Complete your RYA Competent Crew or RYA Day Skipper on Moosk
book your place
Embark
Disembark
Vessel
Duration
Voyage No
Sun 14-09-2025, 12:00Plymouth, UK
Fri 19-09-2025, 12:00Plymouth, UK
Moosk
5 Nights
MK140925
Take your RYA Competent Crew or RYA Day Skipper on a Traditional two masted yawl over 6 days. Learn all about navigation, pilotage and how to be an effective crew member.
The sailing area is the south Devon and south Cornwall coast, sailing east or west depending on the weather conditions, visiting Salcombe, Dartmouth or Fowey and overnights at anchor in places such as Cawsand, Bigbury bay, Looe, the Yealm and other delightful spots depending on the achievable sailing distance.
Running a joint course offers advantages to everyone. Both beginners looking for their first RYA qualification as Competent Crew, and the more experienced looking to complete their Day Skipper. Those studying for Competent Crew can, if they have the ability, complete sections of the Day Skipper practical syllabus and see what they need to do for the next step up the ladder. Those doing the Day Skipper practical have an enthusiastic crew to work with and you will gain command experience.
Voyage
Vessel
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS FOR BEGINNERS
Earn a RYA certificate that proves you are a Competent Crewmember
Explore the Devon and Cornwall Coast under sail
Learn the skills to move up from dinghies to yachts
Learn how to sail a two masted yawl and gaff rigged classic boats
Transferable skills whether your next vessel is a modern yacht or a tall ship
Learn practical skills from demonstrations and doing
Consolidate existing sailing experience with professional instructors
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS FOR DAY SKIPPERS
Gain an internationally recognised RYA qualification
A chance to actually be the skipper for short passages (under supervision)
Learn how to apply the day skipper theory navigational skills at sea
Tips on doing it all at once – navigation, sailing and crew safety
Improve your leadership skills and the crew’s confidence in you
We want you to develop a love of sailing, and the best way to make a start on any boat is to feel you are a vital and competent part of the crew. On the RYA Competent crew course, you will learn the seamanship skills of steering, setting sails, reefing, and tying knots with conviction! The course is about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing.
The skills you learn will be relevant for modern yachts, but after the RYA Competent Crew course you should also feel at home on traditional boats and tall ships with blocks and tackles.
Please note This is a 6 day course. Minimum age 20yrs (if you’re 18 – 20 years old and would like to complete the Competent Crew course, please get in touch!). Maximum 5 students to one instructor on any RYA course, fully inclusive prices.
Previous experience for the Competent Crew Course: None. You can be a complete beginner that has never stepped on a boat before. It is also good for those who have done a bit of yacht, keel boat or dinghy sailing and want to be sure they have the basics to sail bigger boats where you can go cruising and live on board.
RYA Competent Crew Course Content
You will gain knowledge of sea terms and the parts of a boat, the yacht rigging and sails. Practical experience in sail handling, ropework.
Understanding fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard procedures , emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness.
Taking part in helmsmanship and general duties on board.
Plus learning about manners and customs of the sea, rules of the road, and the use of dinghies.
Your Ability after the course: Able to steer the yacht, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines on board.
RYA Day Skipper
Skippering a boat is fun, and this RYA day skipper course is about taking your first steps towards taking charge, with the safety net of an instructor on board. Everyone will be given a chance to navigate and take control of “Moosk” on short coastal passages. You will also have plenty of practice at coordinating manoeuvres under sail and power, and learning how to cope with emergencies. Learn big boat watch leader skills on deck, and navigational techniques below with GPS and radar and a large chart table.
Successful completion of the RYA day skipper course means you should feel confident enough to tackle short day passages as skipper in tidal waters. It is important that you complete your Day skipper theoretical course before starting your trip in order to make the most of your time afloat practising what you have learnt.
When on your RYA Day Skipper course or Competent Crew, your skipper will help you work towards the parts in the RYA logbook and syllabus. Signing up to this course is by no means a guarantee that you will achieve your Day Skipper or Competent Crew qualification as there are many factors which could affect completion, including weather conditions, student preparation and competence. The crew will try their utmost to work through all of the parts and award you with a certificate at the end to be proud of.
Previous experience required before booking a Day Skipper Course
Sailing experience – a minimum of 5 previous days at sea on a yacht, covering at least 100 miles and 4 night hours.
Navigation and Theory knowledge – It is assumed that you have theoretical knowledge up to the level of ‘Day Skipper Theory’ .
Minimum age – 20yrs – if you’re 18 – 20 years old and would like to complete the Day Skipper course, please get in touch!
Our view at Classic Sailing is that you should be happy tacking and gybing a boat and understand the difference. You need enough wind awareness to trim sails on all points of sailing and steer by the wind, not instruments.
You need a good level of understanding of how to navigate, even if you have not had much chance to put it into practice at sea. The sort of things you will be expected to know will be fixing positions on a chart, working out tidal heights and streams, looking up port information, setting courses to steer, making ‘rules of the road’ decisions based on the COLREGS. If you have experience of this already or have been taught a lot by other sailors, you don’t have to complete a Day Skipper Theory Course to sign up for a Day Skipper Practical Course, but it increases your chances of passing hugely.
You can do a RYA Course in the UK or abroad, but the Devon and Cornwall coast takes some beating for variety, scenery and challenge. Off the coast of South Devon and Cornwall, the water is deep with a few rocky hazards, but none of the complexity of the Solent sand bars and busy shipping. Day Skippers can can dip into more challenging pilotage when you enter the ports and estuaries.
Whether you are at beginner level or learning to be the skipper or navigator, this coastline will give you a broad education. The courses are about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing.
Start & End Port
Plymouth, UK
There are several marina docks in Plymouth.
For Pegasus, Johanna Lucretia and Moosk: Please meet at “the Hanger Car Park” in Plymouth Yacht Haven car park, Turnchapel. PL9 9XH (See below for directions – Parking in the marina is free.)
For Grayhound: voyages will start from Mayflower Marina, Richmond Walk. If it is any different you will be informed by the skipper before the day of arrival. She is often the only wooden masted ship in this harbour, so it will be easy to spot her three black masts. Address: Richmond Walk, Plymouth PL1 4LS. – see info below.
Mayflower Marina – for Grayhound
Mayflower Marina is to the west of the city centre, and has some long pontoons so is often used for our larger vessels. It is only about a 10 minute taxi from Plymouth Railway Station. There is secure parking within the marina for a daily parking fee.
MARINA ACCESS & ON SITE CAR PARKING
Vehicular access to the marina is restricted by a car park barrier, there is a card reader / intercom pedestal. If you do not have an access fob please follow the instructions on the intercom pedestal.
Car park charges are two hours free then £1 for 1 hour over the free period, £2 for 2 hours over the free period and then £5 for up to 22 hours after the free period. It is requested that the owners of parked cars leave their keys in the marina office in case the car has to be moved for operational reasons.
Plymouth Yacht Haven /Mountbatten Marina / Turnchapel – for Pegasus, Moosk and Johanna Lucretia
This marina has had several changes of name over the years so you may find skippers referring to it as Turnchapel / Mountbatten Marina – Allow at least 25 minutes to get from A38 Marsh Mills Roundabout Plymouth city centre exit road to Turnchapel by car. It does have FREE long term parking in the marina.
If you are travelling by public transport the most direct route is a 10 minute yellow ferry (foot passengers only) from the Barbican Pub straight to Mountbatten next to Plymouth Yacht Haven. A taxi ride all the way around the Plym estuary would be quite expensive. See Mountbatten Ferry website for ferry mobile phone or enquiries www.mountbattenferry.co.uk
The postcode for Sat Nav users is PL9 9XH /Google maps
Directions:
Turn left off A38 at Marsh Mills roundabout onto A374 signed Plymouth City Centre.
After 1 1/4 mile get into left hand lane and follow signs for Kingsbridge A379.
This takes you across Laira Bridge where you will see the first signs for Mount Batten and Turnchapel.
After crossing the Laira Bridge, at the first roundabout turn right.
At the next roundabout (mini) take the second exit, cross pedestrian lights, and continue straight on until traffic lights at crossroads.
Turn right and then go straight through a second set of lights.
Keep on this road (for approx 1 1/2 miles) until you come to a roundabout.
All Meals, Cooked Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments throughout the day.
What's Not Included
Travel to and from the start and end port.
You need to bring a sleeping bag
Optional trips or tours taken ashore
Meals ashore
Alcoholic Beverages
For RYA Day Skipper you will need to bring a passport sized ID photo in preparation for your RYA Certificate.
What to bring
A sleeping bag.
A big soft bag, no suitcases please!
Pyjamas
2 pairs of warm trousers
2 long sleeve t-shirts
2 light sweatshirts or similar
A fleece jacket
Plenty of underwear and socks
Warm hat and ordinary gloves
Wellies or waterproof boots
A pair of trainers
Swimming kit (if appropriate)
Glasses or contact lenses
Anti seasickness tablets
Wash kit and towel
RYA logbook if you have one
Sun cream and Sunglasses
Review
Day Skipper Course Review
Very knowledgeable skipper who took the time (with enthusiasm) to impart his knowledge of passage making, pilotage, weather etc.
Night Sailing during a Day Skipper course on Moosk
Anonymous happy customer- July 2023
RYA Courses
What was the best bit?
Everyday there was something to learn and practice
What was the worst bit?
Going home
Why do you sail?
I love the feeling of the wind pushing the sails and being surrounded by traditional design. Learning the ropes and exploring the outdoors is my passion and if there’s wildlife involved I’m in heaven!!
Any other comments
Ollie is an extremely talented instructor. His temperament, knowledge and sense of fun, adventure and humour kept us all motivated. He never made me feel silly for getting things wrong or asking too many questions and I felt very safe at all times. - Jennifer F. RYA course in April.
Credit to Jennifer F on Moosk
Yachtmaster Course Review
The instructor Dom was fantastic he had so much energy, we were usually going from 8 am to 10pm as the syllabus is so big and he was always enthusiastic and feeding us bits of info at any opportunity. He had a good method of demonstrating first and then explaining and he was very good at giving useful feedback. Moosk is a good boat for this course as she’s small and manageable (at least compared to what Kathryn and I are more used to). The food was plentiful and Ollie the skipper was incredibly knowledgeable. I’d recommend this prep week to anyone interested in doing the YM especially if they are more familiar with traditional boats or a gaff rig rather than plastic boats.
Edwardian yawl Moosk in action and images. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.
