What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- RYA Coastal Skipper practical course certificate (5 days, RYA recognised centre), on top of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory
- Minimum age 17 (indicative, verify current RYA guidance)
Basic STCW
- Not required for recreational use; with commercial endorsement, a medical (ENG1/ML5) and safety courses are required by the MCA
Specific courses
- RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory: navigation, tides, COLREGs and meteorology
- RYA Marine Radio SRC (VHF/DSC) and RYA First Aid; RYA Basic Sea Survival recommended
- For commercial endorsement: the RYA PPR (Professional Practices and Responsibilities) online course
Indicative experience
Indicative entry requirements for the practical course: 15 days at sea (2 as skipper), 300 miles and 8 night hours (verify current RYA minima). To later sit the Yachtmaster Coastal exam: 30 days at sea, 2 as skipper, 800 miles and 12 night hours (indicative).
Observations
RYA progression route: Day Skipper → Coastal Skipper → Yachtmaster Coastal → Yachtmaster Offshore → Yachtmaster Ocean. Important nuance: it is a course certificate, not an examination — the examined ticket is the Yachtmaster, with an independent examiner. With MCA commercial endorsement it allows paid work on vessels within the scheme's limits (indicative: up to 24 m and 20 miles from a safe haven — verify the applicable MSN). In Spain it does not automatically convert into the PER/PY.
What this role does
Advanced level of the RYA cruising scheme: skippers coastal passages of several days, by day and night, with full planning of tides, weather and routes. The 5-day practical course requires prior experience (indicative: 15 days at sea, 2 as skipper, 300 miles and 8 night hours) and Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster level theory. It is the natural step before the Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore exams, and can be commercially endorsed with the MCA.
Typical watches
- Coast guards day and night
Key responsibilities
- Advanced coastal piloting and navigation with night watches.
- Safety management and decision-making on multi-day passages.
- Planning of tides, meteorology and coastal routes.
Operational scope
- Advanced coastal navigation
- Day/night operation
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.