Plymouth Sailing School and Plymouth Powerboating

If you’ve ever felt the irresistible pull of the sea or simply wanted to master a new skill, Level 1: RYA Start Sailing is the perfect first step. This course provides an initial introduction to sailing, covering all the basics and key information to help you get afloat. By the end of the course, you’ll have a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and background knowledge, able to sail the boat in all directions.

This practical course is a great way to get a feel for sailing and will teach you the fundamentals of how to steer a yacht under power, raise the sails, and handle ropes. This 2-day course assumes no previous experience, so it’s open to anyone over 16 years old or younger if accompanied by an adult. RYA Start Yachting will introduce you to the joys of sailing a cruising yacht.

Mastering the skills needed to sail can boost your confidence, enhance your problem-solving abilities, and provide a tremendous sense of accomplishment. The RYA Cruising Level 2 course is designed to build on the basics of sailing, creating a solid foundation of practical skills and knowledge. The course covers yacht handling and sailing in more detail with lots of practical teaching and boat handling.

RYA Competent Crew is the essential starting point for your RYA training. The course introduces absolute beginners to the delights of sailing aboard a cruising yacht. Making it ideal for passengers wishing to become active crew members.

Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll be able to safely take charge of a 30-45ft sail cruising yacht and its crew on day trips in familiar waters. The Day Skipper qualification shows charter companies that you have enough knowledge and practical experience to take their boats out safely, and also qualifies you to apply for an ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft) to go cruising abroad. During the course you’ll live onboard a sail cruising yacht with your crewmates and RYA instructor.

With an emphasis on coastal and offshore passages by day and night, the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course delves into the complexities of skippering a yacht. Designed to push your practical sailing skills to the next level, this course aims to prepare you for more challenging conditions and scenarios on the water. As a purely practical course with a minimum duration of 5 days, you’ll cover everything from passage planning to emergency procedures.