The RYA Coastal Skipper course is for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake longer coastal passages by day and night.
The training moves away from the shorter passages of Day Skipper and starts looking at passages that require watch-keeping routines, crew management and the ability to pilot a vessel both day and night. With longer passages it is less likely that you will be familiar with the sailing area, so a higher level of overall navigational and pilotage skill needs to be developed.

Pre-course requirements:

Minimum age:  17 for students accompanied by an adult or 18 for unaccompanied students.

​​15 days sea-time, two of these days as skipper, having covered 300 miles with eight night hours.

​You will need to complete the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shore-based course and the SRC (VHF course) before joining us in Greece.

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Thessalia Sailing runs the 5 day course from Saturday to Thursday.

You will arrive in Volos on Saturday morning and spend the first night aboard the boat getting to know the other students. 

We will arrive back in Volos on Thursday evening, leaving you free to travel home on Friday or Saturday. You can stay on the boat on Thursday evening.

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Duration:

5 days for the practical

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Dates for 2026: (Alternate dates may be available on request)

May 23rd-28th

July 18th-23rd

August 15th-20th

September 12th-17th

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Course content: 

Passage planning, pilotage, passage making and ability as skipper, advanced yacht handling under power, advanced yacht handling under sail, adverse weather conditions, night sailing and watchkeeping, emergency situations.

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Method of assessment: 

There are no exams for the practical. Your instructor will assess your progress throughout the course.

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Certificates awarded: 

RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based, SRC certificate and RYA Coastal Skipper practical.

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Included in the price: 

Breakfast, lunch and 2 evening meals on board the yacht. You’ll get freshly laundered linen & towels, pillows, and bedding. Also included are fuel and mooring fees and the online theory course with assistance from a Yachtmaster Instructor.

 

Not included: 

Meals eaten ashore and the cost of getting here. (Please refer to our getting here page)