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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 two cruising boats, Nashira and Marko. Both are 13m, a common size for yachts. They have been chosen as they excel in for courses, with good bunk space and places to work down below, along with organised winch setups.
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.
Holders of the Start Yachting certificate can do a 3-day top-up to obtain the full Competent Crew certificate, enroll in the Essential Navigation and Seamanship course, and join the Wednesday Night Pursuit Race.
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.
Competent Crew holders can go on to Short Courses and Day Skipper Theory.
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.
A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience, basic navigation, and sailing skills.
Learn to skipper a short passage 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.
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.
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 yachtsmen and women 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 costal passage day or night.
To book, or for more information, please email us.
Racing Courses
This is for sailors who want an introduction to racing, whether your part of the crew or skippering the yacht.
You will learn the basics of racing, working together as a crew. Alongside some basic racing rules and tactics, you will gain general knowledge to navigate the racecourse.
Prerequisites: Competent Crew & Spinnaker Course
Duration: 2 days
Minimum Age: 16
Ability after course: Able to sail a boat to its best efficiency.
Please email us to register your interest.
Coastal racing program has been developed to improve boat handling and speed as well as developing a strategic plan based on the conditions.
This course is for crew or skippers that want to develop their Tactics and Strategy.
Prerequisites: Competent Crew and Learn to Race
Duration: 2 days
Minimum Age: 16
Ability after course: Able to manage a race.
Please email us to register your interest.
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.
This course is for crew or skippers that want to refine their tactics and their Strategy.
Prerequisites: Competent Crew and Coastal Racing.
Duration: 2 days
Minimum Age: 16
Ability after course: Able to compile a race strategy and implement tactics.
Please email us to register your interest.
A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience, basic navigation, and sailing skills.
Learn to skipper a short passage 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.
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.
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.
Specialist Courses
During this course you will polish your 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.
This course is for crew or skippers that want to develop their practical skills with spinnakers either for cruising or racing.
Course Pre-requisites:
Competent Crew
10 Days at sea
150nm
Minimum Age: 16
Duration: 2 Days
Ability after course: Can fly a spinnaker and steer.
Please email us to register your interest.
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.
Duration: 1 day
Minimum Age: 16
Ability after course: Knowledge and skills brush up before chartering.
Please email us to register your interest.
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.
Course Pre-requisites:
Competent Crew and above
10 days at sea
150nm
Minimum Age: 16
Course Duration: 2 days
Ability after course: Confidence in boat systems and maintenance.
Please email us to register your interest.
Short Courses
