Course Overview
This four-day practical course gives developing skippers the opportunity to take charge of short passages with an instructor available to coach, advise and maintain safety.
Training concentrates on pilotage, navigation, seamanship, preparation, crew management and close-quarters handling. Modern electronic aids such as GPS and radar are used alongside sound planning and visual pilotage, with an introduction to night cruising.
No fixed dates are offered yet. We review previous helmsmanship, mileage and Day Skipper Theory (opens in a new tab) knowledge before confirming a suitable motor cruiser, instructor and delivery plan.
Who Is This Course For?
Motor-cruiser crew with basic helmsmanship who are ready to develop day-skipper responsibility, passage planning and command skills.
Prerequisites
- Basic helmsmanship ability
- At least 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours aboard a motor cruiser
- Navigation knowledge to RYA Day Skipper Theory (opens in a new tab) standard
- Minimum age 16
- Course requires at least two confirmed students to run
Typical Itinerary
Each student takes responsibility for practical tasks and short passages, with the sequence adapted to conditions and progress.
- Preparation, systems, manoeuvring and initial skills assessment
- Pilotage, navigation and short-passage planning
- Skippered passages, crew management and emergency exercises
- Consolidation, night-cruising introduction and final debrief
What Is Included
Included
- Four days of practical instruction
- Use of the nominated motor cruiser and safety equipment
- Onboard accommodation during the agreed course period
- Course material and completion certificate when the required standard is achieved
Not included
- Travel before or after the course
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Dinner ashore, drinks and additional personal provisions
- Day Skipper Theory course if not already completed
Optional extras
- Airport pickup€30 per trip
Bookable extras can be selected on the booking page.
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
- Preparation for sea and crew briefing
- Boat handling and close-quarters manoeuvring
- Navigation, electronic aids and pilotage
- Passage planning and passage making
- Meteorology and collision regulations
- Engines, maintenance and repair awareness
- Emergency situations and person-overboard recovery
- Introduction to night cruising
What you will work toward
- Prepare and skipper a motor cruiser on short daytime passages
- Apply pilotage, navigation and seamanship in practice
- Handle the vessel and coordinate crew in familiar waters
- Use modern electronic navigation aids appropriately
- Respond to common emergencies and understand night-cruising considerations
Register your interest
This is an enquiry-led demand-validation programme. We are collecting preferred dates and participant requirements while confirming the appropriate training craft, instructor and delivery arrangements in Phuket.
- No fixed course dates are published yet
- An enquiry does not reserve a place or create a payment obligation
- We will provide written confirmation of the dates, craft, instructor, price and certification arrangements before requesting payment
Any RYA course will only be delivered and certificated once the relevant recognition, equipment and staffing requirements are confirmed for that discipline.
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
Do I need Day Skipper Theory first?
You should arrive with navigation knowledge to RYA Day Skipper Theory standard. We can help you arrange the online theory course before practical training.
Is accommodation included?
Yes, onboard accommodation during the agreed four-day course period is included. The exact boarding and checkout arrangements depend on the selected vessel and written course plan.