course Syllabus
- Bows-to, stern-to and alongside berthing
- Fore-and-aft springs and springing off
- Centre-line and windward-line techniques
- Prop walk, prop wash and close-quarters turns
- Astern manoeuvring in wind or current
- Short-handed planning, crew communication and line handling
- Engine-failure contingencies and marina exercises
What you will work toward
- Plan and brief close-quarters manoeuvres
- Use springs and controlled momentum effectively
- Understand prop walk, prop wash, windage and rudder effect
- Improve short-handed berthing and departure techniques
Weekend delivery
The course is arranged by enquiry and normally runs Saturday and Sunday. Onboard accommodation may occasionally be arranged in advance, subject to availability.
Recommended to Bring
- RYA logbook and evidence of prerequisite sea time
- Relevant theory notes, charts and navigation tools
- Quick-drying clothing and non-marking footwear
- Sun protection, waterproof layer and soft luggage
Supporting Courses
Marine Radio VHF/SRC, RYA First Aid and the appropriate RYA shorebased navigation course support safe progression through the cruising scheme. We will identify any missing qualification when reviewing your enquiry.
Local Information
Flights and Arrival
Yacht Haven Marina is approximately 20–30 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport in normal traffic. Exact boarding, checkout and examination arrangements are confirmed in the written joining instructions.
Typical Weather
Phuket is warm throughout the year, but the monsoon seasons influence wind, rainfall and route planning. These are typical patterns rather than a forecast.
Mid Oct–Jan
24–31°C
Drier northeast-monsoon period with more sunshine and generally comfortable cruising conditions.
Feb–May
25–33°C
Hot, mostly dry weather. Winds can become lighter and more variable as the season progresses.
July–Aug
24–32°C
Southwest-monsoon sailing with tropical showers, fresher winds and more swell on exposed routes.
Sep–Mid Oct
24–31°C
Typically the wettest and most changeable period, with squalls and routes adjusted to conditions.
Your Next RYA Step
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an RYA certificate course?
No. It is a focused practical clinic designed to strengthen specific yacht-handling skills. We record the training in your logbook where appropriate.
Can I stay onboard?
Overnight accommodation is not included, but it may occasionally be arranged in advance subject to yacht availability and the written agreement.