Day Skipper is the course that changes how you sail. Instead of following instructions you make the decisions: planning the day, briefing the crew, taking the boat in and out of berths under power, navigating a short passage, anchoring, picking up moorings and handling man-overboard recoveries as skipper. Instructors deliberately put you in charge and let you make (safe) mistakes. It includes a night sail. The certificate is widely accepted by charter companies as proof you can take a yacht out on your own in benign conditions, and it is the natural point to start skippering your own or a club's boat.
At a glance
| Type | Practical course |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days on board |
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Stage in the pathway | Stage 4 of 10 |
Before you start
| Days at sea | 5 days |
|---|---|
| Miles logged | 100 nautical miles |
| Night hours | 4 hours |
| Theory | Knowledge to Day Skipper Theory level (the shorebased course or equivalent) |
| Minimum age | 16 |
Assumed knowledge: Competent Crew skills and Day Skipper theory. If your theory is weak the practical week will be a struggle.
What it covers
- Preparation for sea, safety briefings and crew management
- Boat handling under power: berthing, leaving, turning in a confined space
- Boat handling under sail: sail trim, reefing, heaving-to
- Passage planning, pilotage and navigation in practice, including electronic aids
- Anchoring, mooring and picking up buoys
- Man overboard recovery as skipper
- Night sailing and pilotage
- Engine checks and basic maintenance
- Meteorology applied to the day ahead
- Rules of the road applied on the water
What you get
Day Skipper Practical course completion certificate. You can skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. This is the point at which your logbook miles as skipper start to accumulate.
Where it sits in the pathway
Before this: Day Skipper Theory. After this: Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Theory.