RYA Sailing Courses - Novice to Cruiser on Big Boats

All in one glorious week in the British Virgin Islands

Offshore Sailing School’s RYA sailing courses are available throughout the year at our British Virgin Islands campus. RYA Sailing courses run Sunday through Saturday – aboard 43’-50’ yachts supplied by The Moorings – a long-time partner of Offshore Sailing School and the most prestigious charter company in the world. No more than four students learn and live together during a RYA sailing course.

In many parts of the world beyond U.S. and Caribbean borders, a certificate or license to charter is required.  The RYA Sail Cruising and Yachtmaster® Scheme, with 2200 schools in its system, is the training standard for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia.

It is no small feat to be certified by RYA to teach its RYA Sailing programs. Offshore Sailing School is one of only two United States sailing schools recognized to teach RYA sailing courses. What does this mean for you?

You can start as a novice on big boats

During this six-day course in the British Virgin Islands, everyone aboard learns at their own skill level and goals – even if you have no sailing experience before you start. The course is taught aboard a Moorings 434 or larger yacht. It is not available on catamarans.

When you enroll, you choose which level you wish to achieve. Competent Crew and Day Skipper can be taken at the same time by different people aboard the boat, during the same course period. This is ideal for family members or couples where one parent or spouse prefers the leadership role and the other(s) want to excel at being very good supportive crew aboard.

Competent Crew covers basic seamanship and helmsmanship, similar to Offshore Sailing School’s popular Learn to Sail course but taught completely aboard a large cruising yacht. No prerequisite or knowledge of sailing is required. You’ll earn Competent Crew Practical recognition and the skills and knowledge to be a valuable crew member.

Day Skipper covers basic piloting, boat handling, seamanship and navigation. Suggested prerequisites include the Competent Crew course and a minimum of five days of sailing time, 100 miles or more with at least four night hours under sail. You’ll earn Day Skipper Practical recognition which qualifies you to skipper a small yacht in familiar tidal waters and bays.

Coastal Skipper covers passage planning, piloting by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. Suggested prerequisites include the Day Skipper course or equivalent training and at least 15 days of sailing time, two days as skipper with 300 miles and eight night hours under sail. In this course you’ll gain Coastal Skipper Practical recognition, qualified to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day or night.

How your week will progress

When you arrive Saturday you will stay ashore at The Mariner Inn in Tortola and relax as you watch yachts come and go. Sunday after breakfast ashore, you’ll attend chart and safety briefings, boat orientation and familiarization, and stow provisions and personal gear aboard. You'll have lunch aboard, then cast off for a week of sailing instruction the RYA way. Your instructor will use RYA sailing guidelines and check lists to monitor your proficiency level, providing instruction to reach the required RYA sailing course standards.

Monday through Thursday you’ll sail and learn all day, with a lunch break aboard, while cruising from island to island. Student evaluations and classroom instruction are held at anchor prior to dinner. A four hour night sail will take place on Wednesday. Thursday afternoon you’ll arrive back at The Moorings, and after a personal course review and certification announcements, your instructor will leave you and your crew mates to enjoy private time aboard and a rewarding mini-cruise on your own.

This is the true test of all you have learned and it is a totally amazing experience – leaving the dock in control, each with their job well planned and rehearsed, sailing to a fun overnight anchorage. Saturday you return to The Moorings base and stay ashore at The Mariner Inn before departing home on Sunday.

RYA course level packages

Packages start at $2695 per person double occupancy in room and cabin for Competent Crew; $2795 for Day Skipper; $2895 for Coastal Skipper. Single packages (private boat cabin and room ashore) are also available. A typical package includes everything below. Travel, meals ashore, beverages and other incidentals are not included.

• The RYA sailing course level you choose upon enrollment
• RYA textbooks
• RYA sailing certificate
• Your berth aboard a 43’-50’ Moorings yacht
• Six breakfasts and lunches, snacks, and four dinners while aboard
• Two nights ashore at The Mariner Inn

Total live aboard training - a different way to learn

What’s different about this sailing course and others you may find is that participants with different levels of experience – from none to strong basics – can learn and sail together. The training Offshore Sailing School RYA sailing course instructors receive allows them to work with you on a “knowledge based” system – as each of you achieve your individual goal levels on the same boat during the same week-long period.

“My family took an onboard learning vacation; me the RYA day skipper and wife and daughters the RYA competent crew. Our instructor was excellent and at the end of the week all felt they had significantly increased their sailing skills.”
Dr. Matt Cory – Lakeland, FL

Call 888-454-7015 to talk to one of our friendly sailing advisors.

 to get a quote and start your special learning vacation in the British Virgin Islands  with our RYA sailing courses.