FOD RYA Sail Cruising Scheme
RYA & FOD Recognised Centre
Safe and responsible sailing: your journey, our mission.
Sailing courses on the North Sea – from Start Yachting to Yachtmaster.
We partner with C-Masters , meet C-Masters at boot Düsseldorf 17–25 January
We will be making further adjustments to our website in the coming days.
RYA Day Skipper (DS)
“All certificates are issued via C-Masters.”
RYA Day Skipper is a practical 5-day liveaboard course that introduces you to the responsibilities of skippering with confidence. You’ll learn how to skipper short coastal passages, taking charge of both your crew and your yacht under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
During the course, you will take command of the vessel under sail and engine, practising effective teamwork manoeuvres, navigation, pilotage, and boat handling in real day-time sailing conditions. Step by step, you’ll build the confidence, leadership, and seamanship skills needed to skipper a yacht safely.
This course bridges the gap between competent crew and skipper, preparing you to safely plan and lead day passages with confidence.
Duration: 5 days (during weekdays or a weekend)
Location: Nieuwpoort (Belgium) or Kortgene (Zeeland, the Netherlands)
Students: typically 3, exceptional 4
Assumed knowledge: Your knowledge of IRPCS, navigation and meteorology must be at the standard of the RYA Day Skipper shorebased theory course or equivalent course.
Previous experience: You should already know how to sail and have logged;
5 days aboard a yacht
100 nautical miles
4 night hours
Language: English
Learn how to prepare the yacht and crew for sea, including victualling, watch planning, safety briefings, and managing daily life on board during coastal passages.
Learn to plan and skipper short coastal passages.
Experience being in charge of the yacht, managing your crew, communication, and teamwork while sailing and executing manoeuvres during day-time.
Develop confident yacht handling under sail and engine, including manoeuvring, preparing the yacht for sea, reefing, and routine maintenance and checks.
Learn the rules of the road, basic meteorology and weather forecasting, diesel engine checks, emergency procedures (including MOB recovery), and night cruising.
Take charge of your sailing future.
The RYA Day Skipper qualification gives you the confidence and skills to skipper a yacht safely, whether coastal cruising or chartering abroad. From passage planning and navigation to boat handling and crew management, you’ll be ready to take responsibility on board — in familiar waters or new horizons like the Mediterranean and the North Sea.