The sea is one of the most powerful and dangerous forces not yet tamed by man. Most believe it never will be, yet since our earliest days we have sailed the seas with crafts of various design; all in order to tame the savage beast. This spirit of adventure still lives on in us today, but we have since learned to treat the sea with a healthy dose of respect. Over the years we have gathered invaluable tips and tricks in order to charter yachts of ever-increasing sophistication and design. However, the yacht itself is only as safe as the skipper who charters it, and for this reason our modern skippers belong to sailing schools and boast various certificates of competence like the one earned after completing the RYA Day Skipper Course, for instance.
The Royal Yachting Society (RYA) has been around, in one form or another, since 1875 and their Certificates of Competence are highly sought after by many aspiring skippers. Even though there are many RYA courses and certificates available, the RYA Day Skipper Certification is a good stepping stone for any aspirant skipper. Many yacht charter schools offer RYA Day Course Certificate training, where you will learn practical skills that enable you to safely sail in both tidal and non-tidal waters.
In order to register for RYA Day Skipper training, you will first need some sailing experience like a basic sailing course and a basic knowledge of skippering theory and navigation. Most sailing schools usually require 100 miles logged, 5 days aboard, and 4 night hours. They also require basic theoretical knowledge up to the RYA Day Skipper shore based level.
During sailing training sessions, students skipper yachts for short stints at a time, under the watchful eye of a certified professional instructor. The students live aboard the yacht for the duration of the day course training, and will practice piloting techniques by mooring at various harbours. Even though the RYA Day Skipper Course equips students to pilot yachts during the day, most schools will also throw some night sailing into the mix, in order to give the students some experience with piloting in the dark. Since the day skipper will be totally responsible for the management of the yacht, students will be trained for various eventualities ranging from preparing the yacht for the sea, to meteorology.
Obtaining a RYA Day Skipper Certificate furthermore allows you to apply for the Intentional Certificate of Competence (ICC). This certificate is required by most European countries as validation of your competence, and qualifies you to charter and own a boat of your own. The ICC represents a minimum level of competence in navigation, collision avoidance and helmsmanship. The ICC is obtained simply by presenting your RYA Day Skipper certificate, and allows you to charter yachts up to 24 meters in length in coastal waters.
So why wait to embrace your inner seaman and partake in exiting nautical adventures? Contact your local Yacht Charter School and book an appointment for a RYA Day Skipper Course, and you will be chartering yachts on the high seas before you know it.