RYA Competent Crew Sail

Price: from £649

Location: The RYA Competent Crew beginners sailing course starts from our base at Premier Gosport Marina, and visits different ports around the Solent and adjacent waters around the South Coast.

Duration: 5 days

The perfect sailing course for beginners all over the UK, the five day RYA Competent Crew practical course will give you the best building blocks to start your sailing journey with.

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Competent Crew course at Gosport Marina!

What to expect on your RYA competent crew course in the Solent

Our RYA competent crew course runs over five days, based at Gosport Marina on the Solent. You will join one of our Bavaria yachts alongside a maximum of four other students and an RYA instructor. There is no previous experience required — just a willingness to learn and a sense of adventure.

Day one covers safety briefing, parts of the yacht, and basic ropework. You will learn how to handle mooring lines, raise and lower sails, and steer the yacht under instruction. By day two, most students are handling the helm in open water, tacking and gybing with growing confidence.

The Solent is the ideal classroom for the RYA competent crew course. Tidal flows around the Isle of Wight, busy shipping channels near Portsmouth, and sheltered waters in Chichester Harbour all feature during the week. You get real sailing conditions — wind, tide, and traffic you have to work around.

Accommodation is liveaboard on the yacht at Gosport Marina. Each evening you help with meal preparation, boat checks, and planning the next days sailing. That is where the learning sticks — talking through the days decisions over dinner.

By the final day, you will have logged over 100 sea miles and be able to take a watch as a capable crew member. The RYA competent crew certificate is valid worldwide and is the first step toward your RYA Day Skipper and ultimately Yachtmaster qualifications.

Booking details

RYA Competent Crew Sail Training Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for instructions on how to join our competent crew sail training course

What is included in the training course cost:

  • Yacht / boat hire
  • A very patient, understanding and experienced RYA Qualified Sailing Instructor
  • RYA Competent Crew training course materials and certificate
  • The course includes FOOD! Yes, unlike others we include breakfast, lunches, snacks and three evening meals – Evening meals are usually simple yet really tasty and filling “one pot” dishes which are easy to cook on board like curries, chilli-con-carne, pasta & casseroles etc. We include a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and bread (One evening meal is taken ashore at the students own cost)
  • Tea, coffee, water & soft drinks, squash etc
  • Accommodation on board
  • Diesel
  • Cooking gas
  • Wet weather jacket & salopettes hire (not footwear)
  • Hire of a Baltic automatic life jacket which has been serviced and maintained by our expert technicians

About Your Home on the Water

During your course, you’ll be sailing aboard one of our well-equipped Bavaria 38ft sail cruising yachts—renowned among sailors for their comfort, reliability, and roomy design. Each yacht features three cosy double cabins plus two single berths in the saloon, so there’s plenty of space for everyone to settle in comfortably after a day on the water.

The generously sized galley makes whipping up those hearty one-pot meals a breeze, while the spacious bathroom ensures you can freshen up with ease. With ample room both above and below deck, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy each moment of your sailing adventure—whether that’s sharing stories around the saloon table or relaxing with a cup of tea as we cruise through the Solent.

We can accommodate most dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian or gluten free. Just let us know when you fill out the booking form.

Recommended Reading: Sailing magazines and newspapers, but this is not essential

Training course prerequisites: No assumed knowledge

Minimum Age: No minimum but Under 16’s must be accompanied by adult. Persons aged 16+ can be unaccompanied subject to other pre-requisites having been met

Marina Facilities During Your Course

During your RYA Competent Crew Sail training, you’ll spend nights moored at a variety of welcoming marinas around the Solent, including well-known spots like Yarmouth Harbour, Cowes, Hamble, Ocean Village Southampton, Lymington and Chichester. Each stop offers more than just a place to tie up—expect modern shower and laundry amenities, well-stocked shops, and convenient access to bars, cafés, and bistros. Whether you want a hot shower after a blustery day or fancy stretching your legs ashore for a coffee and a snack, these marinas ensure comfort both on and off your yacht. Enjoy the blend of onboard camaraderie and shoreside treats that make our courses so memorable.

Holiday Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of sources like Topsail Insurance and can cover things like customer cancellations and personal effects cover.

Weather and Tidal Conditions Policy

Your safety is always our foremost concern. All our courses and events are carefully planned with current weather and tidal conditions in mind. On occasion, we may need to adjust schedules or activities to ensure optimal safety and comfort onboard. Our experienced instructors keep a close watch on the forecast and will never compromise your wellbeing for the sake of sticking to a plan—if conditions aren’t suitable, we’ll adapt accordingly. Rest assured, every decision is made with your security and the best possible learning experience at heart.

Six newly certified RYA Coastal Skippers celebrating with certificates after successful practical exam completion
Two people wearing jackets and sunglasses stand on a boat. Background shows a modern building and rigging. Sky is overcast.

RYA Competent Crew beginners sailing training course formats & details:

Sailing training courses from our south-coast base are run in a choice of three formats:

  • 5 consecutive days: (Monday to Friday)
  • 5 consecutive days: (Wednesday to Sunday)
  • 2 consecutive Weekends: (Usually over a bank holiday & one other weekend)

During your RYA Competent Crew Sail Practical Course, you’ll cover essential hands-on skills including practical navigation, pilotage, boat handling, seamanship, and watchkeeping techniques. We sometimes combine students taking their RYA Day Skipper Sail or RYA Coastal Skipper Sail courses alongside students on the RYA Competent Crew Sail training course, so you will get to experience a wider range of sailing on one of our owned boats. This blend of abilities on board means you’ll gain insights from both sides: learning from those with more advanced skills and sharing the excitement with fellow beginners as you all develop your confidence and competence at sea.

All Students are able to live and stay on board the boat for the duration of the training course.

Fancy going VIP and having your own exclusive private training course for you and your friends or family? You can book the whole boat just for your own exclusive sail training course from only £679 per person. Enjoy the training course in style, with up to five persons on the boat being taught by one of our friendly, experienced RYA Yachtmaster Instructors! What a way to start your sailing adventure and learn to sail the right way!

Maximum Group Size for Your Training

For each RYA Competent Crew Sail practical course, we follow the official RYA guidelines and welcome up to five students per yacht. This ensures everyone has plenty of hands-on time at the helm—or, if you prefer, enough space to stretch those sea legs and swap stories over a hearty one-pot dinner.

If you fancy a more personal experience or you’d prefer not to share a cabin with a stranger, you’re welcome to book the entire boat as a private course for just your own group. That way, you and your friends or family can enjoy exclusive use of the yacht, guided by our friendly and experienced RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, and shape your learning adventure just how you like it.

Which marinas might you get to visit during your course

When you join us for the RYA Competent Crew Sail training course, your adventure sets sail right from our Gosport marina base in Gosport Hampshire. Over the five days, you’ll spend your nights on board at a variety of fantastic marinas dotted along the Solent and South Coast. Depending on the week and the weather (and perhaps the mood of the crew!), your floating home might visit marinas such as:

  • Ocean Village Marina
  • Yarmouth harbour
  • Cowes
  • Chichester
  • Southampton Town Quay
  • Hamble River
  • Lymington town

Each of these spots offers excellent shoreside facilities—think cosy bistros, cheerful bars, shops for any forgotten essentials, and the always welcome hot showers and laundry rooms. Of course, your yacht has all the comforts you need on board, but it’s always a treat to step ashore and explore somewhere new each evening.

The Perks of a Lower Student-to-Instructor Ratio

Wondering why we keep our groups small? Here’s the inside scoop: with fewer students on board, you’re guaranteed far more hands-on time at the helm, trimming sails, and practicing those all-important onboard skills. Rather than waiting your turn and watching from the sidelines, you’ll be actively involved in every manoeuvre.

  • More Personal Attention: Our instructors can tailor their teaching to your unique pace and learning needs, making sure no one’s left scratching their head or feeling rushed.
  • Comfort on Board: Smaller groups mean you’re much more likely to have your own bunk rather than sharing a cramped cabin with someone you’ve just met. A good night’s sleep goes a long way toward making those 7am sail hoists much more enjoyable!
  • Faster Progress: You’ll get behind the wheel (or winch!) more often, solidifying your knowledge and building real confidence with each session.
  • A Sociable Yet Relaxed Atmosphere: With fewer people to juggle, everyone quickly becomes part of the crew, making it easy to get to know your fellow sailors, share stories over supper, and create that all-important team spirit.

Put simply, our lower student-to-instructor ratios mean you’ll spend less time waiting, more time doing, and walk away with the practical know-how and confidence you need.

Who is the RYA training course for:

The RYA Competent Crew Sail training course is designed for a complete beginner who wants to learn how to sail and start their exciting and adventurous sailing journey the right way. This RYA Competent Crew Sail training course your perfect starting point for a sailing adventure you’ll never forget.

With little or no prior knowledge of being on a yacht, the five-day RYA Competent Crew Sail training course will give you the building blocks you need to start your sailing journey the right way.

You’ll gain confidence and valuable knowledge and experience that will enable you to be be a very handy crew member on board a yacht.

Our patient and understanding instructors are the best in the South-coast. You’ll learn from their valuable sailing experience, enabling you to start your journey the right way.

Five people sitting on a docked yacht at a marina, ropes visible. The boat displays a website at the top. Overcast sky background.
A book titled "RYA Competent Crew Skills" featuring illustrations of yachts and knots, designed for motor cruising course instruction.

Training Course syllabus:

The RYA Competent Crew  Sail training course is a great introduction to sailing. This training course is designed for a complete beginner and teaches all the essential skills needed in order to become a competent crew member aboard a yacht over an exciting 5-day period.

On this training course you’ll gain valuable experience and confidence in how to sail, and become a useful crew member aboard a sailing yacht.

On this RYA training course, we teach you about basic yacht operations, seamanship, helming a yacht, rope handling, personal safety, the sort of equipment you find on board and all manner of other useful things you’ll to master need when you go sailing with friends.

Upon completing this training course, you will become a very useful member of a yacht crew, and be able to be active in sailing the boat!

The RYA Competent Crew training course Includes:

  • Knowledge of sea terminology, parts of a boat, including rigging & sails
  • Sail handling
  • Rigging & controls
  • Ropework
  • Fire precautions & fire fighting
  • Personal safety equipment
  • Man-overboard:
    • How to recover a man-overboard
    • Actions following recovery
  • Emergency equipment
  • Manners & customs
  • Rules of the road
  • Inflatable tenders, their safe use and operation
  • Meteorology (Weather!)
    • Forecasting services
    • Knowledge of the Beaufort Scale
    • What to do when the weather turns bad and how to prepare the boat and crew
  • Sea sickness
  • Helmsmanship, sailing and wind awareness
  • General duties on board a yacht
  • Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the yacht, including:
    • Setting, reefing and the general handling of sails
    • Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
    • Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats, single and double bollards
    • Handling warps & fenders
  • Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use:
    • Bowline
    • Figure-of-eight
    • Clove hitch
    • Rolling hitch
    • Round turn and two-half-hitches
    • Single and double sheet bend
    • Reef knot
  • Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent it
  • Knowledge of the actions to be taken in event of fire breaking-out on board
  • Safety equipment, such as life rafts, safety harnesses and lifejackets
  • Flares and when they should be used
  • Procedure for launching and boarding a liferaft
  • Environment responsibilities in the marina and at sea
  • Keeping an efficient lookout when at sea
  • The basic principles of sailing including steering and trimming sails on all points of sailing
  • Steering to a compass course/heading, under sail and power
  • Carrying out general duties on and below deck when at sea and at a berth on the boat

The next steps:

Following completion of your RYA Competent Crew Sail training course, you may be thinking about your next steps and how to best put your new skills, knowledge and confidence into action.

Depending on where you want to eventually go with sailing, we’d heavily recommend the following:

  • Go sailing! -Yes, just get out there and go sailing with friends. Enjoy it and get some experience under your belt. We also offer our very popular Mile Building weekends which are great fun, and you’ll get to meet other like-minded sailors, all under the watchful eye of one of our RYA qualified instructors
  • VHF/SRC training course. Well worth doing, as this will give you confidence and a whole range of new skills to properly operate a VHF radio. Carried out over one day in our dedicated VHF classroom.
  • RYA Day Skipper Theory. This can be done in the classroom over 5-days, or as part of the very popular 9-day RYA Day Skipper Combination training course, which includes the 5-day practical side of the course. LS����
RYA Coastal Skipper candidate winching jib sheet to trim sails during coastal navigation

Booking details

Please select your preferred start date below.

Related courses

RYA Day Skipper Sail Practical

The RYA Day Skipper Sail Course runs over five days and brings students with at least the RYA Competent Crew Sail qualification (or knowledge to that level as minimum) and some sailing experience, up to skipper level.

What makes the RYA day skipper practical course different

The RYA Day Skipper practical course is where you stop being crew and start being skipper. Over five days on the Solent, you will take command of a Bavaria yacht under the supervision of an RYA instructor. You will plan passages, make navigational decisions, and manage the crew.

The Solent is one of the best places in the UK to train for your Day Skipper practical. Tidal streams, commercial shipping, and busy harbours mean you get real experience of skippering in challenging conditions. You will visit ports like Portsmouth, Cowes, and Yarmouth, practicing berthing alongside and picking up mooring buoys. Successful completion prepares you for the RYA Coastal Skipper practical course.

Prerequisites: RYA Competent Crew (or equivalent experience) and the RYA Day Skipper theory certificate. You should have logged at least 5 days, 100 sea miles, and 4 night hours on a sailing yacht.

Learn more

RYA Day Skipper Theory

Ready to take the helm? The RYA Day Skipper Theory course is the UK’s most popular pathway to skippering your own yacht. Whether you’re looking to charter in the Solent, explore the South Coast, or plan adventures overseas, this 5-day course delivers essential navigation, safety, and passage-planning skills—all in a friendly, small-group setting at our Premier Marina Gosport base.

Read our day-by-day guide to the RYA Day Skipper course for a detailed breakdown of what each day covers, with tips on navigation exercises and meteorology study.

No minimum age (under-16s accompanied by an adult). Some sailing experience helpful but not essential.

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Day Skipper Theory course!

How to Book

Once you’ve found your ideal dates, you can secure your place with just a 30% deposit. We understand life can throw up the occasional choppy waters, so instalment payments are available to spread the payment out before your course—just get in touch to arrange what works best for you. If you have any questions or want to chat through the course before booking, don’t hesitate to contact Tom for friendly, expert advice on the phone.

 

Online vs classroom delivery for your RYA day skipper theory course

We offer the RYA day skipper theory course in two formats. The classroom course runs over five consecutive days at our training centre at Gosport Marina. It includes face to face tuition, group exercises, and access to our chart plotter simulator. The online course lets you study at your own pace from home, with tutor support by email and phone.

Both options cover the same RYA Day Skipper theory syllabus: navigation, safety, meteorology, collision regulations, passage planning, and engine checks. The key difference is pace. Classroom students complete in one week. Online students typically take 4-8 weeks. Choose whichever suits your schedule.

The RYA day skipper theory course is a prerequisite for the Day Skipper practical course. It is also valuable for anyone who wants to charter a yacht — many charter companies require evidence of theory training before they will let you take a boat out.

FAQ about the Day Skipper theory course

How long is the course?

The classroom course is 5 days, typically 9am to 5pm. The online course is self-paced with 40-60 hours of study material.

Is there an exam?

Yes. The course concludes with a 2-hour exam paper. A pass mark of 60% is required. You can retake if needed.

Do I need any previous qualifications?

No formal qualifications are needed, but you should have some sailing experience. The RYA recommends at least 2 days experience and 50 logged sea miles before starting the theory course.

Can I do the theory course after the practical?

Yes, but we recommend doing theory first. The navigation and meteorology knowledge will make your practical week far more productive.

Learn more

RYA VHF/SRC Radio

The RYA SRC VHF Radio course is the minimum qualification required by law to operate VHF or Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel. This RYA VHF SRC radio training covers marine VHF radio operation, DSC distress calling, and routine communication procedures.

RYA VHF SRC radio course training at Gosport Marina

Anyone who operates a marine radio at sea needs this qualification whether you are on a kayak, paddle board, RIB, jet ski, or yacht. Our RYA VHF SRC radio course runs in a single day at our Gosport Marina base on the Solent.

RYA VHF SRC radio training on a Bavaria sailing yacht

After completing this course you will be able to take the next step in your sailing journey with our RYA Day Skipper theory or practical training courses. For official course details visit the RYA radio courses page.

Learn more about our one day courses or view our full course calendar for available dates.

What you will learn on the RYA VHF radio course

The RYA VHF SRC (Short Range Certificate) course covers everything you need to legally operate marine VHF and DSC equipment on a UK-flagged vessel. You will learn how to make distress calls, communicate with coastguard stations, and use Digital Selective Calling to contact specific vessels.

The course runs from 9am to 5pm at our Gosport Marina training centre. The morning covers VHF radio theory, channel frequencies, and communication procedures. The afternoon is hands-on with DSC simulators practicing distress, urgent, and routine calls. The written and practical exam happens at the end of the day — results are immediate.

The RYA VHF radio course is the minimum legal requirement for anyone using marine VHF on a British vessel. It is also a prerequisite for the RYA Day Skipper theory course and is included in our Yachtmaster Fast Track programme. No previous experience is needed — just a good understanding of spoken English.

Learn more

Customer reviews

Exciting Channle islands exploration!! This will be my third time with Commodore, no regrets. 😁 Such a great trip exploring the Channle islands and northern France. We got to see lovely towns in Guernsey and Jersey as well as a fab market in Cherbourg. The sailing was so great! Over 350 miles covered and well over doubled my night hours. Big shoutout and thank you to our amazing skipper Ed who always had to the best recommendation and was so flexible to what we wanted to do as a group. He was an amazing support through out the trip, gave great MOB training and help in passage planning. Boat was great as always. Amazing experience and can’t wait to go on similar trips with the company.

Orla Simpson Avatar Orla Simpson
29th August 2025

We did a mile builder channel crossing with Karen. She was absolutely brilliant, a great combination of confident and relaxed to help us build our feeling of confidence. Would highly recommend the mile builder with her. Overall a tiring but extremely rewarding experience. Thank you Karen!!

Ana Sofia Almagro Avatar Ana Sofia Almagro
25th August 2025

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