A course for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages under the guidance of the instructor.
About the course
On this 5 day course you’ll learn to skipper passages in a variety of situations during both the day and night. The course becomes gradually more challenging with each day, and our instructors will teach you the skills needed for:
passage planning
day and night pilotage
boat handling
safely dealing with emergencies
This is a satisfying but intense course, and many candidates often work towards a Certificate of Competence. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.
Required experience
Before joining this course you should have the following yachting experience:
at least 5 days sailing experience
at least 8 hours night sailing experience
at least 300 miles total sailing experience
at least 2 days skipper experience
RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory
We recommend that you have boat handling ability to the standard of RYA Day Skipper.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss whether this is the right course for you, email the Watersports team at southamptonsport@soton.ac.uk.
Dates and times
RYA Coastal Skipper (5 Day) 2026:
Mon 09 Mar → Fri 13 Mar 2026
Mon 05 Oct → Fri 09 Oct 2026
Prices
Our courses are available to everyone, but Southampton Sport members can book at a discounted rate.
Membership type
Cost
Membership type
:
Southampton Sports Membership
Cost
:
£506.25
Membership type
:
Mayflower Member, Sports Pass or Non-Member
Cost
:
£675
Included in the cost of the course are:
certificates upon successful completion
use of lifejackets and lifelines
morning breakfasts, snack lunches and tea/coffee/soft drinks
2 evening meals on board (5 day course)
boat fuel
Not included in the cost of the course are:
other evening meals
mooring fees for berths other than Southampton Town Quay Marina
Cruising Scheme Logbook is available for purchase on the course for £7.99
You can cancel or reschedule a booking by contacting the Jubilee Sport and Recreation Centre. Your options depend on how much notice you give us. Notice periods are based on the date of your booking, not on the start time.
Notice given
Refund options
Notice given
:
7 days or more
Refund options
:
Full refund or reschedule to another date
Notice given
:
Between 48 hours and 7 days
Refund options
:
Full refund if you present a doctor’s note stating why you can't complete your booking
Notice given
:
Less than 48 hours
Refund options
:
No refund available
When we might cancel your booking
We might need to cancel a booking if:
the weather means we cannot safely run a course
staff members are sick and their absence cannot be covered
we cannot meet our minimum student-instructor ratio
If we need to cancel your booking, we’ll always try to give you at least 24 hours' notice. We’ll also offer to reschedule your booking.
