Coastal Skipper is the final course before the Yachtmaster exams. You skipper longer passages, including at night, plan and execute pilotage into unfamiliar harbours, run the crew, deal with heavy-weather sail plans and practise every exercise the Yachtmaster examiner will ask for: man overboard under sail and power, berthing in wind and tide, anchoring, picking up a mooring under sail, blind navigation and more. The instructor increasingly acts like an examiner, asking you to justify decisions. This certificate can reduce the Coastal exam requirement to 12 days and 400 miles; the 2 skipper days and 12 night hours remain unchanged.
At a glance
| Type | Practical course |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 consecutive days on board |
| Minimum age | 17 |
| Stage in the pathway | Stage 6 of 10 |
Before you start
| Days at sea | 15 days (2 as skipper) |
|---|---|
| Miles logged | 300 nautical miles |
| Night hours | 8 hours |
| Theory | Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore theory |
| Minimum age | 17 |
Assumed knowledge: Day Skipper practical skills and Yachtmaster-level theory.
What it covers
- Passage planning and execution as skipper by day and night
- Pilotage into unfamiliar harbours, including at night
- Boat handling in confined spaces in wind and tide, under power and sail
- Man overboard under sail and power
- Heavy weather preparation, reefing strategy and storm sails
- Crew management, briefing and watch systems
- Emergencies: steering failure, fire, flooding, towing
- Meteorology applied to the passage
- Navigation with and without electronics
What you get
Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate. You can skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night, and you are ready to book a Yachtmaster preparation week and exam once your miles are in order.
Where it sits in the pathway
Before this: Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Theory. After this: Yachtmaster Coastal.