The RYA Day Skipper course, encompassing both practical and theoretical elements, is an optimal choice for those aspiring to cultivate nautical expertise, enabling them to confidently skipper a yacht in daylight hours within familiar waters. Concluding this fortnight-long endeavor, participants emerge with the proficiency to navigate short passages and adeptly operate a short-range VHF radio with DSC. This comprehensive course incorporates the online RYA Day Skipper theory, involving approximately 40 hours of virtual instruction, coupled with consecutive sessions of RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper practical training. The emphasis lies on refining yacht-handling techniques under sail and power while collectively honing skippering skills.

Weekly Agenda

• At the latest 17.00 on Sunday, the tuition yachts stand ready at our base in Mikrolimano Pireas for accommodation.
• Day one commences with participants boarding the yacht, acquainting themselves with the crew and instructor, followed by a comprehensive briefing on the yacht and its environs.
• Sunday afternoons afford Day Skipper candidates the opportunity to revisit theory, while Competent Crew candidates familiarize themselves with the yacht and its equipment.
• The Beginner to RYA Day Skipper course sets sail on Monday mornings from our Mikrolimano Pireas base, concluding its voyage on Friday afternoons.
• Saturday mornings offer a light-hearted session, returning to base around noon.
• Week one grants a free Sunday, resuming activities on Monday morning in week two.
• Spanning the training, participants navigate a minimum of 200 nautical miles around the enchanting Saronic islands, making port calls at captivating destinations such as Aegina, Poros, Hydra, and Epidavros. Daily routines feature lunch and swim breaks in idyllic bays, providing opportunities to immerse in the local culture and cuisine.
• Private Tuition yachts are primed for accommodation by latest 17.00 on Saturdays, with courses kicking off on Sundays and concluding by Friday noon of the second week. The VHF test is scheduled for Saturday afternoons in our Mikrolimano classroom.
• On Sundays, yachts must be vacated until  09.00 for our base crew to prepare them for the ensuing week.

Certificate Details

The RYA Day Skipper certificate holds universal acceptance among maritime authorities for chartering a yacht. Additionally, certificate holders can seek an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) from the RYA, a globally recognized qualification.

In the inaugural week of the RYA Competent Crew practical, participants engage in steering, sail handling, knot proficiency, sea lookout procedures, and dinghy rowing. Emergency response and daily yacht duties are integral facets of this segment, introducing night sailing and participation in extended passages, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the yacht, its sails, and equipment.

In the subsequent week of the RYA Day Skipper practical, the focus shifts decisively to navigation, chart plotting, and sail management.