Day Skipper Practical Course – Split Weekend Format

Looking to achieve your RYA Day Skipper qualification but struggling to commit to a full week? Our Split Weekend Day Skipper Practical Course is designed to give you maximum flexibility while delivering the same high-quality training and hands-on experience.

Run over 2 weekends from our base at Portland Marina, this course allows you to build your skills progressively, giving you time between sessions to reflect, consolidate knowledge, and return with confidence.

Current Available dates are:

2/3/4 & 9/10 May 2026

27/28 June & 4/5/6 July 2026

5/6/7 & 12/13 Sept 2026

3/4/5 & 10/11 Oct 2026

Our 5-day RYA Day Skipper Practical course is ideal for sailors with some previous experience and basic navigation knowledge (such as the Day Skipper Theory or equivalent). Training takes place aboard our well-equipped performance yacht, giving you the perfect balance of hands-on practice and real-world seamanship.

During the course, you’ll learn to:

✅ Plan and execute short coastal passages by day

✅ Handle the yacht under sail and power in a variety of conditions

✅ Navigate using charts, tides, and electronic aids

✅ Understand the “rules of the road” and collision regulations (IRPCS)

✅ Manage crew, mooring, anchoring, and safety procedures

You’ll also spend nights on board, building confidence in living afloat and skippering as part of a small, supportive crew. On successful completion, you’ll be awarded the RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate, allowing you to charter yachts and skipper safely in familiar waters. With the Day Skipper Practical certificate you will also be able to obtain an ICC (international Certificate of Competance) from the RYA which many Charter companies require.

With small group sizes and RYA-qualified instructors, we ensure plenty of personal coaching and hands-on experience — giving you the practical confidence to take charge of your own adventures. We generally operate a 3:1 ratio, students to instructor. If you are a group or a Family we will operate upto 5:1 by special request.