RYA sailing courses

Work your way up the ladder of RYA sailing courses and qualifications – both theory and practical

Recognised RYA Training Centre for over 20 years.

Classic Sailing has been a recognised RYA Training Centre since 2003. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses we offer are the cruising scheme courses, rather than dinghy training because we like to live on big boats and go exploring. Classic Sailing were one of the first RYA sailing schools to offer courses for adults on classic yachts with bowsprits and traditional rigging.

44ft pilot cutter Tallulah is our latest RYA teaching vessel. She is based in Cornwall offering practical sail cruising courses including RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper Practical in a stunning tidal sailing location. Classic Sailing can also offer exam preparation courses (Yachtmaster Prep) for those who want to take the exam on a long keeled vessel.

Our RYA Practical Courses – Taught at sea on yachts 30-48ft

There is a progression through the RYA cruising scheme courses from beginner through to day skipper, coastal, offshore and ocean skippers. Even if you have sailed a bit before, or started with dinghies, the Competent Crew course is an comprehensive ‘hands-on’ course worth doing. It will give you a solid base of good seamanship, safety awareness and that sailing language that will turn you into a useful crew member that can fit in on any type of yacht or tall ship.

Whilst Day Skipper appears the next step, there are many rungs on the ladder between the 2 courses. The Day Skipper Practical Course only has a pre requiste of 5 days previous sailing experience and equivalent knowledge or completion of a RYA Day Skipper Theory course, but it is a significant step up from your Competent Crew Course. We have a worldwide choice of sailing experiences to build up your skills before you might want to try out your skipper skills. If you are in a hurry – click below….

Other Boat Related Skills

In addition to our RYA courses which follow a set syllabus, Classic Sailing offers a tantalising choice of voyages where you can learn more informally, whilst on a sailing holiday or courses on specific skills like boat building, small boat camping, small boat handling under oar and sail, maritime art and photography, wellbeing at sea, polar expedition training and much more.

RYA Theory Courses: Delivered Online

We offer the full range of RYA theory courses that you can do at home. They are delivered on line, or with a course pack you can work through with charts, chart plotter simulators and on line tutors to help. We currently use a specialist company rather than run these ourselves because the instructors are teaching classroom navigation and related topics to high levels – all year around. Classic Sailing skippers and professional crew can help you apply those skills when you come sailing with us.