Individual Theory Coaching & Tuition
We do offer individual or small group coaching and tuition on all of our theory courses. This can be a full course but more usually students need a refresher on courses previously completed or where following an online syllabus may need additional training on specific aspects
Cost is US $385 per day or $50 per hour. Please enquire by clicking on the 'Contact Us!' button on the right.
RYA Radar
Now commonplace on both sailing and motor boats, Radar is an invaluable aid for pilotage, navigation and for collision avoidance. However, it is only useful in the hands of a knowledgeable and experienced operator. This one day course provides the knowledge for you to then gain the experience.
This course is ideal for those working up to Yachtmaster or Advanced Powerboat and candidates should have a basic understanding of the navigation and the collision regulations.
Because radar is an invaluable aid, this course includes lifetime access to an approved radar simulator.
Please click here to see the progression and recommended path for RYA theory courses.
$195usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates. We may not have any dates scheduled but please be sure to contact us directly and we will be able to arrange an available day.
Own Boat Courses and Tuition
We do offer own boat tuition and it can be very popular as it allows you to still achieve RYA qualifications in a familiar environment.
It can be useful to those who have just got a new vessel or for students who wish to improve any aspect of their skills. We can either follow the RYA syllabus for whichever course is most appropriate or we can offer ad hoc training at your own pace from 1 day to week
It is also popular with families and we can do a mix of Day Skipper and Competent Crew students or, for more advanced students, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore.
Your vessel must meet basic safety standards which we can run through and advise on.
Cost is US $385 per day plus any training materials and this covers from 1-5 students.
Sunset Cruise 3pm-6pm
The yacht is yours, embark on a beautiful sail around the scenic English Harbour where you can relax and take in the interesting and attractive features of the coast. While sipping on your sunset tinted bubbly, you can take the wheel or just relax in the sun’s evening rays while our yachts gently rock over the waves back to shore.US $450 for a private charter
ICC Certificate of Competence
The ICC International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft is very useful and accepted in many countries for bareboat charter.
Applicants who have achieved Day Skipper or have Power/Motor boat qualifications can apply to the RYA and pay a small fee to get their certificate. For those that haven't but are competent we can carry out an assessment on your own vessel [if it meets the criteria] or on ours.
A number of changes have been made recently in order to ensure the ongoing integrity of the ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft).
Identity checks have been tightened:
The ICC remains available to British nationals and the nationals of any country that has NOT adopted Resolution No. 40. The RYA can only issue an ICC to Nationals of a country that has adopted Resolution No. 40 if the applicant is resident (ie. domiciled) in the UK.
Own boat assessment criteria have been updated:
RYA centres running own boat assessments for the ‘Power over 10 metres’ category of ICC must have someone with the following qualifications to run those tests:
- An Advanced Powerboat Instructor who also holds an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence or higher, or
- An RYA Cruising Instructor for Power or higher
ICC Application form click here
ICC Eligibility click here
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore is one of the most highly respected and prestigious sailing qualifications in the world and we pride ourselves on training many high calibre Yachtmaster Candidates.
Exam Preparation Courses are delivered by one of our fully qualified and extremely experienced RYA Yachtmaster Instructors.
We have also put together some details notes on The Yachtmaster exam here.
The week starts with an assessment day, when the instructor will gauge your strengths and weaknesses. The rest of the time will be spent improving weak areas in order to prepare you for the exam.
You will take command of the yacht on short passages, by day and night. You will be required to navigate in a seamanlike manner, with both efficiency and safety. Your instructor will give you guidance and coaching on boat handling techniques both at sea and in a confined space.
Examiners expect a high level of expertise, particularly in safety critical exercises such as man overboard, or sailing down wind. Your instructor will also ensure that the theory subjects, in particular meteorology, IRPCS, buoyage and passage planning are not new to you. At the end of the week, you will be given an honest debrief, leaving you confident in your own ability, taking the exam if you feel ready to do so.
At the end of the preparation course, the instructor will leave the process and an Independent RYA Examiner will come aboard to conduct the exam. Every student will be examined on how they skipper the yacht on short passages and complete various other tasks.
Although this is a sailing exam, you will be expected to be familiar with all the vessels systems which includes knowledge of engines to at least the level of the one-day RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance course.
A knowledge of the operation of radar and GPS is also expected.
The examiner will want to see you dock the boat under engine in a variety of circumstances possibly alongside and stern-to. He/she may set you a challenge to dock in a particular place or ask you to choose. He/she will also expect you to be able to handle and turn the vessel in a confined space with awareness of the effects of the prevailing conditions. You will also be expected to be able to handle the vessel under sail in a confined space and this may include sailing on and/or off a mooring, your anchor or a dock. The examiner is looking for good boat control, use of crew, wind awareness and a good lookout for other vessels in the area. Once at sea it is a legal requirement to keep a log. This doesn’t have to be detailed but the examiner will want to see that you know where you are at all times. Don’t be afraid to reef, we are cruising not racing, but at the same time make sure you have enough sail up to keep the vessel going. Also make sure you have practiced your classic navigation as fixing your position, CTS and EP may all come into the exam. Also be comfortable with tidal problems and operation of the GPS, specifically the one on the exam vessel.
Cost is $1695 plus RYA Exam fee of around $300 [depends on exchange rate]. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
RYA Day Skipper Sail
RYA Day Skipper Course
The RYA Day Skipper Practical is an introduction to taking charge onboard a yacht, allowing you to put your basic navigation, pilotage, and sailing skills into practice. It will provide you with an opportunity to take command, and to develop your leadership skills onboard, under the guidance of an experienced and friendly instructor. It is a very useful and popular Captains license for those looking to charter a yacht.
It includes 4 nights on board and food for Day 1. After that students are encouraged to take part in the provisioning and planning for the week.
Upon successful completion of the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course, you will be able to navigate and skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. This qualification is usually accepted when chartering a yacht as skipper anywhere in the world. Holders of the RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification can apply to the RYA for and receive an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for a small charge.
In many places it is also a legal requirement to complete the VHF/SRC Radio course as well. You can do this online with us before arriving and sit the assessment before or after your course.
You are strongly advised to be comfortable with Day Skipper Theory before attending this course and we often run the theory course just before the practical or you can do this online before coming. In addition we find that even Day Skipper candidates can benefit from some dinghy sailing to improve wind awareness, and dinghies can be rented with or without an instructor at the National Sailing Academy.
This course can also be done on your own vessel.
It is also a good course for friends and families to sail together privately, either all doing Day Skipper or with Competent Crew candidates.
The cost is US $1195 - please click the 'Training Dates & Booking' button to the right, to check available dates.
| Duration: | 5 Days usually 9am Mon- 5 pm Fri with 4 nights on board | Max students : | 5 |
| Previous Experience: | 5 Days onboard but would recommend 10 plus, 100 logged miles and 4 night hours.Basic knowledge of navigation and sailing ability. Candidates should have completed RYA Day Skipper Theory or similar | Minimum Age: | 16 |
| Locations: | Antigua. Caribbean | Dates: | All year |
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor
NOTICE: We will resume all RYA Motor Cruising Courses in January 2024. Please contact us for more information.
The preparation method is normally 3 days onboard but as the examiner will expect a high level of mechanical knowledge of a general and vessel specific nature, then completing one of the Engineering courses is highly recommended. We can build a 2 day maintenance course into the prep.
During the exam you can expect to give the examiner a guided tour of your engine room. He/she will expect a detailed knowledge of your equipment and may ask searching questions about the operation of specific machinery and systems.
The same may be true of fuel switching systems between tanks and engines or the use of day tanks. Be aware of how much fuel you carry and your cruising range. Make sure you can explain the oil, air, fuel, salt and fresh water systems and show the examiner where all the lines and hoses go.
You will be expected to be able to handle the boat efficiently in a confined area and be able to berth in a variety of situations. This may well include berthing on one engine (in a twin engine vessel) and berthing without the use of the bow thruster if fitted.
Under way you will be examined on your high-speed navigation. Make sure you know where you are and where you are going at all times. The power exam may well have more emphasis than the sail equivalent on GPS and radar navigation so make sure you are familiar with the equipment on the exam vessel.
$1800usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
| Duration: | 5 Days plus maintenance course (3 Days preparation, followed by a 2 day exam) |
Max students : | 4 |
| Previous Experience: | VHF certificate, A Valid First Aid certificate, 50 days Onboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 nautical miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. |
Minimum Age: | 18 |
| Locations: | Antigua | Dates: | This course is run all year round |
RYA Day Skipper Motor
RYA Day Skipper Practical Motor
NOTICE: We plan to resume RYA Motor Cruising Courses in early 2024. Please contact us for more information.
This RYA Day Skipper Motor course is intended to introduce you to cruising in a motor vessel. It includes preparation for sea, boat handling, navigation, pilotage, passage making, meteorology, rules of the road, engines and emergency situations. Part of the course will also involve night cruising. You will learn how to integrate the GPS and radar systems into your navigation and how to keep track of your position at speed. You are strongly advised to be comfortable with day skipper level navigation theory before attending this course.
Upon successful completion of the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course, you will be able to navigate and skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. This qualification is usually required when chartering a yacht as skipper anywhere in the world. Holders of the RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification can apply for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
This course can be done on own vessel or Ondeck’s. Generally this will be done privately or for family groups. It is also a good course for friends and families to sail together privately either all doing Day Skipper or with Competent Crew candidates.
If you are going to be chartering a yacht in the future we would also recommend the VHF/SRC Radio Course.
$1250usd pp Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
| Duration: | 4 Days | No. Students to Instructor: | 5:1 |
| Previous Experience: | 4 Days onboard, 100 logged miles and 4 night hours.Basic knowledge of navigation and sailing ability. Candidates should have completed RYA Day Skipper Theory or similar | Minimum Age: | 16 |
| Locations: | Antigua. | Dates: | This course is run all year round |