Looking ahead to 2025? Check out our latest sailing courses and yacht charters for the coming year. Browse our 2025 discount offerings here.
Happy New Year from the team at Commodore Yachting!
We’re kicking off 2024 with some fantastic deals across our RYA sailing courses. Use the discount code “Adventure2024” at checkout to get 5% off most courses, including our popular Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses, Mile Building Weekends, Channel Islands Cruise, and Powerboat courses. The code expires on March 31, 2024, so book and pay online before that date to secure your savings.
Even bigger savings for club members & instructors & 2024 sailing course discounts
If you’re a member of certain sailing clubs or a qualified instructor, you can unlock even greater discounts on top of the offer above. Here’s a taste of what’s available:
| Course | RYA Members | RYA Instructors | Royal Southampton YC Members | Junior Offshore Group (JOG) Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RYA Radar | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Sea Survival | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW Personal Survival Techniques | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA First Aid | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW Elementary First Aid | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| HSE Emergency First Aid at Work | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| HSE First Aid at Work (& Requal) | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Diesel | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| 12 Volt Marine Electrics | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| Splicing & Ropework | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| Outboard Engine Maintenance | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA GMDSS Short Range Cert. | 10% | 25% | 10% | 10% |
| GMDSS Long Range Cert. | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW GMDSS Restricted Operator Certificate | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW GMDSS General Operator Certificate | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Day Skipper Shorebased | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Powerboat Level 2 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Powerboat Tender Operator | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Powerboat Intermediate | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| RYA Powerboat Advanced | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW PSSR | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| STCW Proficiency in Designated Security Duties | 10% | 15% | 10% | 10% |
| CIEH Food Safety Level 2 | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
| Online RYA Courses | 10% | 20% | 10% | 10% |
If you’re a member of the RYA, Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Junior Offshore Group, or an instructor, check the table above to see what you could save. Just let us know if you’re eligible, and we’ll make sure you get the best deal.
How to redeem your discount or voucher code
We like to keep things straightforward when it comes to saving you money. Here’s how to make sure your discount or voucher code does the trick:
- Head to our website and pop your chosen course(s) in the basket.
- When you reach the checkout, you’ll spot a box for discount or voucher codes, just enter your code there. For example, “Adventure2024” for our current offer.
- Some offers (like those for RYA members or instructors) might need a little extra, if that’s you, send us a clear photo or scan of your current membership card or instructor certificate. Make sure the name, expiry date, and membership number are visible, then email it our way.
- For special requests or unique deals, simply drop us an email. We’ll issue you a bespoke booking code, these are usually valid for 24 hours so you have time to complete your booking.
Top tip: All codes must be added before you make payment. Once you’ve paid, we can’t backdate the discount.
A few notes on discounts and availability
Quick heads-up: we may need to tweak, remove, or pull any discounts or special offers at short notice. All courses are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are only so many discounted spots per course. So if you’ve got a particular weekend or adventure circled on your calendar, snap it up before someone else does.
A quick note on third party costs
Discounts don’t cover third party fees such as RYA exam charges or similar external costs. The 5% off applies to our courses themselves, but you’ll still need to budget separately for those outside bits.
Can i use the discount on past bookings?
Much as we’d love to sprinkle discount fairy dust over past bookings, the voucher code needs to be applied at the time of booking and checkout. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to retroactively add discounts to orders made without the code. So make sure you pop “Adventure2024” in the box when you book, don’t let those savings sail away!
What you need for member or instructor discounts
If you’re aiming to bag a RYA member or instructor discount, you’ll need to send us a little proof to keep things shipshape. Here’s what we need:
- For RYA Membership Discounts: Email us a photo or scan of your current RYA membership card. Make sure we can clearly see your name, membership number, and expiry date.
- For RYA Instructor Discounts: Email us a photo or scan of your valid RYA Instructor Certificate, again with your name and expiry date visible.
If we don’t receive the evidence within 48 hours of your booking (and before the course kicks off), the discount won’t apply and the full price will be due. Keep your documentation handy and send it over promptly.
Special discounts for certified instructors
If you’re a qualified maritime or yachting instructor, whether you teach full-time, part-time, volunteer, or freelance, here’s some extra good news. To acknowledge your contribution to the industry and help you keep your certifications up to date, we’re delighted to offer special discounts on a range of courses just for you.
How it works:
- Active instructors can enjoy up to 50% off many of our shore-based training courses.
- For online courses, there’s a solid 20% discount available.
- These offers are open to certified instructors no matter where you work or volunteer.
Please note: Some specialist courses may be excluded, especially those that are already discounted or highly bespoke, so do check with us.
How to claim your instructor discount:
- Book your training directly through our website.
- Enter the unique voucher code for instructors at checkout (full details on the course pages).
- After booking, simply email us a copy or photo of your current instructor certificate showing your name and expiry date.
Extra savings for yachting association members
Are you a card-carrying member of a recognised yachting association like the RYA? Flash that membership and you’ll scoop a 10% discount off the standard price for any courses we run from our Southampton centre, including our online training.
It’s incredibly simple:
- Book your course online as usual.
- At checkout, enter the code “RYA10” to claim your savings.
- To confirm your status, send us a quick photo or scan of your current membership card, making sure your name, expiry date, and membership number are visible.
A few course types don’t qualify, such as already discounted, bespoke, or select STCW training, but most options are fair game. Check the terms below for full details.
Finance now available on courses and yacht charters (subject to acceptance)
We are now able to offer finance (subject to acceptance) on our courses and charters, courtesy of Payl8r and PayPal. This is a great way to spread the cost over a few instalments to suit your budget.
To celebrate what we hope will be a much-improved year, we’ve taken a look at our course prices and have made a few changes to provide even better value for money.
You still get all the great things we usually include on our courses, things that a lot of other training schools don’t include:
- Food! (Yes, some training centres won’t even feed you.)
- Course materials
- RYA Certification (for RYA courses)
- Free wet weather kit hire (excluding footwear)
- Free lifejacket and lifeline hire
- Free berthing at any Premier Marina
- Diesel
- Cooking gas
- Heavily discounted marina car parking at Gosport Marina
- Plus other benefits, see the specific course page for more details
Compare what we offer with others. We think you’ll find that we include a lot more for similar prices. We also still offer free accommodation during theory courses over one day in duration (subject to availability).
Here are some examples of where we’ve lowered our prices:
- RYA Competent Crew: 5 days in a row, reduced £50 per person | Split weekend, reduced £100 per person
- RYA Day Skipper Practical: 5 days in a row, reduced £50 per person | Split weekend, reduced £100 per person
- RYA Coastal Skipper Practical: 5 days in a row, reduced £50 per person | Split weekend, reduced £100 per person
- RYA Yachtmaster Preparation (5 days + 2 for exam), reduced £100 per person
- Mile Building Weekend, reduced £50 per person
- Marina Skills Day, reduced £25 per person
So not only do you get lower course prices in 2024, but you can also use the discount code for even more savings. What a great way to kick off 2024!
Stacking discounts: is it allowed?
Just a quick heads up, while we do love giving you great deals, you can only use one discount or offer per booking. Our special offers can’t be combined or stacked together like a tall pile of pancakes. Choose the deal that works best for you and enjoy the savings.
Oh, and for those of you who love a yacht charter (who doesn’t?), we are still offering 30% off all our yacht charter prices between now and the end of March 2024. And yes, we are able to offer finance on all yacht charter packages, subject to acceptance. Please contact us for details.
As ever, we love to arrange group bookings for courses, skippered charter, race days, you name it. Just drop us a line and tell us what you’d like to do, no matter how wild it may sound. You’d be amazed what we can organise!
Multi-booking offers: buy three, get one free!
Now here’s a cracking deal for those of you planning to bring a crew, or maybe a gang of keen friends, along for one of our shorebased classroom courses. If you book three spaces on any of our classroom courses (running from Hamble, Southampton, or Helensburgh, Scotland), we’ll give you a fourth spot absolutely free on the same course. Build your squad and save more!
To unlock this group offer, just pop us an email with your request. We’ll reply with your very own booking code, valid for 24 hours so you can round up your shipmates. (Heads up: one payment from the lead booker covers the whole group.) There are a few terms and conditions, so take a peek below for the fine print.
Keep on sailing!
Click here to view 2025 discount offerings.The Commodore Chronicles
About sailing with commodore yachting
Commodore Yachting has been delivering RYA-accredited sailing courses from Gosport Marina on the Solent since 1999. Over the past 25+ years, our qualified instructors have trained thousands of students in the challenging tidal waters of the South Coast, building genuine sailing competence that transfers to any destination worldwide.
The Solent offers one of the UK’s most rewarding sailing environments. Its complex tides, diverse ports of call, and changeable weather conditions create a proper classroom. Navigating the shipping lanes near Portsmouth Harbour, picking up a mooring in Newtown Creek, planning a passage across to the Isle of Wight, every trip teaches lessons you simply cannot learn in calmer, non-tidal waters. Training here means your skills are tested in real conditions, making you a better, more confident sailor wherever you choose to cruise.
We offer courses from RYA Competent Crew through to Yachtmaster Fast Track. Our all-inclusive pricing covers tuition, accommodation on board our Bavaria yachts, all meals (full English breakfast, lunch, dinner), snacks and soft drinks, wet-weather gear and lifejacket hire, all safety equipment, and free marina berthing at Premier Marinas (worth £50–80 a night). Group sizes are capped at five students per course, ensuring you get proper one-to-one attention from your instructor.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need previous experience? A: No. RYA Competent Crew is designed for complete beginners. You’ll learn everything on the course, sail handling, deck work, safety procedures, and living aboard a cruising yacht.
Q: What type of yachts do you use? A: We maintain a modern fleet of Bavaria cruising yachts, 36 to 44 feet, fitted with the latest Raymarine navigation electronics and regularly serviced. Each yacht has multiple cabins, a galley, chart table, and full safety equipment including liferaft and EPIRB.
Q: How many students per course? A: Maximum of five. This gives you plenty of time at the helm and proper individual attention from your RYA-qualified instructor. Some schools pack eight or more students onto a boat, we keep our groups small for a reason.
Q: What’s included in the price? A: Everything. Tuition, accommodation, all meals, wet-weather gear, lifejackets, safety equipment, certificate, and marina berthing. No hidden extras. Many schools charge extra for food (£20–40/day), accommodation (£30–50/night), and kit hire (£15–25/day), we don’t. Our prices are genuinely all-inclusive.
Q: Can I do theory courses online? A: Yes. RYA Day Skipper Theory, Coastal Skipper Theory, and Yachtmaster Theory are all available online through Commodore Yachting. Work through them at your own pace and complete the practical course when you’re ready.
Q: What happens after I qualify? A: You can build experience with our Mile Building weekends, charter yachts from our fleet (available to qualified sailors), or progress to the next RYA level. Many of our students return year after year for advanced courses and cruises.
Why the Solent is the uk’s best training ground
The Solent is widely regarded as the finest sailing training area in the United Kingdom. The stretch of water between mainland England and the Isle of Wight offers everything a sailor needs to develop genuine competence: strong tides that demand careful planning, busy shipping lanes that teach collision avoidance, a wide variety of ports and anchorages that build pilotage skills, and weather patterns that can change from flat calm to a solid Force 6 in a matter of hours.
Sailors who train in the Solent develop skills that transfer anywhere in the world. The tidal planning you learn here prepares you for cruising the Channel Islands, the coast of Brittany, or the deep waters of the Atlantic. The IRPCS knowledge you practise daily in the Solent’s traffic keeps you safe in any shipping lane worldwide. The weather interpretation you master in these changeable conditions makes you a more confident and capable navigator wherever you sail.
Our base at Gosport Marina puts you right in the middle of it all. Within minutes of casting off, you’re sailing in the Solent with Portsmouth Harbour, Spithead, and the approaches to the Isle of Wight all within easy reach. Gosport itself is well served by road and rail, and we recommend familiarising yourself with our joining instructions before your course starts.
Our fleet and facilities
Commodore Yachting operates a modern fleet of Bavaria cruising yachts, ranging from 36 to 44 feet in length. Each yacht is fitted with Raymarine chart plotters, autopilot, VHF radio, and full safety equipment including liferaft, fire extinguishers, and EPIRB. Our yachts are serviced annually and undergo rigorous safety inspections. Recent upgrades include new sails from Hyde Sails, new sprayhoods and stack-packs from Tecsew in Lee-on-Solent, and engine upgrades including the latest Volvo Penta D1-30 engines.
Our maintenance team works year-round to keep the fleet in peak condition. All lifejackets are serviced annually to manufacturers’ standards by factory-trained technicians. Our marina berths at Premier Gosport Marina give us direct access to the Solent and include free berthing for our students, a benefit worth £50–80 per night that most other schools don’t offer.
In addition to our yachts, we provide full sets of Henri-Lloyd or similar quality wet-weather gear, Baltic automatic lifejackets with sprayhoods and lights, and all safety equipment free of charge. We also stock our boats with generous provisions, all meals, snacks, and soft drinks are included, so you can focus on sailing rather than worrying about catering.
About the author
This guide was written by Tom, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and owner of Commodore Yachting. With over 15 years of Solent training experience, Tom has taught hundreds of students from complete beginners through to Yachtmaster level. Based at Premier Gosport Marina, our team is dedicated to providing the highest standard of RYA training on the South Coast. For more information and guidance, explore our RNLI safety resources and the RYA website.
Get in touch
Ready to start your sailing journey? Contact the Commodore Yachting team on 023 9250 4443 or visit commodore-yachting.com to browse courses and book your place. You can also follow us on social media for the latest news, course availability, and special offers. Our friendly team will help you find the right course for your experience level and sailing goals, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced skipper looking to take the next step.
