My Story of Obtaining the RYA Coastal Skipper License

[@akcarlos]

not only did you have to learn the terms in another language now you are making an excellent instructional video in a second language, kudos to you!

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you for your kudos. I must admit, that this was also my most intensive english course :)

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

😁

[@davidcook2167]

Thank you for this video. I was considering the coastal skipper ticket for very similar reasons to you and this has convinced me to do it.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I am glad, that my video is helpful :) Thank you.

[@AlisdairFerrie]

RYA provides a very sound groundwork for competency in sailing. However the emphasis on traditional ie: non-electronic navigational methods is rather over emphasised. Yes this does teach you the principles of navigation and should all the satellites drop out the sky you would have a valuable skill . However i found this seems to be at the expense proper use, maintaining, backing up, adding contigencies and so forth to electronic systems that are the mainstay of all navigation today. Try plotting and calculating drift, tides etc with your squares and paper charts halfway up the solent in force 7 on a weekend race day.... i just think the qualifications would be greatly improved if they took a bigger step into the 21st century. Nonetheless though I did enjoy learning the old skills but have never had to put them to use in the numerous passages undertake.

[@Topga]

Many thanks about your story. I plan do it in january

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@grahambolton4361]

Good, I enjoyed it will watch more

[@federicom9908]

Thank you for producing and sharing this video! Appreciated the interesting tips about RYA coastal skipper course, as well as the daily live sailing around local marinas and taverns :)

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SailingBritaly]

Excellent video Bostjan. The RYA training is very good, and I know how much of an wxtra challenge it is to have to do something like this in another language. Congratulations to you and fair winds for your future adventures! Chris 👍

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you Chris. I appreciate it 🙏🙏

[@rel53]

Very informative. Thank you for putting this together. One question: You mentioned the certification was eventually given as follows: two coastal skippers, two day skippers, and one crew. Congratulations. However, I wasn't clear if the decision of the level of certification was made by the instructor based on student assessment, or if it was simply the case that in that group, that is what the students came and paid to be trained on. Can you explain why some received one certification while others got a different one?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

The tasks we each performed were predetermined based on the required level provided in each trainee’s application. However, I believe the instructor could upgrade your qualification if you demonstrated sufficient knowledge and experience. RYA has a system that determines the level you can apply for, requiring sufficient miles and days as a skipper prior to the course. If you haven't genuinely met these requirements, inexperience would be evident to an experienced RYA instructor.

[@zero_to_sailor]

Congratulations ! I done my CS in Scotland a few years ago and many things learned make sailing in the north sea fun. Fair winds !

[@PaliBrate]

Thank you so much vor this Video. Since I live in Germany I have obtained the SKS (Sport Küsten Schiffer Schein). It's Not requiered f or sailing in Germany but recommended. Thanks to your Video I was able to compare the content of both courses. It's pretty the same. Doing navigation with charts, calculations in tidal waters etc. Svaka čast. Pozdrav iz Nemačke.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you for your opinion. Pozdrav Dule i tebi u Nemačku :)

[@crwalker33]

Thank you for the video! I have American ASA certifications (equivalent to RYA day skipper) and have started sailing in Greece. I am set for a course in Greece for another ASA advanced certification. I've been interested in pursuing the RYA training and certifications to deepen my skills and seamanship. My understanding is that RYA is more difficult with higher standards. This was an excellent overview of the process! I think I may target it for next year if I don't do an open water passage trip. Btw, on my last sail in Greece (Portos) we were docked near your captain/instructor. His students were working on navigational charts in the cafe next to where we were docked.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Yes, we also ones did the appraisal for that day in nearby cafe 🤣

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

And thank you for your opinion about my video. I'm glad that it helps :D

[@stevehartley621]

I enjoyed your video. You can get Yachtmaster Coastal with only 800 miles tidal experience actually, and this is reduced to only 400 miles if you complete a YM prep course in tidal waters. You can also undertake "milebuilder" cruises with many UK sailing schools to help increase your mileage. Generally though, miles gained as skipper give the best experience. I think many UK schools operating in the Solent area are cheaper than what you paid in Greece as well. Good luck with your sailing!

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I am thinking and dreaming about sailing beyond the Mediterranean, but it hasn't worked out yet. However, I believe it will in the future, along with obtaining my Offshore Yachtmaster certification. Thank you for your info 👍👍👍

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

And I am very glad that you enjoyed the video :D

[@tomhermens7698]

Seven seas in Athens are active. Alimos is the biggest marina. Best to take a fishing rod with you. Plenty of fish.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

My son is in charge for fishing. In Croatia he has some luck already, but in Greece we are still waiting for his first serious catch 😉😉

[@robgorman8961]

Thanks for the info

[@StojanIhanec]

Excellent presentation. But why there is no night navigation?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Good question, Stojan. There was none. It was planned, but wasn't executed by the decision of the instructor and I really don't know why. Thankfully, I got enough night sails and passages elsewere.

[@gvido04]

Thanks for the effort you've put to make this very informative video! I am contemplating a similar move. You've mentioned that some of the participants received Competent Crew Certificate and some received Day Skipper Certificate. Was this their intent from the beginning, or was the instructor's decision based on their performance during the course?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

It was based on your previous knowledge, milage and achieved level of theory. This company, where I made the licence explained us, that they perform this with combined crew. So some for Day skipper, some for Competent crew and some for Coastal Skipper. And all was set in advance, so for which level are you in.

[@yolobeliveme2209]

A very good video. Thank you, I was looking for something like this. Very helpful.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I am very satisfied that the video is helpful and that you like it :)

[@johnsmall9729]

Well done. Thank you from an aspiring sailor!

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you too!

[@addijad]

Thank you Bostjan this was really helpful as Im looking next year to do the coastal Skipper. Can I ask if you had already completed the day Skipper ? I see you used 7 Seas sailing? would you recommend them, do they use the same instrutors or are they contracted in ?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I haven't completed day Skipper because I already had boating licence issued in my country and done many sails even as a skipper prior to my Coastal Skipper course. About instructors I really don't know. I made it with Angelo (Vangelis) and I really don't know others. It is intersting that I met Angelo twice after the completition of my course. Once in Ermioni 2 month after and again this year in june in Alimos marina. He always gave me some advice about bays, where to stay over night in meltemi for instance😄

[@tofran]

Great video! What software did you use to animate the route on the map?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you. They were made with Suunto app - that is sports tracker for my Suunto wristwatch and are actual tracks of my activities. You will also find them in my other videos and I also share them on my Strava account (among my other activities) 😀

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I also tried to do the path animations with help of Google Earth, but it is quite tricky and can only be done if the path is going mostly in one direction and therefore was not good enough ;)

[@hedgerowpete]

Brilliant video

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you 😁

[@sy247]

Excellent video. Is your Coastal Skipper qualification endorsed for non tidal water because you did it in Greece?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Yes, it is endorsed for non tidal waters. Greeks recognise it without any doubt.

[@normanboyes4983]

Excellent video.👍

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you, Norman 👍

[@urfuturo6467]

Thanks. Very informative. Which company did you use in Greece?

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

Thank you for asking. This is the link for the school: www.7seassailing.com/

[@rockinghorses]

Thanks for sharing! KR

[@yonierbusnelli]

Good man

[@PORFBAGSNORWAY]

l need help day skipper chart work exam

[@DG-jq2jq]

Ardent Training center is soooo much nicer

[@mjcooke2sailingmostly]

It's not a license, no sailing license required in UK.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

I tottaly agree with you. Legally, you don't need anything other than the Boat Leader's License of Competence. But the level of knowledge required to obtain it is only a small fraction of what you need to demonstrate for the RYA. Sadly, most of those with the Boat Leader's License usually don't even know the basic rules of meeting at sea - Col Regs

[@mjcooke2sailingmostly]

@@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS I've never heard of a boat leader's licence. I've sailed in UK waters since 1987. I know of no legal requirement for qualification. The RYA has fought against such things for years and deserve support. If people keep talking about licenses they will get what they wish for and another freedom will be lost. It is possible these days to get discounts on insurance with RYA qualification so that is an advantage.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

​@@mjcooke2sailingmostly I don't know how are things in UK, but in many countries somesort of certificat is mandatory as follows: In Greece, the license requirements for boating are: Motorboats: A license is required for operating motorboats with an engine power over 30 HP (22.3 kW). Sailboats: A license is required for sailboats, regardless of engine power, if they are longer than 7 meters. Slovenia: Requires a Boat Leader's License for vessels up to 24 meters or with engine power over 7.35 kW. Croatia: Requires a license for all boats with an engine, regardless of size or power. Italy: Requires a license for boats with an engine stronger than 41 HP (30 kW), and for boats sailing more than 6 nautical miles from the coast. Spain: Requires a license for boats longer than 5 meters (for motorboats) and 6 meters (for sailboats), or for boats with engine power over 15 horsepower (11.2 kW). France: Requires a license for motorboats with engine power over 6 horsepower (4.5 kW) if sailing more than 2 nautical miles from the coast. Germany: Requires a license for motorboats with engine power over 15 horsepower (11.2 kW) and for boats sailing on rivers or open sea.

[@mjcooke2sailingmostly]

@@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS Yes, but not UK. I sailes Spain and Portugal with nobody asking for qualifications. People can apply for that certificate if they want,, wise if sailing Europe. RYA qualifications always good and worth getting as long as not forced on people. I have Yachtmaster Offshore theory and many thousand miles of my own sailing where I really learnt things. I would recommend Bob Bond and Steve Sleigh's book 'Cruiser handling' Bob Bond a top RYA man. This is quite old now but easy learning. I had that as a novice before crewing Port Elizabeth to Martinique 1985.

[@LIVE_AT_FULL_SAILS]

@@mjcooke2sailingmostly I agree, nothing should be forced