Yachting

Sport and Wellbeing are proud to offer RYA Practical Yacht Training Courses to include Start Yachting, Competent Crew, Day Skipper and also Coastal Skipper Courses.  If you are looking for details of our Classroom theory courses, please check out the Theory Courses and Online Courses sections of our website.  The Competent Crew course runs alongside either the Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper courses so it is likely that there will be a range of experience in the people on board for your 5 day course, this is anticipated and activities will be planned to cover  the requirements of all people on board at the time.  People attending the Start Yachting courses will only have fellow Start Yachters on their course.  All Yachting courses start from Town Quay Marina.  Certificates are provided following successful course completion issued by the "University of Southampton" RTC and a cruising Scheme Logbook is provided for the Competent Crew and Day Skipper Courses.

Yachting Taster

If you are not sure whether you will like Yachting or not, please do consider trying one of our 3hr Yachting experiences.  Our Instructors deliver these sessions so you may get as involved as you like, or simply sit down and enjoy the ride onboard the University Yacht, Flying Formula.  The experience will start with a Safety Briefing from the Instructor and you will leave the Marina to explore Southampton Water where you are likely to pass the berth that the Titanic sailed from as well as some of the Cruise Ships that may be alongside.  All sessions run from Town Quay Marina and you may choose between morning or afternoon sessions.  All safety equipment is provided.  Morning sessions start at 0900 and will have you back at Town Quay by 1200.  Afternoon Sessions Start at 1300 and should be back by 1600.

Costs:

*In order to claim the student discount you will need to provide proof of your student status. Please email proof that you are currently enrolled on a course in the current academic year at the University of Southampton of Southampton Solent University to watersports@southampton.ac.uk

Booking is Essential - please book at the Jubilee Sports Centre reception in person, by phone on 023 8059 2119 or book and pay online.

Start Yachting

This 2 day course is a short introduction to sailing for complete beginners and no there is no pre-course experience or knowledge required to attend this course.  By The end of the course you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board.  This course is ideal if you are not sure about committing to the 5 day Competent Crew Course.  There is the opportunity to stay overnight on the boat on the Saturday night but this is not a requirement and a decision can be made by all on board for the course whether you return to Town Quay Marina on the Saturday night, or if you venture elsewhere to stay overnight.  Courses run from 0900hrs at Town Quay and should be completed by 1730 on the Sunday

Costs:

*In order to claim the student discount you will need to provide proof of your student status. Please email proof that you are currently enrolled on a course in the current academic year at the University of Southampton of Southampton Solent University to watersports@southampton.ac.uk

Please book at the Jubilee Sports Centre reception in person, by phone on 023 8059 2119 or book and pay online.

Competent Crew

We are proud to offer 5-day, 3-day and 2-day Competent Crew courses. Please note that the 3-day Competent Crew course specifies that you will need to have completed the 2-day course first in order to book and take part in the 3-day course. 

The 2-day course is an introduction to yacht sailing. You will learn skills like hoisting, sailing and helming a yacht. These two days are day sailing from the Town Quay in Southampton, which means you will return to Southampton each night. 

The 3-day course is where you will take the skills you have learnt from the 2-day competent crew course and put them into practice on a sailing adventure, where you will spend two evenings in different ports around the Solent. 

The 5-day course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers.  You will experience living on board and really get to know the boat.  Virtually all of the course is hands on.  You are the crew- without you the sails won't go up and the boat won't be steered.

By the end of this course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You should also have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday.  If you are not sure about attending a full 5 day course, you may choose to opt for the 2 day Start Yachting Course and then attend a three day conversion course to convert the Start Yachting course to the Competent Crew course.  Conversion courses are run on a demand basis.

Day Skipper

We also offer 5-day, 3-day and 2-day Day Skipper courses. 

The 2-day Day Skipper course is an introduction to skippering on yachts. You will learn skills like sailing onto mooring buoys and parking the yacht in the marina. These two days are day sailing from the Town Quay in Southampton, which means you will return to Southampton each night. 

The 3-day course is where you will take the skills you have learnt on from the Day Skipper Theory course, and put them into practice on a sailing adventure. You will be completing a passage plan with things like 'course to steer' and tidal stream calculations. You also do a pilotage into a new port using bearings, leading lights and tidal height calculations. You will spend two evenings in different ports around the Solent.

The 5-day course is for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

Learn to skipper a short passage with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn't.

Before this course, if you are not sure that your sailing is up to speed, a good way to learn is on an RYA Level 2 dinghy course. This will teach you to sail around a course and control the boat's speed.

If it's help with navigation that you need, you should take our Day Skipper shore based course.  Expected pre-course experience to attend this course is 5 days sailing, 100 miles, 4 nights on board a sailing yacht.  Theory to the level of Day Skipper shore based is assumed and it is recommended that you attend the Day Skipper Shore based course before attending this course.

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Coastal

This 5-day course covers advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.

It is a satisfying but intensive week, with candidates often working towards a Certificate of Competence.

Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.  

Expected pre-course experience before attending this course is 15 days sailing, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night sailing hours on board a sailing yacht. Boat handling ability to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation Theory to the level of Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shore based is assumed and it is recommended that you attend the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shore based course before attending this course.

Costs:

*In order to claim the student discount you will need to provide proof of your student status. Please email proof that you are currently enrolled on a course in the current academic year at the University of Southampton of Southampton Solent University to watersports@southampton.ac.uk

Included in the course fee:

• Course completion certificates issued by the "University of Southampton" RTC
• Cruising Scheme Logbook for Competent Crew and Day Skipper Courses - available for purchase for other courses.
• Use of lifejackets and lifelines
• Morning breakfasts, snack lunches and tea/coffee/soft drinks.
• One evening meal on board
• Boat fuel

Not included in the course fee:

• Other evening meals
• Mooring fees for berths other than Southampton Town Quay Marina
• RYA Exam fees
• Waterproof hire for the duration of the course (£5)

To book click on the link below to access our online booking system.