Course Overview
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical develops the advanced skippering techniques needed for more demanding coastal passages by day and night. Each candidate plans and leads passages under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Operating as a five-day liveaboard passage from Yacht Haven Marina allows the programme to use real pilotage, passage-making and command situations around Phuket and the Andaman Sea rather than returning to the classroom or marina each evening.
Some departures may combine Coastal Skipper Practical with the 7-Day Andaman Cruise / Mile Builder, creating an extended seven-day version. For these runs, checkout is on the following Sunday at 14:00; the dated course run and joining instructions confirm the exact schedule.
🌞 Sailing conditions 🌊
Phuket offers year-round tropical sailing. The northeast-monsoon months are generally drier, while the southwest monsoon can bring fresher winds, tropical showers and larger swell on exposed Andaman routes. Phang Nga Bay provides more sheltered water, allowing the instructor to select suitable training areas for the day’s conditions.
⛵️ Places to explore 🏝️
Depending on weather and training objectives, the cruising area can include limestone anchorages in Phang Nga Bay, islands near Phuket and, on suitable passages, the Phi Phi Islands. The final route is always set by the instructor and is not a fixed holiday itinerary.
Who Is This Course For?
Experienced sailors who handle a yacht to Day Skipper standard and want to develop advanced pilotage, passage-making and command skills before progressing toward Yachtmaster.
Prerequisites
- Minimum 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 nautical miles and 8 night hours
- Sailing ability to RYA Day Skipper practical standard
- Navigation knowledge to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory shorebased standard
- Minimum age: 17 years old
If you do not yet feel confident at Day Skipper level, or have not logged the required miles and days at sea, join a Mile Builder before booking Coastal Skipper Practical.
Typical Itinerary
Board from Sunday evening and review candidate experience and passage opportunities. The final programme depends on weather and traffic, but every candidate should expect demanding planning, pilotage and command exercises. The standard five-day course finishes with checkout at 17:00 on Friday. Some departures combine with the 7-Day Andaman Cruise / Mile Builder and extend through the following Sunday, with checkout at 14:00.
- Day 1: yacht and safety briefing, review each candidate's experience, prepare the first passage plan and depart Yacht Haven
- Day 2: advanced handling under sail and power, pilotage into a less familiar anchorage, and candidate command practice
- Day 3: candidate-led coastal passage, navigation in changing conditions, and day or night pilotage where the programme allows
- Day 4: a longer passage with watchkeeping, crew management, adverse-weather decisions and emergency scenarios
- Day 5: final candidate-led passage, consolidate advanced skippering skills, return to Yacht Haven and complete individual debriefs
Sailing Yacht on This Course
Practical courses are currently scheduled aboard our dedicated liveaboard training yacht from Yacht Haven Marina.
What Is Included
Included
- Onboard accommodation from Sunday to Friday (or Sunday if 7-day version)
- Prepared bedding and one onboard towel
- Yacht safety and training equipment
- RYA completion certificate when the required standard is achieved
- Fuel, home marina fees and normal yacht operating costs
- Simple breakfast and lunch onboard
- Five or seven days of practical RYA tuition and assessment as stated on the CourseRun
- Onboard accommodation from Sunday 18:00 to Friday 17:00 for a five-day run, or until the following Sunday 14:00 for a seven-day run
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
- Simple onboard dinner provisions when the itinerary makes dining ashore impractical
Not included
- Flights and transport
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Supporting courses and optional services
- Accommodation ashore before or after the course
- Non-home marina fees, shared by the crew
- Non-home marina, park, customs and immigration charges unless expressly included
- Dinner ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions
Optional extras
- RYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC€200 per person
- RYA logbook€20 per book
- Airport pickup€30 per trip
- Onboard air conditioning€5 per generator hour
Bookable extras can be selected on the booking page.
AC charge covers extra fuel, generator running hours and maintenance; settled onboard according to actual use.
Course Syllabus
- Passage planning and preparation for sea
- Pilotage by day and night
- Passage making and ability as skipper
- Yacht handling under power
- Yacht handling under sail
- Adverse-weather tactics and decisions
- Emergency situations and command
Recommended to Bring
- RYA logbook and evidence of all prerequisite sea time
- Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory notes and navigation tools
- Quick-drying clothing and non-marking footwear
- Sun protection and a light waterproof layer
- Soft luggage rather than a hard suitcase
- Passport-size photograph for certification
Supporting Courses
RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory
Develop the advanced navigation, meteorology, pilotage and passage-planning knowledge required for Coastal Skipper Practical and Yachtmaster Offshore.
View course informationRYA Marine Radio VHF/SRC
Learn how to operate a marine VHF radio confidently, including routine calls, distress and emergency procedures, Digital Selective Calling and essential radio protocol.
View course informationLocal Information
Flights and Arrival
Phuket International Airport is approximately 20–30 minutes by road from Yacht Haven Marina in normal traffic. Plan to arrive with enough time for Sunday-evening boarding. Airport transfer and accommodation before or after the course can be arranged separately.
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
Continue building qualifying sea time and consolidate command experience before arranging Yachtmaster preparation. Exam eligibility should be checked against the current RYA requirements before committing to dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I am ready for Coastal Skipper?
You should already handle a sailing yacht confidently to RYA Day Skipper Practical standard and have at least 15 days aboard, 2 days as skipper, 300 nautical miles and 8 night hours. If your experience is close but you need more command practice or qualifying sea time, complete a suitable Mile Builder first and ask us to review your logbook.
Do I need Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory before the course?
Yes. You need navigation knowledge to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory shorebased standard. Completing the theory online or in a classroom before arriving lets the practical week focus on advanced pilotage, passage execution, yacht handling and command rather than teaching core navigation from the beginning.
Will I skipper complete passages during the week?
Yes. Candidates rotate through passage planning, briefing, command, pilotage and crew management under instructor supervision. The exact passages depend on weather, sea state, traffic and the experience mix onboard, but each candidate receives individual command practice and feedback.
Does the course include night sailing?
The syllabus includes pilotage by day and night, and the instructor plans suitable night exercises where weather, operating conditions and the week's programme permit. Timings and anchorages may therefore differ from an ordinary daytime training schedule.
How do accommodation, meals and checkout work?
For a normal five-day run, check in from Sunday 18:00 and check out at 17:00 on Friday. A seven-day version checks out by 14:00 the following Sunday. Onboard accommodation, prepared bedding and one onboard towel are included. Shared cabins or berths are the standard arrangement. A private cabin must be reserved using the applicable private-cabin tariff. Couples or friends may ask to be allocated together, subject to the assigned yacht and existing reservations. Five-day catering follows this arrangement: A simple breakfast and lunch are provided onboard each sailing day, together with drinking water, tea and coffee. Dinner is normally enjoyed ashore at the student's own cost. If the itinerary requires an evening at anchor, provisions for one simple onboard dinner are included. Soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions are not included. Students share simple meal preparation, washing-up and normal yacht housekeeping as part of cruising-yacht life. On a seven-day version, A simple breakfast and lunch are provided onboard each sailing day, together with drinking water, tea and coffee. When a longer passage or anchorage makes dining ashore impractical, provisions for a simple dinner onboard are included. Other dinners ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions are not included. Students share simple meal preparation, washing-up and normal yacht housekeeping as part of cruising-yacht life.
Does Coastal Skipper Practical qualify me for the Yachtmaster exam?
It is excellent preparation, but the course certificate does not replace the separate Yachtmaster exam or its eligibility requirements. You must still meet the current RYA sea-time, passage, age, theory, Marine Radio and First Aid requirements before arranging Yachtmaster preparation and examination.
