Our principal focus is the RYA Sail Cruising scheme, from Start Yachting and Competent Crew through Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster preparation. We also offer selected shorebased, Marine Radio, First Aid and PPR courses, Fast Track pathways, Andaman Mile Builders and ICC assessment. Powerboat and Motor Cruising training may be offered on demand, subject to suitable craft, instructor and operational availability. Cruise Asia can separately arrange bareboat, skippered and crewed yacht charters.

The Royal Yachting Association is the UK's national governing body for recreational and professional boating training. An RYA Recognised Training Centre is inspected and must follow the relevant RYA scheme standards for instructors, vessels, safety equipment, course delivery and administration. Phuket Sea School is currently Thailand's only RYA-recognised centre offering the RYA Sail Cruising scheme.

Our principal and Chief Instructor is Stephen Miller from the United Kingdom. He speaks English and Spanish, explains sailing in a clear and easy-to-understand way, and brings more than a decade of professional teaching experience and extensive international and Andaman Sea mileage. Past students value his patient approach, clear explanations and ability to build confidence. Every instructor assigned by Phuket Sea School holds the appropriate RYA instructor qualification for the scheme and course level they teach.

Use our Choosing the Right Course page to compare experience requirements and outcomes. If your experience does not fit neatly into one level, tell us in your enquiry about your previous practical sailing experience and theory knowledge. We will recommend a course, theory pathway or Mile Builder rather than placing you into a level that is unsuitable.

RYA Competent Crew is the most complete five-day liveaboard introduction course and requires no previous sailing experience. Day Skipper Fast Track is the structured option for a beginner who wants to progress toward skippering. If you are short of time, RYA Start Yachting is a two-day introduction, usually delivered at a weekend.

Not necessarily. You may join Day Skipper Practical without the Competent Crew certificate if you already meet its practical experience and ability requirements and have Day Skipper-level navigation theory. If you are uncertain, ask us to review your experience before booking.

Start Yachting and Competent Crew require no prior theory course. For Day Skipper Practical you should have Day Skipper Theory knowledge. Coastal Skipper Practical and Yachtmaster candidates need Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory knowledge. We recommend completing the appropriate onsite or online theory course before the practical programme. Our online theory partners are Skippers Online and Ardent Training.

No, certificates from every earlier course are not compulsory, but the required experience, knowledge and practical standard are. Advanced students should provide their logbook or sailing CV. A certificate cannot be issued simply because a course was attended if the required standard was not demonstrated.

Often. Compatible combinations can include Competent Crew with Day Skipper Practical, Competent Crew with Coastal Skipper Practical, or Coastal Skipper Practical with a compatible Mile Builder. Mixed training works because aspiring skippers must also learn to brief and manage crew. Compatibility still depends on the products, duration, vessel allocation, existing bookings and the instructor's ability to meet every student's syllabus.

RYA Day Skipper Practical is the usual minimum practical qualification for a daytime bareboat charter in familiar waters. Operators commonly also require a Marine Radio VHF/SRC certificate and may ask for an ICC, sailing CV or higher experience for a larger yacht or more demanding area. Read the RYA ICC application guidance and ask us whether an ICC Assessment is appropriate for your intended cruising area. Certification never replaces recent practical experience.

Useful references include the RYA Day Skipper Handbook for Day Skipper, Yachtmaster for Sail and Power for advanced candidates, the RYA VHF Handbook for Marine Radio and the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook for recording experience. Your course page and joining instructions identify anything specifically required.

Phuket Sea School normally operates from October through August and does not schedule routine training in September. November to April is generally drier; the southwest-monsoon months can bring fresher winds, showers and more swell. Courses and routes remain subject to safe weather, yacht, instructor and student availability.

Courses start from Phuket Yacht Haven Marina and use suitable waters, islands, passages and anchorages in the Andaman Sea. Shorter courses normally remain within a practical Phuket training area, while longer Mile Builders can range farther. A fourteen-day programme may include a Langkawi passage when weather, border formalities, yacht readiness, time and crew development allow. No destination or route is guaranteed.

Published Start Yachting courses normally run on Saturday and Sunday from 09:30 to 17:00 each day. Competent Crew, Day Skipper Practical, Coastal Skipper Practical and the five-day Andaman Cruise normally check in from 18:00 on Sunday, begin by 09:30 on Monday and finish with checkout at 17:00 on Friday. Always use the dates and times on the selected course run.

Day Skipper Theory and Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory classroom dates are published when instructor and classroom availability are confirmed. Please check with the school before booking travel. Approved online alternatives from Skippers Online and Ardent Training can be completed flexibly before arriving in Phuket.

Our 5-Day Andaman Cruise / Sailing Experience, 7-Day Andaman Cruise / Mile Builder and 14-Day Andaman Cruise / Mile Builder are published in the Mile Builder calendar. Routes, mileage and stops are indicative and may change for weather, sea state, park access, formalities, yacht allocation and crew development.

Our RYA Yachtmaster Preparation & Exam programme must be planned with the school. We first review your intended Coastal or Offshore level, qualifying sea time, passages, theory knowledge, VHF and First Aid certificates, then coordinate yacht, instructor and examiner availability.

Many five-day RYA Sail Cruising courses can run with one confirmed student. Some seven-day and fourteen-day programmes—including longer Mile Builders—and Yachtmaster preparation require at least two students. The minimum for each product or dated course run is shown on the relevant course page and calendar. Practical courses are normally limited to a maximum of five students aboard our training yacht, while Yachtmaster preparation and examination programmes have a maximum of four candidates.

Yes. Many students book individually, and you do not need to arrive with a group. Send us an enquiry with your experience, theory knowledge and goal, and we can help you find a suitable course and course date. The instructor introduces the crew, explains responsibilities and builds a cooperative onboard routine. Existing bookings, course compatibility, capacity and the product's minimum-to-run rule still determine whether a particular date can proceed.

Yes, where a private-boat tariff is available and the yacht has not already been partly booked. This suits families, couples and private groups. Our Family RYA Sailing Course can combine appropriate training levels aboard one private yacht—for example, one family member may work toward Competent Crew while another follows Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper objectives. Every participant seeking certification must still meet the relevant prerequisites, complete the syllabus and demonstrate the required standard, and the RYA student-capacity limit remains in force.

RYA instruction and assessment are delivered in English. Chinese-language administrative support may be available, but students must have enough English to understand safety briefings, instructions, charts, publications and communication aboard.

Choose a published date from the course page or calendar, select the available tariff and participants, then complete the application and billing details. Online card payment is processed securely through Stripe. Courses that require planning first provide an enquiry route instead of immediate checkout.

After a verified online payment, the success page shows that your booking is confirmed and the payer receives a confirmation email. It includes the course, dates, participants, purchased extras and secure participant-form link, together with joining instructions when assigned to the run.

Every participant must complete and electronically sign their own secure RYA participant form. It records identity and contact details, emergency contact, experience, relevant health information, dietary needs and declarations. Participants can update the form until two days before the course starts.

Only by prior agreement and with a paid place, because every person uses vessel, berth and safety capacity. A five-day Andaman Cruise may be a better product for a guest who wants the liveaboard experience without formal training. Compatibility with courses already booked on that yacht must be checked.

Yes. Eligible course bookings can be secured with the deposit shown at checkout, paid by card or arranged bank transfer. Your confirmation email states the remaining balance, its due date and a secure link where you can choose card or bank transfer. Bank details are displayed only on that secure payment page. Bookings after the balance due date require full payment.

Not unless the school has agreed this in writing. If payment on arrival is approved, it must be paid in cash. We may not have change, so please bring the exact agreed amount. A place is not reserved merely because a form was saved or a payment proof was uploaded. Full payment, an eligible deposit or verified transfer must otherwise be received according to the booking terms before inventory is confirmed.

If Phuket Sea School cannot deliver a confirmed course—for example, because the assigned vessel becomes unseaworthy, a suitable replacement vessel cannot be arranged, or another operational or safety issue makes delivery impossible—we will inform affected students as soon as we become aware. We will first try to offer a suitable replacement vessel or alternative course date. If we cancel the course and cannot provide an acceptable alternative, we will refund the course fees paid to us for the cancelled service, or the applicable unused portion if delivery has already begun, in accordance with your booking terms. Our responsibility does not normally extend to independently arranged flights, accommodation, visas, insurance or other incidental travel costs, so suitable travel and cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Nothing in this answer limits any right or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Contact us in writing as soon as possible. The terms accepted with your booking determine any transfer, credit, cancellation charge or refund. Once a course has started, unused training, accommodation or services are normally not refundable. Travel insurance should cover appropriate unforeseen circumstances.

Yes. Arrange travel insurance that specifically covers practical sailing, medical care and evacuation, cancellation or curtailment, travel disruption and personal belongings. Yacht insurance is not a replacement for a participant's own travel and activity cover.

Our practical sailing base is Phuket Yacht Haven Marina on Phuket's sheltered northeast coast. Your joining instructions identify the meeting point, assigned yacht, boarding time and contact details for the specific course run.

Phuket Yacht Haven Marina is around 20 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport in normal traffic. Taxis and app-based transfers are available, or an airport transfer can be requested as an optional extra. Allow additional time during busy periods or poor weather.

Many nationalities can enter Thailand without obtaining a visa in advance, but eligibility and the permitted length of stay depend on your passport, purpose of travel and the rules in force when you arrive. Check the current Thai entry requirements and your airline's passport and onward-travel rules. If you are joining Yachtmaster Fast Track, confirm the maximum continuous stay permitted for your passport and arrange the appropriate visa or extension before travelling; do not assume the full programme fits within a visa-exempt stay. Arrange suitable travel and activity insurance and seek personal vaccination or medical advice from a qualified clinician. Entry and health requirements can change, so Phuket Sea School does not publish a fixed passport-validity, visa or vaccination rule.

At the school, yes. A member of our base team or your instructor will meet you at the school office or classroom, onboard the assigned yacht, at the marina cafeteria or at a nearby restaurant, depending on the course and arrival plan. The exact meeting point and time are notified in advance in your joining information. We do not provide an automatic airport greeting. If you book a transfer, its driver and meeting instructions are confirmed separately.

Use the check-in and checkout times shown on your selected course run and in its joining instructions as the final reference. Five-day liveaboard programmes normally check in from 18:00 on Sunday, start by 09:30 on Monday and finish with checkout at 17:00 on Friday. Seven-day programmes check in from 18:00 on Sunday and check out by 14:00 the following Sunday. Start Yachting normally runs from 09:30 to 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Times may change when weather, vessel operations or safety require it; safety always takes priority.

Onboard accommodation is included during published five-day Competent Crew, Day Skipper Practical and Coastal Skipper Practical weeks, unless a course page states otherwise. Start Yachting does not normally include overnight accommodation, although an overnight stay may occasionally be arranged in advance subject to yacht and berth availability. Classroom and online courses do not include accommodation. Fast Track students arrange accommodation ashore during applicable weekends, theory study and breaks.

Yes. The training yacht has a galley, refrigeration, saloon, cabins, heads and showers. Students share simple meal preparation, washing-up and keeping communal areas tidy; these are normal cruising-yacht crew duties rather than a catered hotel service.

Yes. The training yachts have marine toilets, known as heads, and onboard showers. Freshwater storage is limited, so everyone must use water carefully and follow the instructor's guidance. The exact number and arrangement depend on the yacht assigned to the CourseRun.

Catering depends on the product, so the course page is the controlling list. On five-, seven- and fourteen-day sailing liveaboard programmes, a simple breakfast and lunch are provided onboard each sailing day, together with drinking water, tea and coffee. When the itinerary requires an evening at anchor or a longer passage makes dining ashore impractical, provisions for a simple onboard dinner are included. On a standard five-day course this normally means one onboard dinner when required; longer passages may require additional simple dinners onboard. 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. RYA Powerboat Level 2 includes a simple lunch, drinking water, tea and coffee. PWC, Motor Cruising and practical skills products do not include meals unless their course page or written quotation expressly says so.

Tell us about allergies, dietary requirements and foods you cannot eat in the participant form, and contact the school before arrival if the requirement is serious. We will make reasonable efforts within the limits of a small yacht galley and local provisioning. With prior agreement, students may bring a reasonable quantity of suitable food aboard for a special diet, although refrigeration and storage space are limited. Each participant remains responsible for checking that food is suitable and for bringing any essential specialist items agreed with the school.

Conditions are warm year-round. November to January is generally drier; February to April is hotter and can be lighter; May to August often brings southwest-monsoon winds, showers and exposed-water swell; September and October are commonly the wettest and most changeable. These are patterns, not forecasts, and routes change accordingly. See our weather and tides page for more detail.

Our primary training yacht is Andaman Cruise 2, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS with three double cabins, a galley sofa berth, two heads and air conditioning. Andaman Cruise 1, a Bavaria Cruiser 34, is the backup training yacht when Andaman Cruise 2 requires maintenance, has a technical problem or is already allocated to another course. This operational flexibility helps training proceed and reduces the risk of a vessel-related cancellation after students have arranged travel. The CourseRun and joining instructions identify the final assigned yacht.

There are hotels, restaurants and marina services around Yacht Haven and elsewhere in northern Phuket. Shore accommodation can also be requested as an optional extra where available. Confirm current choices before travelling, especially during busy periods or between Fast Track course blocks.

Wi-Fi is available in our office, and an onboard connection may be available when the yacht is close to shore. Mobile coverage is often available at Yacht Haven and near Phuket or populated islands, but it can be weak or unavailable offshore and at remote anchorages. Internet onboard is not guaranteed, so prepare for periods without a reliable connection. Laundry services are available near the marina and may be accessible during a suitable longer shore stop, but an operating course or passage cannot guarantee a laundry visit.

Bring only a compact soft bag aboard because rigid cases are difficult to stow safely. Hard suitcases can be stored in the Phuket Sea School office during a practical course. Storage is provided as a convenience, but Phuket Sea School is not responsible for loss of or damage to personal belongings. Keep valuables, travel documents and essential medication with you.

Normally no. The training yacht may be away delivering practical training, and shorebased tuition does not include yacht accommodation. Arrange a hotel or other accommodation ashore for classroom theory weeks and applicable Fast Track breaks.

Yes, when the selected run has private-cabin inventory available. 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. Cabin availability depends on the assigned yacht, existing reservations and overall participant capacity, so a standard course place does not guarantee a private cabin.

The course page is the controlling list. Standard five-day RYA Sail Cruising courses normally include instruction, use of the training yacht and safety equipment, fuel and normal operating costs, home-marina fees, onboard accommodation for the published period, prepared bedding, one onboard towel, simple breakfast and lunch, drinking water, tea and coffee, and one simple onboard dinner if we spend a night at anchor. Some packages include additional courses or services.

Yes, when Phuket Sea School supplies the training craft for Sail Cruising, Powerboat, Personal Watercraft or a practical sailing-skills course. Fuel and normal school-craft operating costs are included in the stated course price or written quotation. For Motor Cruising, the written agreement will confirm in advance whether fuel is included or whether its cost is arranged separately with the students. Own Boat Tuition is different: the owner remains responsible for the vessel's fuel, marina fees and operating costs.

Unless specifically stated, flights, transfers, travel insurance, dinners ashore, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks, additional personal provisions, personal sailing clothing, shore accommodation, optional courses, examination fees and personal expenses are not included. Non-home marina, park, customs and immigration charges are also separate unless the course or trip explicitly includes them. Advanced and Yachtmaster candidates should check the course page carefully for separate RYA and examiner costs.

Bring lightweight quick-drying clothing, non-marking shoes with good grip, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, a secure sun hat, reusable water bottle, light waterproof layer and a warmer layer for night watches or squalls. Bring personal medication, seasickness treatment if needed, chargers, documents and a soft bag. Your joining instructions contain the course-specific list.

Use a soft holdall or backpack that can be folded and stowed. Avoid hard suitcases aboard, keep possessions compact and do not bring valuable items that are unnecessary at sea. Pack frequently used items so they remain accessible without unpacking the whole cabin.

Yes. RYA course-standard lifejackets are provided, and the training yacht carries the safety and communication equipment required for its operation and course delivery, including personal flotation and emergency equipment. The instructor conducts a safety briefing and explains correct use before departure. Follow the instructor's directions at all times.

Prepared bedding and one onboard towel per participant are included with liveaboard course accommodation. Bring your own beach towel, as the onboard towel should not be used for swimming or ashore. Start Yachting does not include overnight accommodation or bedding.

A normal RYA course is organised around its syllabus rather than a guaranteed mileage. A normal five-day practical course can usually expect around 100 nautical miles, a seven-day Mile Builder usually aims for around 200 nautical miles, and a fourteen-day programme usually aims for around 400 nautical miles. These are objectives, not guarantees: weather, safety, routing, border formalities, training priorities and crew progress determine the final distance. The actual distance sailed can be entered in your logbook.

Sailing requires reasonable mobility, balance and fitness for moving safely around a yacht. Disclose relevant medical conditions, allergies, previous injuries and medication through the participant form and privately to the school where appropriate. Contact us before booking if a condition may affect your safety or participation.

Sailing takes place in a changing natural environment and cannot be risk-free. Risk is managed through suitable vessels and equipment, qualified instruction, safety briefings, conservative route decisions and disciplined onboard procedures. The instructor may change or stop an exercise when conditions require it.

Swimming ability is preferable and you must tell us if you cannot swim or lack water confidence. Lifejackets and other safety equipment are provided, but they do not remove the need to follow instructions or disclose limitations before going afloat.

Often yes, when the yacht is safely anchored or moored and the instructor considers the weather, current, traffic, daylight and training schedule suitable. Swimming is never guaranteed and remains secondary to safety and course objectives.

Your instructor gives feedback throughout the course and helps you work on weaker areas. An RYA course certificate can be issued only when the required standard is demonstrated. If you need more experience, we explain what to practise and recommend suitable further training. Yachtmaster examinations are assessed independently.

You receive the relevant RYA course-completion certificate when you complete the programme and demonstrate its required standard. RYA Day Skipper Practical together with the Marine Radio VHF/SRC certificate is the minimum qualification combination generally well accepted to charter a yacht, subject to the charter operator and cruising area. Yachtmaster preparation is training, not the qualification itself; a Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is awarded only after passing the separate examination conducted by an independent RYA examiner.

RYA qualifications are widely respected, but no certificate creates an unrestricted right to operate every yacht in every country. Acceptance depends on the certificate, vessel, flag, local authority, charter operator and cruising area. Always confirm the requirements for your intended use.

Choose RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship, Day Skipper Theory or Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory according to your level. Selected courses can be studied online through our partners Skippers Online or Ardent Training; classroom delivery in Phuket is arranged on published or agreed dates.

Yes. A Yachtmaster candidate must hold a valid First Aid certificate accepted under the current RYA examination rules, together with the other required evidence and certificates. Check validity before arranging preparation or an examiner, because attending a preparation week does not replace the examination prerequisites.

The answer depends on the intended Yachtmaster level and the current RYA examination rules. For Yachtmaster Offshore, the required qualifying passages are normally more than 60 nautical miles long, with the applicable overnight and skipper responsibilities. The RYA defines a passage as a continuously underway voyage between a departure safe haven and a destination safe haven, using the shortest safe navigable route for any minimum-distance test. Keep a clear log showing dates, yacht, route, distance, night hours, your role and the passages you skippered. A Mile Builder can create opportunities for meaningful passage responsibility, but Phuket Sea School cannot promise that a particular trip will satisfy every qualifying-passage requirement; the evidence and responsibilities must be reviewed before an examination is arranged.

The International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft provides evidence of competence for eligible applicants and is commonly requested in some foreign cruising and charter contexts. Eligibility for a UK ICC issued by the RYA depends on nationality, residence and evidence of competence. British citizens can apply subject to the normal criteria. Citizens of Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland or Ukraine cannot normally receive a UK ICC from the RYA unless they are resident in the UK; a limited exception may be possible with appropriate written permission from their national authority. Citizens of countries that have not accepted UNECE Resolution 40 may be eligible through the RYA, subject to its current rules. Because participating countries and eligibility rules can change, check our RYA ICC Assessment page and the current RYA ICC eligibility guidance before committing to an assessment or application.

A Commercial Endorsement allows an eligible RYA certificate to be used for specified professional work. Requirements can include the appropriate practical and theory qualifications, sea time, medical fitness, sea-survival or STCW training and the online PPR course. The exact route depends on the certificate and intended work, so use the current RYA Commercial Endorsement guidance.

Yes. Our Corporate Team Building programme can combine private yacht days, team activities and custom multi-day charters around group size, objectives, catering and preferred activities. Explore our charter yachts and charter services for other private-group possibilities. These are charter products rather than standard RYA courses unless a recognised training programme is specifically agreed.

Yes. Choose a private day or multi-day charter for a leisure-focused itinerary, or an Andaman Cruise / Mile Builder for a more active sailing passage. Browse our charter yachts and charter styles, while the Sailing Routes and Destinations pages show possible itineraries. The final plan remains subject to the yacht, weather, safety and access conditions.