Course Overview
The RYA Competent Crew course is the ideal starting point for anyone who wants to become an active, reliable member of a sailing yacht’s crew. Over five practical days you will take part in sailing, steering, sail handling, ropework, safety routines and daily life aboard.
Our Phuket course is run as a liveaboard experience from Yacht Haven Marina. The yacht normally leaves the marina during the training week, giving you a real introduction to cruising among the islands and anchorages of the Andaman Sea.
🌞 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?
Complete beginners, occasional sailors who want a structured foundation, and friends or family preparing to sail with a more experienced skipper.
Prerequisites
- No previous sailing experience required
- Reasonable mobility and fitness for moving safely around a yacht
- Minimum age: 12 years old
Typical Itinerary
Check in from 18:00 on Sunday, meet the crew and settle into the yacht. Training starts by 09:30 on Monday and ends with checkout at 17:00 on Friday. The exact route is selected for weather, sea state and learning objectives.
- Monday: safety, yacht familiarisation and first sailing exercises
- Tuesday–Thursday: helming, sail trim, manoeuvres, seamanship and anchoring
- Friday: consolidate skills and return to Yacht Haven. The course concludes, followed by an optional dinner together for those who wish to join
- Friday 17:00: course completion and checkout
Sailing Yacht on This Course
Practical courses are currently scheduled aboard our dedicated liveaboard training yacht from Yacht Haven Marina.
What Is Included
Included
- Five days of practical RYA tuition
- Onboard accommodation from Sunday to Friday
- Prepared bedding and one onboard towel
- Yacht safety and training equipment
- RYA completion certificate on successful course completion
- Fuel, home marina fees and normal yacht operating costs
- Simple breakfast and lunch onboard
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
- Provisions for one simple onboard dinner if the itinerary requires an evening at anchor
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, park, customs and immigration charges unless expressly included
- Dinner ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and additional personal provisions
Optional extras
- Course textbook€25 per book
- 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
- Sea terms and parts of a yacht
- Sail handling and basic sail trim
- Helming under sail and power
- Ropework, knots and line handling
- Personal safety and emergency equipment
- Keeping an effective lookout
- Living aboard and considerate crewing
- Helping with anchoring, mooring and berthing
Recommended to Bring
- Lightweight quick-drying clothing
- Non-marking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection, hat and reusable water bottle
- Light waterproof layer
- Soft luggage rather than a hard suitcase
- Passport-size photograph if you prefer not to upload one later
Supporting Courses
RYA 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 informationRYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship
Build a practical introduction to charts, tides, navigation and safety awareness.
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
After Competent Crew, most students work toward RYA Day Skipper Theory and Day Skipper Practical. Continue sailing between courses to consolidate your skills and build experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will we return to the marina each night?
Normally no. Competent Crew is a liveaboard training cruise. After leaving Yacht Haven, the yacht uses suitable passages and anchorages around the Andaman Sea, with the route selected for the weather and the week's learning objectives.
When do I board and leave the yacht?
Check in at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina from 18:00 on Sunday and be ready to begin by 09:30 on Monday. The course ends and checkout is at 17:00 on Friday. Your course run and joining instructions provide the exact dates and times.
Is accommodation onboard included?
Yes. Onboard accommodation is included from Sunday evening until the course finishes on Friday at 17:00. 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.
How are meals and provisions arranged?
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.
What should I bring for the liveaboard week?
Pack lightweight, quick-drying clothes in a soft bag, non-marking shoes with good grip, sun protection, a hat and a light waterproof layer. Bring personal medication, toiletries and a separate beach towel, but avoid hard suitcases because storage aboard is limited. Prepared bedding and one onboard towel are included. View joining instructions →
