RYA sailing courses from Corfu
The Corfu Sea School based in Gouvia Marina on the island of Corfu is the longest established Royal Yachting Association approved training centre in Greece. From here you set sail into the Ionian Sea to visit many of the area`s famous islands and bays including: Paxos, Lefkas, Ithaca and Kefalonia (please note: we do not `day sail` from a marina, but sail to and overnight in different ports and anchorages every day). On a normal day we will sail between 20 and 30 miles. We make Sailing Greece comfortable and enjoyable.
The Ionian is an ideal place to learn how to sail. Most mornings the wind is light, perfect for practicing boat handling skills. In the afternoon the wind builds (force 3 to 5) giving exhilarating sailing conditions before dying away again in the evening for a comfortable nights stay in the harbours and anchorages. Gales are rare in the area (less than 5% of the time) and because of the protection offered by the numerous islands and surrounding mountains we are nearly always able to take to the water.
Courses offered:
- RYA Competent Crew
- RYA Day Skipper practical
- RYA Coastal Skipper
- RYA Yachtmaster preparation and Exam
- Powerboat cruises (on request)
RYA Competent Crew
This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. It is one of our most popular RYA Practical Sail Cruising Courses in Greece. Experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you, the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board.
Course Content: Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship and basic sailing, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies.
- Minimum age: 12 (those under 18 must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult)
- Duration: 5 days
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 5:1
- Method of assessment: Continual assessment by your Instructor, no tests or exams.
- Ability after the course: Valuable member of a yacht’s crew
- Certificate awarded at end of course: RYA Competent Crew
- Clients live aboard a school yacht as it cruises to and overnights in different harbours and bays each night.
2023 Price: €1350.00
Price includes all tuition, accommodation on a school yacht, meals when at sea, fuel, mooring fees, use of wet weather gear, study materials, bedding, towels and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate.
RYA Day Skipper practical
A course for aspiring Skippers with some yachting experience and core navigation and sailing skills. Learn to skipper short passages with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn’t. This qualification is accepted in most parts of the world for chartering yachts.
Course Content: Preparation for sea, deck work, navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, victualling, emergency situations, yacht handling under power, yacht handling under sail, passage making, tide, introductory night passage.
- Duration: 5 days
- Minimum age: 16 (those under 18 must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult)
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 5:1
- Method of assessment: Continual assessment by your Instructor, no tests or exams.
- Ability after the course: Skipper a small to medium size sailing yacht on short coastal passages.
- Certificate awarded at end of course: RYA Day Skipper (Sail).
2023 Price: €1350.00
Price includes all tuition, accommodation on a school yacht, meals when at sea, fuel, mooring fees, use of wet weather gear, study materials, bedding, towels and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate.
Please note: It is assumed that you are already proficient in the topics covered in the Competent Crew course syllabus, understand the basics of navigation, sailing, rope work, seamanship and have experienced at least 100 miles on a cruising yacht as an active crew member. It is not possible to successfully complete this course as a complete beginner. The Competent Crew course teaches you how to sail - The Day Skipper course teaches you how to plan and execute passages safely and manage a sailing yacht. There is not time during a Day Skipper course to also teach all the essentials of sailing and seamanship. If you have not already done the theory, please enquire about online or shorebased courses which you can do prior to attempting the practical.
RYA Competent Crew - Day Skipper combined 12 day course
This is the fastest route from beginner to RYA Day Skipper (Sail).
The package brings together our RYA approved Essential Navigation and Seamanship online course (approx. 30 hours of coursework) which should be completed prior arriving at our base in Greece. No previous experience required.
The online course is followed by a full 5 day RYA Competent Crew practical course on one of our school yachts, 2 days break, then the full 5 day, RYA Day Skipper (Sail) practical course.
Accommodation is provided throughout your stay on a school yacht. This package is by far our most popular, offering a short, but concentrated study period to achieve valuable qualifications, plus a substantial saving on purchasing the package elements individually.
- Minimum age: 16 (those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 5:1
- Method of assessment: Continual by your Instructor, there are no tests or exams.
- Certificates awarded: RYA Essential Navigation & Safety, RYA Competent Crew, RYA Day Skipper.
Price: €2375.00
Price includes all tuition, accommodation on a school yacht, meals when at sea, fuel, mooring fees, use of wet weather gear, study materials, bedding, towels and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate.
RYA Coastal Skipper
Advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake longer coastal passages by day and night.
Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations but concentrates on night cruising and handling heavy weather.
Course Content: Passage planning for longer passages, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, advanced yacht handling under power, advanced yacht handling under sail, tide, adverse weather conditions, night sailing and watchkeeping, emergency situations. Ability after the course: Able to skipper a yacht on longer coastal passages by day and night.
- Duration: 5 days
- Minimum age: 18
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 5:1
- Method of assessment: Continual assessment by your Instructor, no tests or exams.
- Certificate awarded at end of course: RYA Coastal Skipper (Sail).
2023 Price: €1350.00
Price includes all tuition, accommodation on a school yacht, meals when at sea, fuel, mooring fees, use of wet weather gear, study materials, bedding, towels and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate.
RYA Yachtmaster Practical Preparation (Sail)
Overview A RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected professional qualification, recognised worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. This course is tailormade to prepare candidates for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical examination.
Course Content: Content is tailormade for each candidate and can cover any element of the Yachtmaster shorebased or practical syllabus.
- Duration: 5 days
- Minimum age: 18
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 4:1
- Minimum number of Students required to run a course: 2
- Ability after the course: Ready to take the Yachtmaster Practical Examination. Any candidate that needs further training will be informed by their Instructor.
Pre-course experience:
- Yachtmaster Coastal: 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course completion certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must have been in tidal waters.
- Yachtmaster Offshore: 50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must have been in tidal waters. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam.
Candidates must have navigation knowledge to the level of the Yachtmaster Shorebased course.
Candidates must also hold a recognised VHF radio certificate and a recognised First Aid qualification.
2023 Price: €1350.00
Price includes all tuition, accommodation on a school yacht, meals when at sea, fuel, mooring fees, use of wet weather gear, study materials, bedding, towels and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate.
RYA Yachtmaster Practical Examination (Sail)
Overview RYA Certificates of Competence are some of the most useful and credible of all professional yachting qualifications. They thoroughly test the skipper’s ability, and can therefore appear daunting to potential candidates. We therefore highly recommend taking a preparation course prior to attempting the exam.
The Yachtmaster practical exam involves living aboard and skippering a cruising yacht which will undertake a number of exercises dictated by an Independent RYA/MCA Examiner.
Course Content: Our RYA examiner will meet you onboard and talk you through the plan for the day. They understand that you could be nervous and will do their best to allay your fears and make sure you are clear about what they want you to do. They are there to find out what you can do, rather than pick holes.
You will be asked to undertake a short passage, but you may have to plan a longer one. In general, you should skipper the yacht in your normal style. If this means putting the kettle on every half hour, then do it!
You will be assessed on every aspect of the Yachtmaster syllabus. The Examiner will spend a minimum of 12 hours (8 for Coastal) with each candidate.
- Duration: 2 days
- Minimum age: 18
- Maximum Student to Instructor ratio: 4:1
- Minimum number of Students required to run a course: 2
If successful, your Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence will be issued by the RYA (not the school) and sent to you in the post.
Pre-course experience:
- Yachtmaster Coastal: 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course completion certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must have been in tidal waters.
- Yachtmaster Offshore: 50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must have been in tidal waters. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam.
Candidates must have navigation knowledge to the level of the Yachtmaster Shorebased course. Candidates must also hold a recognised VHF radio certificate and a recognised First Aid qualification.
2023 Price: €550.00
Price includes exam fees, use of a school yacht, and Greek VAT at the appropriate rate. You will also be required to pay a contribution to the Examiner`s travel expenses.
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