Please select your preferred start date below.
Joining Instructions: Please click here for training course joining instructions
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
Each course runs with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 16 participants per instructor. We run the course with a minimum of two instructors giving you a great low ratio instructional experience. This ensures everyone gets plenty of hands-on experience while maintaining a safe and effective learning environment. Courses are scheduled on our calendar, but private bookings may be arranged depending on instructor and pool availability.
Our Sea Survival courses are run with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 16 participants per 2 instructors, ensuring a safe and engaging group experience. If you prefer a more personalised approach, one-to-one tuition is available—this is priced at the same rate as a booking for eight participants.
Courses are scheduled according to our live course calendar, but private or alternative dates can be arranged, depending on instructor and pool availability. If you have special requirements or want an exclusive session for yourself or your crew, just let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
The course includes both classroom learning and practical pool sessions, so a reasonable level of physical ability is recommended. If you have any special requirements or would like to discuss adjustments that might help you get the most from your training, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We aim to be as inclusive as possible and are happy to make accommodations wherever feasible to support your learning experience.
The RYA sea survival training course is designed for all small craft users (Up to 24m in length)
The importance of having the knowledge to survive if you end up abandoning the vessel is essential for suvival.
It is a well documented fact that people with appropriate training are more likely to survive in life threatening situations with the appropriate knowledge, skills and training.
Knowing how to use the safety equipment by actually using and physically handling it is one way of familiarising yourself. This will assist greatly so you are ready if you are called to action.
Liferafts and the equipment they contain, survival techniques, and what to expect from being in a life-raft form the central part of the RYA Sea Survival course.
You will be taught how to launch liferafts, and experience what the initial and subsequent actions in a liferaft are. You will receive sound advice on longer term survival topics.
Other topics covered include the design and use of lifejackets, hypothermia and Search and Rescue techniques.
Training Courses run in a choice of two formats:
All courses run from 9am to 5:30pm (approximately), giving you a full, immersive day of training.
The RYA Sea Survival training course includes a 2-3 hour practical session in a pool and students are encouraged to bring along their own wet weather gear and lifejacket, however this is provided if needed.
This is a real opportunity to try out your own lifejacket and experience what its like with being in the water and wearing it.
What’s Included
You’ll get hands-on with the equipment, learn in a comfortable classroom setting, and have the chance to warm up with a hot drink after your pool session. It’s all designed to make the day as enjoyable and practical as possible while you master these essential survival skills.
. The reason we ask you to wear the real equipment is in order to experience first-hand for yourself the problems of entering the liferaft yourself and assisting the entrance into the raft of others.
This is a really hands-on course that is taught by an experienced Sea Survival instructor. It’s a phenomenally energetic course and the pool sessions are great fun.
You will get involved with the teamwork elements and experience how challenging self-survival can be. You will have some amazing time in the pool and by the end of it have had practical, on-hand experience of doing the drills.
This qualification is an essential part of the RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Course and is also required for those seeking commercial endorsements on eligible qualifications. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the RYA Basic Sea Survival course Completion certificate, officially recognising your practical skills and knowledge in sea survival.
This is a full-on day, but great fun! You will need to provide your own transport to the swimming pool.
You will be entering the water with other students plus the instructor, and by the end of the day you will be tired but it will be worth it having learnt so much.
This course is for anyone of any age who get out on the water. The skills you’ll learn can help you survive if you end up in the worst situation where you have to abandon a vessel.
We heavily recommend the course to all water users.
If you’re bringing your own lifejacket, it’s a smart idea to check that it’s properly serviced and fully armed before your course. Re-arming kits—think replacement CO2 cylinders and firing mechanisms—are available from leading marine brands such as Crew saver, Spinlock and Baltic. While these aren’t included in your course fee, they’re easily purchased from most chandlers or online retailers. Double-check your equipment ahead of time to ensure smooth sailing on day one!
When you join us for your course, you’ll benefit from a range of top-notch facilities designed to make your experience seamless and comfortable. Our dedicated training centre features a private access swimming pool, so you can practise liferaft drills and safety exercises without worrying about other people being their. The classroom is spacious and well-equipped, creating a relaxed environment for your theory lessons and group discussions.
To keep your energy up, we provide complimentary tea, coffee, and plenty of biscuits throughout the day. There’s also low cost parking available just outside, making arrival and departure hassle-free, with free carparking at the pool site. All course materials, manuals, and certification are included, so you’ll have everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable learning journey.
Please select your preferred start date below.
Our very popular Marina Skills & Boat Handling course is a real confidence-builder for any sailor who has to deal with tight or difficult marina berths. We also cover things like adverse weather and tide whilst berthing, along with picking up mooring buoys too. A must-have for skippers and crew alike, you’ll feel your confidence grow after doing this course.
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the Marina Skills & Boat Handling course!
Learn more
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!
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.
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.
The classroom course is 5 days, typically 9am to 5pm. The online course is self-paced with 40-60 hours of study material.
Yes. The course concludes with a 2-hour exam paper. A pass mark of 60% is required. You can retake if needed.
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.
Yes, but we recommend doing theory first. The navigation and meteorology knowledge will make your practical week far more productive.
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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.
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.
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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 SimpsonWe 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