Starting your sailing journey with RYA training & how to choose the right RYA sailing course
Choosing the right RYA sailing course is the first and most important decision you’ll make on your sailing journey. We offer courses ranging from introductory experiences to professional Yachtmaster certifications, so the options can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down each course level, explains what’s required, and helps you select the path that matches your goals.
Understanding RYA course levels
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) provides a structured pathway from complete beginner to professional mariner. At Commodore Yachting, we’ve been guiding students through this journey since 1999 from our base at Premier Gosport Marina in the Solent. The RYA training framework takes you from beginner to professional level, with each stage building naturally on the last.
Start yachting (2 days)
Perfect for complete beginners with no experience. This two-day course introduces you to the basics of sailing, safety procedures, and life aboard a yacht. You’ll take the helm, help with sails, and experience what it’s like to be part of a crew. No prior knowledge required, just a willingness to learn.
Competent crew (5 days)
Building on Start Yachting, this course teaches you to be a useful crew member on any sailing yacht. You’ll learn rope work, sail handling, navigation basics, helming, and safety procedures. By the end, you’ll be confident crewing on any yacht in tidal and non-tidal waters. Explore our Competent Crew course.
Day skipper practical (5 days)
This is our most popular course. You’ll learn to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. Topics include pilotage, navigation, boat handling, seamanship, and skippering techniques. Prerequisites: Competent Crew certification (or equivalent experience) and Day Skipper Theory knowledge.
Coastal skipper (5 days)
For experienced Day Skippers who want to undertake longer passages, including night sailing. You’ll learn advanced navigation, passage planning, and skippering in more challenging conditions. Requires Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory certification. View our Coastal Skipper course.
Yachtmaster preparation & assessment
The pinnacle of recreational sailing qualifications. Our Yachtmaster Fast Track and preparation weeks are designed for experienced sailors aiming for commercial certification. This is a professional-level qualification recognised worldwide. When choosing a course, consider your time commitment, budget, and long term sailing goals. Recreational sailors are well served by Day Skipper; those aiming for professional careers should plan the full pathway. Training in tidal waters like the Solent builds broader, more transferable skills than non-tidal inland waters.
How to choose the right course for you
Consider your experience level
If you’ve never sailed before, start with Competent Crew or our Start Yachting weekend. If you have some sailing experience as crew, Day Skipper Practical is likely your next step. Experienced skippers should look at Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster preparation.
Define your goals
Are you learning for leisure, to charter yachts abroad, or to pursue a professional career? Each goal requires different qualifications. Day Skipper is sufficient for most charter companies. Yachtmaster is required for commercial skippering. Our instructors can advise on the best pathway during your course.
Consider your time and budget
Courses range from 2-day introductions to comprehensive 9-day combined theory and practical packages. We offer combination courses that bundle theory and practical training, which can be more cost-effective and provide a more cohesive learning experience.
Why train in the Solent
The Solent offers one of the UK’s most challenging and rewarding training environments. With strong tides, busy shipping lanes, diverse ports, and changeable weather, students gain real-world experience that translates directly to skippering anywhere in the world. Yacht charter companies worldwide recognise Solent-trained skippers as having superior practical skills. 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.
Tailored training at commodore yachting
Our courses feature a maximum of 4-5 students per instructor, ensuring plenty of hands-on helm time and personalised coaching. We operate from Premier Gosport Marina with access to the best sailing grounds on the South Coast. Our fleet of Bavaria yachts is meticulously maintained and equipped with modern navigation technology.
Our fleet and facilities
We operate 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. 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. 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 the boats with generous provisions, all meals, snacks, and soft drinks are included, so you can focus on sailing rather than worrying about catering.
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 5. This gives you plenty of time at the helm and proper individual attention from our RYA-qualified instructors. Some schools pack 8 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.
Next steps
Ready to start your sailing journey? Browse our course calendar for available dates, or contact our team for personalised advice on which course suits you best. With over 25 years of experience training sailors in the Solent, we’ll help you find the perfect course. 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.
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 official information on RYA training standards, course content, and certification, visit the Royal Yachting Association website at rya.org.uk.
