22 Skipper courses

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course is for experienced sailors. The course builds on the theory learnt on the Day Skipper course, which is the knowledge level required at the outset of this course. It will give you the experience and confidence to plan and achieve your passage in offshore and coastal routes. Unlike the Day Skipper course, it includes precision tidal calculations. The course will increase your theory knowledge to the required standard for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore exams, concentrating on advanced navigation, IRPCS and meteorology subjects. This is an intense six day course, from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs every day (1 hr for lunch plus 2 x 15 min breaks), that will teach you advanced navigation techniques. The syllabus contains: position fixing course shaping and plotting tidal knowledge use of almanacs and admiralty publications electronic position finding equipment taking and interpreting forecasts plotting weather systems weather predictions using a barometer and by observation collision regulations customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

The Powerboat Instructor course aims to provide candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge required to instruct the RYA National Powerboat Scheme in a safe and effective way. The course duration is 3 days and comprises both practical and theoretical training scenarios where candidates are expected to deliver short training sessions. These sessions aim to develop the candidates personal skills and teaching ability in the safety of the training environment. The course does focus on teaching you how to instruct. You will learn effective methods of instructing and coaching, how to debrief, and how to structure the courses. We do revise the skills you will need to teach, but you will need to be proficient on a power boat to do this course. All potential Powerboat Instructors are required to complete a 1 day pre-assessment course to assess your personal boat handling skills. This assessment must be completed within the 3 months prior to the commencement of your Powerboat Instructor course. Course Pre-Requisites To do this course you will need to have completed Pre-Assessment. You will also need the following certificates: Valid First Aid Certificate, RYA Powerboat Level 2, RYA VHF Short Range Certificate. You will need to have 5 years powerboating experiencing (or one season full time). The minimum age of this course is 16 years old. Ideally you will have a familiarity with a range of craft giving you a wide range of knowledge of powerboats. Your theory knowledge should be at RYA Day Skipper Theory level, and we would recommend holding the certificate. 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.

This course teaches you astro navigation, ocean passages, worlwide meteorology, and the practical skills required to use a Sextant for Ocean Navigation.

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.

Yachtmaster preps course for those wanting to practice and perfect their skills for the Yachtmaster Coastal exam or Offshore exam. Book online, join us in Largs, west coast of Scotland.

This is the course for sailors who would like to pass on their sailing skills and experience on the water. The title RYA Cruising Instructor will allow the successful candidate to teach up to Day Skipper level. The course is for experienced Yachtmaster Offshore candidates, with commercial endorsement, who on successful completion of the exam be able to instruct practical courses. The course is taken over 5 days with a moderator joining at the end of the week. It is a combination of assessing the candidate's knowledge, providing a structured framework to instruct, coach, observe and deliver constructive feedback, and ensure the structure and standards required of RYA courses are understood. Prior to the course the candidate is required to have their RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence commercially endorsed. Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate (PPR this can be done online) Your original, completed ML5 or ENG1 (for cat 1 or 0 waters) medical fitness form A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate. The course is for the experienced skipper with theoretical and practical knowledge well in excess of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Candidates are required to pass an online Pre-Course Knowledge Check prior to attending the Cruising Instructor course. Access to the online check will be issued with the course Joining Instructions, which will be sent out 6 weeks before the course starts. As with all our courses, onboard food, fuel and marina fees are included in the cost. The course starts on a Monday morning (0900 hrs) and departs from Largs Yacht Haven, Scotland. Candidates are invited to arrive on Sunday evening and familiarize themselves with the yacht.

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

Arguably one of the most important skills for any skipper is berthing the vessel and leaving the berth in any conditions and lowered visibility. Join us on unique course focused on pontoon and mooring practices led by one of our most experienced senior instructors. All your questions will be answered during the course and you will get the opportunity of extremely extensive training and practise of handling the vessel in any conditions. Take stress away from those approaches in harsh conditions or night time. During the weekend we will focus on: Weather conditions and forecast; Correct use of lines and fenders; Coming alongside; Crew management; Setting the appropriate lines; Turning in tight spaces. This course starts on Friday evening at 6.30 and finishes around 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

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.

Yacht charter in all major sailing destinations including luxury and superyacht hire, de-luxe gullets, catamarans rentals as well as long-term yachtcharters and transatlantic crossing.