Day Skipper

Overview

Course Title: Day Skipper Practical Course

Cost: €785

Duration: 5-days, either Monday to Friday OR Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the subsequent Saturday and Sunday

The Day Skipper is a course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills. Learn to take full responsibility for the yacht and its crew.

Skipper passages with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement while ensuring your safety. Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn’t.  To qualify for this course, you will have taken the Competent Crew Course with us or have spent at least 5 days on a yacht acting as an effective crew member.

We strongly recommend that you complete the Day Skipper Shorebased Theory Course first, which will give you the background theory knowledge making the navigation work aboard much easier. You will be required to have assumed knowledge of theory to the level of RYA Day Skipper. Please be aware that the instructor will test you on this level of knowledge. 

Holders of the Day Skipper Certificate, are then eligible to make an application to Irish Sailing to obtain an ICC (International Certificate of Competency).

Sleeping arrangements & berthing port overnight 

We will aim to berth overnight in Dun Laoghaire each evening, so that if you will be free to head off home and re-join the boat in the morning. Alternatively if you are welcome to stay on board if you are not living locally. There will be one late evening sail which will be agreed with the Skipper at the beginning of the week.

We do not supply sleeping bags or sheets for the bunks, we require clients to bring their own sleeping bag and pillow for all courses.

Syllabus

  • Preparation of a yacht for sea
  • Reefing
  • Anchoring
  • Navigation to include
    • Position Fixes
    • Course to Steer
    • Dead reckoning and Estimated Positions
    • Pilotage
  • Interpreting Shipping forecasts
  • International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
  • Basic Engine Maintenance
  • Can handle a yacht under power
  • Can handle a yacht in close quarters under sail

There are two options for the 5-day courses, either Monday to Friday or over two weekends. All courses meet at Dun Laoghaire Marina at 9.30am on first day of course. The finish times of the course each day will vary depending on destinations and weather conditions.

Our cancellation policy for this course can be viewed here.

This course is run in conjunction with the Competent Crew Course.

To make a booking please click here and you will be directed to the Competent Crew Course Booking Page.

Participant Requirements/Knowledge

Participants are recommended to have the following experience, minimium 5 days at sea; 100miles logged, and at least 4 hours at night. You will also be required to have assumed knowledge of theory to the level of RYA Day Skipper, and the instructor will test you on this level of knowledge.

This course is held on board either our Elan 36 ‘Beaufort Venture’ or our First 36 ‘Lula Belle’. Both are 36-foot cruising yachts with 6 berths, full kitchen including stove and fridge, as well as toilet and shower facilities.

We provide foul weather waterproofs from Gill Marine and life jackets.

Day Skipper Practical - Booking through Competent Crew page

Course Date Spaces Left?

Course 5

Monday 3rd April 2023 - Friday 7th April 2023

Places Available

Course 6

Friday 14th April 2023 - Sunday 23rd April 2023

Fully Booked

Course 7

Monday 17th April 2023 - Friday 21st April 2023

Places Available

Course 8

Friday 28th April 2023 - Sunday 7th May 2023

Closed for booking

Course 9

Friday 28th April 2023 - Sunday 7th May 2023

Fully Booked

Course 10

Monday 1st May 2023 - Friday 5th May 2023

Places Available

Course 11

Friday 12th May 2023 - Sunday 21st May 2023

Fully Booked

Course 12

Monday 15th May 2023 - Friday 19th May 2023

Places Available

Course 13

Friday 26th May 2023 - Sunday 4th June 2023

Places Available

Course 14

Monday 29th May 2023 - Friday 2nd June 2023

Places Available

Course 15

Friday 9th June 2023 - Sunday 18th June 2023

Places Available

Course 16

Monday 12th June 2023 - Friday 16th June 2023

Places Available

Course 17

Friday 23rd June 2023 - Sunday 2nd July 2023

Places Available

Course 18

Monday 26th June 2023 - Friday 30th June 2023

Places Available

Course 19

Friday 7th July 2023 - Sunday 16th July 2023

Fully Booked

Course 20

Monday 10th July 2023 - Friday 14th July 2023

Places Available

Course 21

Friday 21st July 2023 - Sunday 30th July 2023

Places Available

Course 22

Monday 24th July 2023 - Friday 28th July 2023

Fully Booked

Course 23

Monday 31st July 2023 - Friday 4th August 2023

Places Available

Course 24

Friday 11th August 2023 - Sunday 20th August 2023

Places Available

Course 25

Monday 14th August 2023 - Friday 18th August 2023

Places Available

Course 26

Friday 25th August 2023 - Sunday 3rd September 2023

Fully Booked

Course 27

Monday 28th August 2023 - Friday 1st September 2023

Places Available

Course 28

Friday 8th September 2023 - Sunday 17th September 2023

Places Available

Course 29

Monday 11th September 2023 - Friday 15th September 2023

Places Available

Course 30

Friday 22nd September 2023 - Sunday 1st October 2023

Places Available

Course 31

Monday 25th September 2023 - Friday 29th September 2023

Places Available

Course 32

Friday 6th October 2023 - Sunday 15th October 2023

Places Available

Course 33

Monday 9th October 2023 - Friday 13th October 2023

Places Available

Course 34

Friday 20th October 2023 - Sunday 29th October 2023

Places Available

Course 35

Monday 23rd October 2023 - Friday 27th October 2023

Places Available

Course 36

Friday 10th November 2023 - Sunday 19th November 2023

Places Available

Course 37

Friday 24th November 2023 - Sunday 3rd December 2023

Places Available

Reviews

star rating  Really lovely staff, super friendly. Would highly recommend the kayak and paddle board rentals! Great with a small group or big group.

megancV1820DD
June 25, 2020

star rating  Very friendly staff and great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend for a day out or lessons. Paddle board and kayak rentals are lots of fun.

Sean
June 1, 2020

star rating  Came here with my mom for a stand up paddle board rental, the staff went above and beyond to be super friendly and the experience was great and good value!

lizzy
July 1, 2020

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