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.
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RYA Yachtmaster™ / Coastal Skipper Theory
Study RYA Yachtmaster coastal theory with Commodore Yachting in Gosport. This RYA Yachtmaster theory course takes you from Day Skipper level to Coastal/Yachtmaster standard. Covering advanced navigation, meteorology, passage planning, and collision regulations over six days.
Our RYA Yachtmaster theory includes classroom tuition from experienced instructors, chart work, and exam preparation. After completing this course you can progress to RYA Yachtmaster practical preparation. For official syllabus information visit the RYA Yachtmaster page.
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RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory
The RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory Course brings students with at least the RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal or Yachtmaster™ Offshore qualification and some sailing experience, up to Yachtmaster™ Ocean level (Theory only).
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory course!
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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.
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.
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.
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RYA First Aid at Sea
Course Formats & Details for RYA First Aid at Sea
Choose from two flexible formats to suit your schedule:
- 1-Day Course: Held on Saturday or Sunday for weekend convenience
- Mid-Week Option: Available to fit your busy lifestyle
- 1-Day Private Course: Held when you are available, please contact us for availability.
This RYA-accredited, one-day course delivers essential first aid skills tailored for yachts and small craft, focusing on maritime emergencies. Perfect for sailors on inland waters, rivers, estuaries, or coastal passages, it covers critical scenarios from a boating perspective, ensuring you’re prepared to handle emergencies at sea with confidence.
Don’t wait to enhance your safety knowledge—
Check our live course calendar today and secure your place in this vital training. Your peace of mind, and potentially lives, could depend on it.
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA First Aid at Sea course!
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ISAF Offshore Safety
The perfect accompanying course to the RYA Sea Survival course, the ISAF Offshore Safety Course is an essential for any sailor. A very informative course and a prerequisite for longer passages and those wanting to get into offshore racing!
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the ISAF Offshore Safety course!
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RYA Day Skipper Combination Theory and Practical
The RYA Day Skipper Combined Theory and Practical Training Course runs over nine days. The course brings students with at least the RYA Competent Crew qualification, or some sailing experience, up to RYA Day Skipper level, through undertaking both the theory and practical training courses.
Accommodation during the theory side of the training course is available at a small extra cost (subject to boat availability).
Take a look at our live course calendar for RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical Combined Training Course dates, taking place at Gosport Marina.
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