RYA Day Skipper Practical Weekend
The RYA Day Skipper Practical course builds on Competent Crew and teaches you how to take command of a yacht. You’ll learn to plan and lead short passages, handle the boat under sail and power, and make safe, confident decisions on board.
Description
To gain the RYA Dayskipper qualification, complete three weekends or book RYA Dayskipper Practical - 5 days if you prefer.
If you are not chasing a certificate, the course also works as a refresher or a stand-alone sailing adventure.
Our experienced instructor will guide you and your fellow crew members through the course in a friendly and relaxed manner. You will practice your skills as a skipper, making decisions about what to do and briefing the crew accordingly.
By the end of the course, you will have the skills and technical knowledge to confidently skipper a small yacht in familiar waters during the day.
Course content
🛥️ Yacht Preparation & Deck Work
- Engine checks, sail selection, and safe stowage above and below decks
- Victualling a yacht effectively
- Reefing and changing sails to match conditions
- Taking charge when mooring, picking up a buoy, or anchoring
🧭 Navigation & Pilotage
- Master chartwork, visual fixes, and GPS navigation.
- Learn log keeping, dead reckoning (DR), and estimated position (EP).
- Understand tidal heights, streams, and course adjustments for leeway and drift.
- Navigate using IALA buoyage, pilotage plans, transits, echo sounders, and clearing lines.
🌦️ Meteorology & Rules of the Road
- Interpreting marine weather forecasts and using a barometer
- Introduction to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS)
🔧 Engines & Maintenance
- Rope types: properties and uses of synthetic fibre ropes
- Basic maintenance: changing filters, replacing a pump impeller, bleeding the fuel system
🚨 Emergencies
- Perform man overboard recovery and use distress signals (flares, liferafts, VHF distress calls).
- Learn how to secure a tow and coordinate a helicopter rescue.
⛵ Yacht Handling & Passage-Making
- Steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sail.
- Navigate by compass steering and plan short coastal passages.
- Gain experience in night pilotage and daily vessel routines.
Locations and sailing conditions
You will sail around Sydney Harbour, which provides a fabulous training ground at this level.
The sailing conditions are generally excellent, alternating between warm 'Nor'easter' sea breezes and cool, fresh Southerlies.
The yacht and the instructor
RYA-Qualified Instructors – Learn from experienced professionals, delivering expert guidance in Flying Fish’s signature friendly and professional style.
⚓ Safety & Ratios – We strictly adhere to RYA teaching ratios and safety guidelines, ensuring a safe and effective learning environment.
The group is limited to five students to ensure you get maximum hands-on experience.
You and your fellow students sail on board one of our Beneteau 40 cruiser-racer yachts and participate in all aspects of boat operation.
What's included
- Tuition, logbook, pre-course reading.
- Life jackets and safety harnesses are provided and we can loan you wet weather clothing if required.
- All vessels have an enclosed bathroom on board.
- Please bring your own lunch and snacks.
- We provide tea and coffee and pizza takeaway before the night training exercise.
Qualifications and experience
- RYA Dayskipper Practical certificate (once you have completed three weekends)
Before you start
- You have completed the RYA Competent Crew course or spent at least one week on a sailing yacht and are confident as a crew member under supervision.
- You understand the basics of pilotage and are familiar with navigation using paper charts. If you have acquired sailing skills on Dinghies or Keelboats, it will be very helpful.
- If your knowledge of marine safety and navigation is rudimentary, we recommend you consider joining a RYA Day Skipper Shore-based Theory course for a comprehensive introduction. Alternatively, you could complete RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship online before you start to cover the basics.
What next?
- We recommend anyone operating as a Day Skipper should also hold a First Aid certificate and a Marine Radio Licence
- Your next Flying Fish course should be RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory.
Testimonials
- Tim Keith
- Day Skipper Weekend
- Thanks to Flying Fish instructor Matt, for a great learning experience and friendly flexible approach for us all over the weekend. I really enjoyed his teaching and the way we worked as a crew.
- Alison Thursby
- Start Yachting Weeekend
- “ Our instructor, Chris was fantastic. I now understand the basics of sailing and have recommended the course to many others. I look forward to doing a competent crew course soon ”
- Jeanette Kim
- NSW Boat licence
- “ The instructor was awesome! Made the lessons clear, fun and very informative. They focus on water safety and everything you need, to enjoy your time out on your boat. What are you waiting for? Get a boat licence and enjoy our beautiful harbour! ”
Faq
- Booking information
- If you book some time in advance, you can secure your place on the course by paying a 20% holding deposit via the links provided above. This deposit will reserve your position until sixty days before the course start date, when the remaining balance of the course fees will be due.
- Please be aware that the deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to any other course or event offered by Flying Fish.
- If you book multiple courses, you will receive a 10% discount on your order when you purchase three or more courses in a single transaction.
- We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment, as spaces are limited.
- What if the weather is bad?
- Sailing is an all-weather sport. We like to say there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!
- We very rarely cancel a course due to bad weather.
- What type of yacht will I learn on?
- At Flying Fish, our basic training boats are Beneteau First 40.7s. These yachts provide an excellent balance between comfort and performance and are great for learning.
- The layout of the 40.7 is very practical, with two double rear cabins, a forward cabin, a comfortable saloon, and an enclosed toilet and shower unit.
- The yacht sleeps six in comfort or eight using the saloon bunks. They are fully equipped to live on board.
- Can I book a private sailing course for a group or family?
- Yes! we regularly welcome private groups of friends or family on bespoke courses.
- A private RYA Day Skipper course is a great learning adventure to experience with your friends or family. What’s more, you can save money as you pay for four places on the course and can bring a maximum of five.
- The minimum age is 12. If you like the sound of this, please get in touch via the enquiry button at the top of the page and let us help you plan your adventure.
- What should I bring with me?
- Food! - BYO lunch and snacks. We provide tea, coffee and water on board.
- Quick-dry clothing (shorts, T-shirts, long-sleeved tops).
- Lightweight waterproof jacket.
- Non-slip shoes.
- Hat, high-factor sunscreen, and sunglasses.
- Thermal base layer and fleece for colder months.
- Waterproof jacket and trousers (loan sets available).
- Life jackets are provided on board by Flying Fish.
- A sense of adventure and a team spirit!