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The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) was set up in 1875, and has become world renowned for its training schemes. There are currently more than 2,400 RYA Training centres worldwide, in more than 58 countries.
The Youth and Adult schemes are all encompassing, for everyone from complete novices to the highest level of racing. It’s focus is to be accessible and more importantly safe, to raise the standards of boating by promoting safe practices.
As an RYA recognized training centre, we are held to the standards of the RYA and all our instructors must be qualified by the RYA. This ensures that training and equipment is kept to a very high standard.
We have a fleet of 3 cruising yachts, which have been chosen due to their simple layout and ease of handling. They have comfortable onboard facilities for nights away, and plenty of space for chartwork and navigation exercises.Â
Cruising courses start with Start Yachting, which introduces the basics, moving onto Competent Crew, to build your skills as crew and helm, then Day Skipper, which is your license to captain a sailing vessel. Courses are run on weekdays and weekends to ensure you can find a time to join us.
These courses can prepare you to join in the local sailing here at DOSC, or set you up to take charge of your own yacht in on a charter in the Mediterranean.
Cruising
Cruising COURSES
RYA Courses
An introductory course to sailing a yacht for complete beginners.
By the end of this two-day course, you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, rope work, and be aware of safety on board.
Course Pre-requisites: None
Duration: 2 days
Minimum Age: 10
Ability after course: Safely moving about a yacht and using her equipment.
Book NowThis course is for those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers.
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 will be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy, and assist in all the day-to-day duties on board.
Course Pre-requisites:
3 Day course: RYA Start Yachting Certificate
5 Day Course: None
Duration: 3 (5) days, live on board.
Recommended Minimum Age: 12
Ability after course: Be a useful member of the crew.
Book NowA course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience, basic navigation, and sailing skills.Â
Learn to skipper a short passage with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being a skipper, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn’t.Â
Before this course, if you are not sure that your sailing is up to speed, a good way to learn is on the Day Skipper prep course, a 2-day course aimed at Skipper skills development.Â
Course Pre-requisites:5 days at sea, 100 miles, RYA Competent Crew certificate & RYA Day Skipper Theory course.
Duration: 5 days, live onboard.
Minimum Age: 16
Ability after course: Practical skills in boat handling and navigation during daylight hours in familiar water.
Advanced skippering techniques for sailors with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night. Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety, and emergency situations.
Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions.
Course Pre-requisites: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours, Yachtmaster Theory certificate.
Duration: 5 days
Minimum Age: 17
Ability after course: Confidently handle a boat up to 15m LOA on a coastal passage day or night.
Book NowRacing Courses
The Offshore racing program has been developed to learn and develop skills which will enhance your ability to adapt to the changing conditions and the skills to respond.Â
This course is for crew or skippers that want to refine their tactics and their Strategy.Â
Prerequisites:  Day Skipper
Duration: 2 daysÂ
Minimum Age: 16Â
Ability after course: Able to compile a race strategy and implement tactics.Â
Please email us to register your interest.Â
DOSC runs a weekly evening race, on Wednesdays. Come and join us to start your racing journey, experience the thrill of yacht racing, and celebrate your success in the restaurant afterwards. If you’re lucky, you’ll be joining us on the podium too!Â
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Course Prerequisites: NoneÂ
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Duration: 3 hoursÂ
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Minimum Age: 16Â
Ability after course:
Practical skills in boat handling and navigation during daylight hours in familiar water.
Specialist Courses
During the course you will develop new skills and learn to fly asymmetric and symmetrical spinnakers. Everything you need to know to enjoy modern, 3 sailed boats. The course will give you a good foundation in downwind sailing. Â
This course is for crew or skippers that want to develop their practical skills with spinnakers either for cruising or racing.Â
Course Pre-requisites: 
• Competent Crew 
• 10 Days at sea
• 150nmÂ
Minimum Age: 16Â
Duration: 2 DaysÂ
Ability after course: Can fly a spinnaker and steer.Â
Please email us to register your interest.Â
The pre charter course is aimed at those about to head off for a yacht charter. You will get a brush up on boat handling skills as well as looking into documentation and boat checks.Â
Duration: 1 dayÂ
Minimum Age: 16Â
Ability after course: Knowledge and skills brush up before chartering.Â
Please email us to register your interest.Â
If you want to become a more confident yacht cruiser and prefer to learn in an all-female environment, this is a great option for you.
With an experienced, qualified female instructor, our Yacht Cruising class is suitable for beginners and more experienced sailors alike.
Our four-hour long class is a fun environment to learn and/or hone your skills. You will learn/practice taking the helm, hoisting the sails, planning a course, trimming the sails, tacking and gybing, berthing, anchoring, making knots, and setting up mooring lines.
Course Pre-requisites: Start Yachting
Course Duration: 10am to 2pm
Minimum Age: 16
Learn how to get out of trouble by learning how to resolve problems afloat. You will also get a good grounding in boat systems, maintenance, and Emergency control.Â
Course Pre-requisites: Â
Competent Crew and aboveÂ
10 days at seaÂ
150nmÂ
Minimum Age: 16Â
Course Duration: 2 daysÂ
Ability after course: Confidence in boat systems and maintenance. Â
Please email us to register your interest.Â
Time on the water is key to improving, and preparing for the more advanced courses. Take to the Arabian Gulf, and explore the area by sea! You’ll have a chance to utilise your passage planning, navigation, and pilotage skills, as you head to new areas.Â
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Course Prerequisites: Day SkipperÂ
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Duration: Depends on itineraryÂ
Please email us to register your interest.Â
Being a Skipper is a big responsibility, so set yourself up for success by joining the Day Skipper Prep course prior to your Day Skipper Practical! This course will refine your skills learnt in Start Yachting and Competent Crew, and introduce the skills taught on the Day Skipper Practical course to give you a head start.Â
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Course Prerequisites: Competent CrewÂ
Please email us to register your interest.Â
Short Courses
This two day course prepares you to stay alive in an emergency. It will show you how to make the best use of a liferaft and you will learn some basic survival techniqes. Â
The RYA / MCA Sea Survival Course is for leisure yacht crew and commercial seafarers onboard vessels up to 200GT. Â Â
Course Pre-requisites: None  Â
Duration: 2 days  Â
Minimum Age: 16  Â
Ability after course: Knowledge of essential sea survival skills.  Â
Please email us to register your interest.Â
This morning or afternoon clinic is all about refining your skills prior to your next course.
The time with the instructor will be spent focusing on what you would like to practice or what they recommend
would be best for your progression.
Course Prerequisites: Start Yachting
Duration: 3 hours
