RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Theory Course
Master advanced navigation, weather, and passage planning — and prepare for Yachtmaster level.
This course takes your knowledge beyond Day Skipper and gives you the theoretical skills required to safely plan and navigate coastal and offshore passages by day and night.
At a glance
Who this course is for
- Day Skipper level sailors
- Skippers preparing for Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster
- Anyone wanting to improve navigation and decision-making
Requires knowledge to Day Skipper Theory level.
What this course is
This is an advanced navigation and seamanship course designed to prepare you for:
- Coastal Skipper Practical
- Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore exams
It brings your knowledge to the level required for longer and more demanding passages.
What you’ll learn
You’ll develop deeper knowledge in:
- Advanced chartwork and position fixing
- Passage planning for coastal & offshore routes
- Tidal streams, heights, and secondary ports
- Meteorology and weather systems
- Electronic navigation (GPS, chartplotters)
- Pilotage in complex situations
- Rules of the road (COLREGs)
- Safety and passage decision-making
The course builds on Day Skipper and goes into much greater depth and complexity.
Training & assessment
- ~40 hours of structured learning
- Classroom or online options
- Exercises based on real navigation scenarios
- Written exams (navigation + theory)
Designed to ensure you can apply knowledge in real sailing situations.
What you gain
After completing the course, you will:
Be able to plan coastal and offshore passages
Understand advanced navigation and weather decisions
Be prepared for:
Coastal Skipper Practical
Yachtmaster exams
This is the theory level required for serious and advanced sailing.
Why it matters
At this level, sailing is about precision and decision-making.
This course gives you the knowledge to handle:
- Longer passages
- More complex conditions
- Greater responsibility as skipper