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 designed for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and navigation / theory skills to the standard of the Day Skipper Theory Shorebased Course.

Learn to take full responsibility for the yacht and its crew. You will 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.

Pre-Requisites

To qualify for this course:

  • You must have taken the Competent Crew Course with us or have spent at least 5 days on a yacht acting as an effective crew member.
  • Have navigation and theory knowledge to Day Skipper Shorebased Theory level, either by completing the Theory Course and passing the assessment or by knowledge and ability self-taught/learned in other ways. Please be aware that the instructor will test you on this level of knowledge. Without this you cannot successfully complete the Day Skipper Practical course.

Once candidates have successfully completed this course, they will receive a certificate and be eligible to apply to Irish Sailing for an ICC (International Certificate of Competency), which is recognised in many countries as evidence of competence to skipper a small vessel in coastal waters.

Sleeping arrangements & berthing port overnight 

We will aim to berth overnight in Dun Laoghaire each evening, so that 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.

Reviews

star rating  I have just done the RYA Competent Crew course here, five-days aboard the 36-foot Beaufort Venture under the guidance of instructor Gary Curran. The whole week surpassed my expectations, and... read more

PatrickKinsella
July 1, 2017

star rating  Firstly, Jess (our instructor) was amazing! I was a bit nervous starting this course as I didn't know what to expect but Jess made it so easy to understand everything... read more

1V426
September 12, 2022

star rating  My 12 year old goes to Saturday sailing club after doing summer camp. He’s hooked and absolutely loves it! The instructors are great and very good with the kids -... read more

Gary C
October 8, 2022

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