• RYA Start Yachting
• RYA Competent Crew
• RYA Day Skipper
• RYA Coastal Skipper
• RYA Yachtmaster® preparation and exam
• ICC (International Certificate of Competence).
• On-line theory courses in conjuction with Navathome. Click Here. for free trial
  
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**Great value**......These are the benefits of our courses:

• Instructor/pupil ratio to 4:1, giving you 25% more personal instruction time compared with the usual 5:1 ratio. This enables us to give you a better quality of service and a more relaxed and thorough course. Additionally, for a reasonable premium, we run selected courses with a 3:1 instructor/pupil ratio, giving even more time for personal instruction and helming practice.
• Your instructor will* be John Challener, a Yachtmaster® Instructor with over 40 years sailing experience, and 8 years instructing RYA courses, both theory and practical. (a 'Cruising Instructor' is qualified to instruct up to Day Skipper level, whereas a Yachtmaster® Instructor is more experienced and is qualified to instruct up to Yachtmaster® level. At a typical sailing school you will have a less experienced 'Cruising Instructor' for Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses, but with Christchurch Yachting you will* have the added benefit of the experience and qualifications of a 'Yachtmaster® Instructor' for all courses.
• All food for the course duration is included, apart from the first evening. Many other schools exclude some dinners meaning that you have to go to a pub or restaurant at your own expense.
• All berthing fees are included. (which can be up to £40 per night).
• We offer spinnaker training free of charge, even though this is not part of the RYA course syllabus.
• Our training yacht has a heater, this makes a big difference in the colder months!
• Discounts of 5% for booking 2 or 3 people, 10% for 4 people.
• South coast location with both the excellent training ground of the Solent and opportunity of 65-mile channel crossings.
• Price guarantee: if you book with us and subsequently find a course of equivalent quality with a lower standard price we will refund the difference. I am confident that our courses give outstanding value.
  
  * All courses are planned with John Challener as instructor, however this is not guaranteed, for example due to unexpected illness.

Ladies-only courses are available for group bookings of 4 ladies.

Theory courses:

RYA Day Skipper shorebased

RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased


On-line home study theory courses run in conjuction with Navathome and with Christchurch Yachting instructor support by phone or email. For a free trial and to sample the quality of the on-line course material:
Click Here.

• Course booklets, books and CD's

  RYA practical course Descriptions: During all of these practical courses (apart from ICC and Start Yachting) you will live aboard the yacht for 5 days, and sail at least 100 miles and log a minimum of 4 night hours. There will be a maximum of 4 students.

  RYA Start Yachting: The Start Yachting 2-day course is for beginners and those who would like to learn basic seamanship. The course provides a short introduction to sail cruising for novices. By the end of the course, participants will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board. A further 3-day course can be taken at a later date to gain the Competent Crew certificate. There is no minimum age.

  RYA Competent Crew: The Competent Crew 5-day course is for beginners and those who would like to learn basic seamanship and become active crew members. There is no pre-course knowledge or experience necessary. This course can be taken as 5 consecutive days, 2-day plus 3-day weekends, or 3 weekends. There is no minimum age.

  RYA Day Skipper (Tidal): The Day Skipper 5-day course of navigation and seamanship is widely recognised and necessary for bareboat charterers. It gives you a chance to take charge on short passages under instruction with plenty of advice and help from the instructor. Designed for tidal waters. Ideal for persons with basic navigation and sailing ability and who have spent at least 5 days at sea (including 4 night hours) and have logged 100 miles. By the end of the course you should be able to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. Age limit 16 or over. This course can be taken as 5 consecutive days, 2-day plus 3-day weekends, or 3 weekends.

  RYA Day Skipper tidal conversion: The purpose of this course is to convert a non-tidal certificate to a tidal certificate. During this practical course you will live aboard the yacht for 2 days. There will normally be a maximum of 4 students.
  Due to the complexity of the conversion, some students may require more than two days to achieve the tidal course certificate. A tidal certificate will be issued on successful completion of the conversion.

  RYA Coastal Skipper (Tidal): The Coastal Skipper 5-day advanced skippering course is for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation and are usually aspiring towards a Certificate of Competence. Designed for Tidal waters. Aimed at persons with navigation experience to Coastal Skipper shorebased standard and sailing experience to Day Skipper practical standard. Ideally you will also have spent 15 days at sea (2 days as skipper) logging 300 miles including 8 night hours. By the end of the course you should be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. Age limit 17 or over. This course must be taken as 5 consecutive days

  RYA Coastal Skipper tidal conversion: The purpose of this course is to convert a non-tidal certificate to a tidal certificate. During this practical course you will live aboard the yacht for 2 days. There will normally be a maximum of 4 students.
  Due to the complexity of the conversion, some students may require more than two days to achieve the tidal course certificate. A tidal certificate will be issued on successful completion of the conversion.

  Yachtmaster® Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence - Preparation and Examination. This is a 5-day preparation course, including a 1-day examination, leading to a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster® Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence. An independent approved RYA examiner carries out the examination. Pre-requisites: 30 days at sea (2 days as skipper) logging 800 miles including 12 night hours; Marine radio SRC and First Aid certificates. Age limit 17 or over.

  Yachtmaster® Offshore Certificate of Competence - Preparation and Examination. This is a 5-day preparation course, including a 1-day examination, leading to a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster® Offshore Certificate of Competence. This course prepares you for the RYA/MCA examination where candidates have to demonstrate their ability as skipper on an offshore cruising yacht and answer questions on any part of the syllabus for all courses (except Yachtmaster® Ocean). An independent approved RYA examiner carries out the examination. The course is aimed at people with substantial sailing ability and experience, including 50 days at sea (5 days as skipper), 2,500 miles, five passages over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Other Pre-requisites: SRC and First Aid certificates. Age limit 18 or over.

  International Certificate of Competence (ICC). Basic requirement for some overseas sailing. A half-day practical and theory assessment for persons who have a level of sailing ability equal to Day Skipper or above, but without formal RYA qualifications.

  CEVNI.(European Inland Waterways Regulations). This certificate is a mandatory requirement for using inland waterways abroad, and consists of a short theory examination on the regulations.

  RYA Shorebased course descriptions:
  (all these courses can be done either in a classroom at Christchurch or at home using our on-line course in conjuction with Navathome.)

  RYA Essential Safety and Navigation course:
  This Course is suitable for Beginners, Powerboaters, Sea Anglers, Divers, Boatmasters, Advanced Dinghy/Keelboat & Inshore Racers, and is ideal preparation for the RYA Day Skipper theory course. This course duration is 2 days or 16 hours. All students will receive a chart, questions, CD and a plotter.
  
  Course Syllabus will include: -
  Ø Charts & Publications
  Ø Safety – Engine Checks
  Ø Bouyage
  Ø Tidal Awareness
  Ø Visual Navigation & Pilotage
  Ø Rules of the Road
  Ø Electronic Navigation
  Ø Weather
  Ø Anchoring
  Ø Passage Planning
  
  RYA Day Skipper: This is an elementary course in basic seamanship, navigation and meteorology, suitable for beginners and people with little experience in cruising yachts or motor cruisers. The course gives skippers enough knowledge to take charge of a boat and navigate around familiar waters by day. Duration: 40 hours plus exams. We run the course over 5 days in a classroom at Christchurch, or as a correspondence course.

• RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore: A more advanced course for students who have already completed the Day Skipper course, or skippers who have a background of sailing, motor cruising or offshore racing experience, and which takes them up to the theory knowledge required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Practical Examination. This course is not for beginners. Duration: 40 hours plus exams. We run the course over 5 days in a classroom at Christchurch..

  RYA Yachtmaster Ocean: A course in astro navigation and worldwide meteorology and passage planning, which also unravels the mysteries of the sextant. A more advanced course for students who have coastal and offshore sailing experience, and navigation theory to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased standard. Course content includes Astro-navigation, ocean meteorology and passage planning. Ability after course: Have the background knowledge to skipper a yacht on ocean passages, understanding how to plan and navigate an ocean passage. Duration: 40 hours plus exams.

  RYA course Joining Instructions (practical courses):

  What to bring with you: Sleeping bag and pillow. Gloves, hat, scarf, warm layers of clothing, towel and wash things. Sunglasses and sun lotion, personal torch.
  Clean soft-soled deck shoes, or trainers with white or non-marking soles, to change into at the yacht. Good grip is essential, as surfaces can be slippery when wet.
  Personal Logbook (RYA G15). This gives the syllabus for the courses and provides space to log your sailing experience and to attach your course certificates. Available for £5 from the RYA, or chandlers, or from us - add to booking form if required.
  Sailing waterproofs - must be good quality, preferably proper sailing jacket & trousers. They can be hired from us at £15 per 2 or 3-day course, or £20 per 5-day course – please add to booking form if required.
  Wellies - sailing wellies, not essential in the summer, but in the winter your feet will get very cold if there is rain or spray. They can be hired from us at £5 per 2 or 3-day course, or £10 per 5-day course - please add to booking form if required. (subject to availability).
  Storage space on-board is limited, so please pack in soft bags - no suitcases or wheels. Please minimise your bag size - most beginners bring far more kit than they need.
  Insurance to cover cancellation and medical costs - Channel Islands are not covered by NHS. For 5-day cross-channel courses: Passport, NHS E111 card for medical cover in France.

  Accommodation is included on-board and you may have to share a cabin. If you are prone to seasickness or travel sickness, or inexperienced, then we recommend taking seasickness tablets before arriving. (note: some tablets need to be taken 2 hours before sailing)

  A copy of the RYA course booklet will be available to read on-board. If you would like your own copy please add £10 to the booking form.
  Personal travel insurance for cancellation, medical, and personal injury etc. is strongly recommended. If you do not have a current policy that covers sailing, then this can be obtained over the phone with Bishop Skinner on 020 7566 5800, Contact: Tracey Stebbings.

  All food is included in the price, except the first evening, so please eat before arriving or bring sandwiches to eat on-board. Meals are available to purchase at the Captains Club Hotel.
  Please advise dietary requirements in advance. (vegetarian, allergies, strong dislikes, etc)
  Tea and coffee is included in the price. Please bring bottled water or other drinks if you prefer.
  

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