The RYA Yachtmaster Fast Track Online Theory Course is an online theory course designed to suit those who have a lot of experience at sea but have no formal qualifications. Alternatively, perhaps you have completed the Day Skipper course but your skills are a little rusty and underused. The RYA Yachtmaster Course Fast Track course will provide a little more background on each topic before moving onto the advanced skills of the Yachtmaster syllabus.
Enjoy this RYA Day Skipper theory course. A comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology, and the basics of seamanship. This RYA online course is delivered in video and text format, to give you flexibility and control over your learning. Made up of 15 modules with interactive activities and knowledge checks to get the most out of your distance learning experience.
The RYA Coastal Skipper course is for sailors who want to go a little further afield. We will teach you advanced skippering techniques, including preparation for sea, pilotage, yacht handling under power and sail, and delegating duties to the crew. The course also includes emergency situations such as recovering a man overboard under power and sail. There will be plenty of practice in the harbour, learning to manoeuvre the boat in smaller places and mooring in a variety of conditions. We will practice blind navigation, so that if you are in heavy weather or fog you will make it to the nearest harbour safely. It is recommended that the coastal skipper theory course is completed prior to the practical course - however, there is the option to self-study. You also have to have logged 300 NM over 15 days at sea (including two as a skipper) and eight night sail hours. The course runs over five days and nights. You will be living on one of our fully coded yachts with up to four other crew members and your Yachtmaster Instructor. Your food is included in the cost, as is overnight stays in harbours. To add to the experience of gaining your RYA Coastal Skipper, you will get the benefit of continuing your sailing experience on the west coast of Scotland.
If you are a Day Skipper or above and want to expand your breadth of knowledge, then this is the course for you. Join our bespoke advanced skippering course led by our brilliant Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner, Rob. Over 5 days, Rob will cover a wealth of great content that simply can't be covered in a standard RYA course. This course is perfect for those around Day Skipper level and above, offering the chance to significantly enhance your sailing skills and knowledge. During the week we will focus on: Setting up for heavy weather; Close quarters manoeuvres; Spinnaker; Advanced sail trimming; Advanced anchoring; MOB inc search patterns for PIW; Splicing.
Join us to gain experience and log miles. Perhaps you have the skill to complete the next level in RYA qualification but need more miles, or maybe you wish to refresh your capabilities as a qualified skipper or a crew member. This is the perfect opportunity to join like-minded people, practice your skills and log those required miles. You will be part of a crew of five, along with one of our experienced instructors who can help you with the skills and drills required for all levels of RYA courses. During a 5-day course you will visit some of the most beautiful harbours and anchorages on the west coast of Scotland. You will be living on one of our fully coded, well equipped, yachts. Food, fuel and marina fees are included. A weekend course will not venture so far, and the emphasis will be on short passages to local harbours or marinas, with lots of activities en route. What is included in the price: 5 nights on board (2 nights on a weekend course), all on board meals and snacks, all marina fees, fuel and gas. Optional extras: oil skins hire - £3.50 per item/day; cleaning fee £12.50/per person or the crew can clean the boat; sleeping bag can be hired at just £15 per period.
A 2 day course for Powerboat Instructors (aged 17+) looking to advance their instructions level to include the Advanced and Intermediate Powerboat courses. The course builds on the command, teaching and communication skills all introduced at Powerboat Instructor level which will have been solidified by experience running courses. The course covers how to coach and train all aspects of the Advanced Powerboat course including safe command of a vessel at day and night, meteorology, Collision Regulations, Emergency situations and search patterns, and use of engines. The course is a mix of theory and practical. Course Pre-Requisites To do this course you will need the following certificates: First Aid certificate, Powerboat Instructor (with logged teaching hours), Advanced Powerboat course completion certificate, one of the following Certifiates of Competnce with a valid commercial endorsement; Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Completence, RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal (Power) Certificate of Competence, or RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore (Power) Certifcate of Competence (Instructors who do not hold a valid commercial endorsement will only be able to teach Intermediate Powerboat). RYA Instructor Training At Torbay Sea School we have trained many RYA Instructors who have gone on to instruct with us, other RYA training centres or as freelance instructors. During the course of your general RYA training you will have gained all the skills necessary to sail, motor or power boat with confidence to a high standard. The following courses consolidate all those skills and give you the tools required to instruct others to gain their RYA qualifications. You will be able to utilise our Instructors experience and our boats/equipment to feel at ease with instructing others.
Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, using a sextant, ocean passage making, worldwide meteorology and electronic navigation aids. This course is for those aspiring to blue water cruising and is ideal for holders of the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate who are preparing for their first ocean passage. Topics covered include: The earth and the celestial sphere Practical guide to use and care of sextant at sea Meridian altitudes Sun, star and other sights Ocean passage planning Prior to the course your navigation skills should be at the standard of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course. If you are working towards your Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence, completion of this shorebased course exempts you from the written exam. The course is taught over 40 hours with one exam paper. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, as an intensive week-long course, or by distance learning. Included in the price : 40 hours of tuition students pack prep. materials certification tea and coffee snacks
A course for leisure and professional boaters wanting to undertake more adventurous trips by day and night, this 2 day course, with at least one night navigation exercise, will provide you with an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course Completion certificate. Anyone undertaking this course must have practical skills of the Intermediate level and theory knowledge of at least Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster level. The course is split between theory and practical, with an emphasis on the application of theory knowledge to practical situations including preperation for sea, passage and pilotage making, skippering (meteorology, rules ofg the road)), navigation at planing speed, night cruising, and emergency situations. The Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence can only be issued after an exam, usually taken immediately after the course. If you are looking to take this exam, please let us know and we will arrange an examiner for you. The cost of this exam is payable directly to the RYA. To take this exam your must meet the following pre-requisites: 2 years relevant experience including night pilotage As a guide; 30 days at sea, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours in the past 10 years Hold a valid First Aid certificate Hold a GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade marine radio certificate Age 17 or over Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.