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RYA practical sail training courses

Greek Sails & our sister company Poros Yachting Academy run practical RYA sail training courses up to Yachtmaster preparation.

We typically spread our 5 day courses over 6 days, allowing you more time and the opportunity to enjoy the sun & location while you also learn.

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RYA practical sail training courses

Sailing course enquiry Ask us about our RYA & non-RYA sail training courses around the Greek islands - arrow button

The RYA define a wide range of courses related to sailing, power boating and other topics associated with enjoying the water. The details here are just of the courses relating to sail training.

Start Yachting sailing course

This course provides a short introduction to sail cruising for novices. By the end of the course, you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board. The Start Yachting course is, in effect, the first 2 days of the Competent Crew course.

Please note that as most of our courses are 6 days long if you take this course we cannot guarantee that you will disembark the training boat on Poros Island.

Start Yachting sailing course details
Previous experience required: None
Duration of course: 2 days
Recommended reading: RYA Competent crew handbook (ref CCPCN)
RYA details on the Start Yachting sailing course details

RYA Competent Crew sailing course

This course will teach you how to be a competent crew member of a cruising yacht. With successful completion of the course you will be able to steer (helm) the yacht under sail and power, understand the principles of sailing and points of sail, sail trim, safety routines such as ‘man over board’, understand knots and rope-work, row a dinghy and generally safely contribute to daily routines.

This is the ideal course for novices and for dinghy sailors who want to start sailing on cruising yachts and provides an excellent foundation to your sail training.

Children over 9 can be awarded a Competent Crew certificate, whilst learning to sail in such an attractive and warm environment is a pleasant holiday in its own right.

RYA Competent Crew sailing course details
Previous experience required: None
Duration of course: 5 day course spread over 6 days
Recommended reading: RYA Competent crew handbook (ref CCPCN)
RYA details on the Competent Crew sailing course

RYA Day Skipper sailing course

This course is for those who already have some sailing experience and knowledge of navigation, and wish to progress to skipper level. The course provides a good foundation for you to safely and confidently skipper a cruising yacht, skipper a flotilla yacht and is recognised by charter companies in Greece and elsewhere.

On this course you will learn to skipper a yacht safely in familiar waters. In addition to boat handling and pilotage, the emphasis is on giving you experience of being in charge. You will be asked to skipper the yacht on a short passage, with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement. The course also covers preparation of a yacht for sea, yacht handling under sail and power, navigation, pilotage and passage making, rules of the road, emergency situations, meteorology and basic boat maintenance.

As we are in Greece, you will get plenty of practice in techniques like ‘Med mooring’ (stern-to mooring) so you will be able to moor safely and competently and look professional when you bring your own boat into the quay.

RYA Day Skipper sailing course details
Previous experience required: 5 days / 100 miles, including 4 night hours. This experience should have been in the form of active participation in the sailing of a similar sized yacht - ideally a Competent Crew course.
Theoretical knowledge: RYA Day Skipper shorebased or equivalent level from experience/self study. For students requiring additional assistance with areas of the shorebased/theory course, some extra tuition can be given, but this is no substitute for being properly prepared before you arrive on Poros.
Duration of course: 5 day course spread over 6 days
Recommended reading:
RYA details on the Day Skipper sailing course

RYA Coastal Skipper sailing course

This sailing course is for experienced skippers only. This is an advanced course for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation. You will learn the skills needed to skipper a yacht safely, by day or night, throughout the Mediterranean and other waters. As well as advanced boat-handling under power and sail, dealing with heavy weather passage planning and pilotage, at least one long night passage will be undertaken.

RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper examinations for those who have successfully completed the practical course and have the appropriate theory certificates can be arranged.

As we are in Greece, you will get plenty of practice in techniques like ‘Med mooring’ (stern-to mooring) so you will be able to moor safely and competently and look professional when you bring your own boat into the quay.

RYA Coastal Skipper sailing course details
Previous experience required: 15 days (2 days as skipper) / 300 miles, including 8 night hours. Ideally you should hold a day skipper certificate.
Theoretical knowledge: Successful completion of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased or equivalent course. For students requiring additional assistance with areas of the shorebased course, some extra tuition can be given, but this is no substitute for being properly prepared before you arrive on Poros.
Duration of course: 5 day course spread over 6 days
Recommended reading:
RYA details on the Coastal Skipper sailing course

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore preparation

At Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore the process of courses changes. Instead of completing a course, you are instead required to undergo independant examination by an RYA examiner who has taken no part in your training. The assessments lasts from one to two days depending upon how many are on the yacht and are being examined.

Typically there may be four or five on a yacht and the exam will last two days with each ‘student’ being assigned tasks to complete, ranging from practical sailing exercises to re-sitting Yachtmaster theory exam papers or simply answering the examiner’s off-the-cuff questions.

This sailing course is for experienced skippers only and you will need considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation prior to starting. The course is split into 4� days training and 1� days of examination and recovery! The training will cover boat handling, navigation, pilotage, safety with an emphasis on crew and yacht management.

The course is specifcially designed for advanced sailors preparing to take the RYA/MCA exams for a Certificate of Competence; either Yachtermaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore, and is to designed help prepapre you for the challenges and questions you will be given by the examiner. It is in effect an advanced coaching session.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore preparation course details
Previous experience required: For Yachtmaster Coastal: 30 days seatime, 2 as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours, VHF (restricted) license, First Aid certificate, or if Coastal Skipper practical has been completed, as above except; 20 days seatime, 400 miles

For Yachtmaster Offshore: 50 days seatime, 5 as skipper, 2,500 miles, 5 passages over 60nm including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper, VHF (restricted) license, First Aid certificate
Theoretical knowledge: No formal requirement, however, candidates may be required to complete papers & exercises from RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased examinations during the completion of their Certificate of Competence examination.
Duration of course: 4� days training and 1� days of examination
Recommended reading:
RYA advice on how to pass your Yachtmaster exam

Send an enquiry about RYA practical sail training courses in the sun with Greek Sails


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All ages can learn to sail with Greek Sails...although formal qualifications do impose age restrictions
All ages can learn to sail...although formal qualifications do impose age restrictions!
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