Master Advanced Sailing with the RYA Coastal Skipper Course in Dénia, Spain

A Premium Sailing Experience on the Costa Blanca

This five-day RYA Coastal Skipper course is for experienced skippers who want to take their skills to the next level. The course prepares you to confidently undertake more difficult coastal and offshore passages by day and night, and to handle a yacht in more demanding conditions. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to be a true coastal skipper.

The course is taught in small groups with a maximum of five students, and all instruction is provided by an RYA Senior Instructor. For those booking together as a couple or a pair, we guarantee a private cabin.

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Why Dénia? A Sailing Tradition and Culinary Paradise

Unlike crowded sailing hubs like Barcelona or Palma, the coast of Dénia, Javea, and Moraira offers a less-explored sailing ground with a uniquely traditional Spanish feel. This region is steeped in a strong historical connection to sailing, serving as the starting point for the famous "Ruta de la Sal" regatta, a mythic sail race to Ibiza. This focus on the Mediterranean sailing experience provides a perfect learning environment, with a stunning array of pristine coves and dramatic cliffs.

The town of Dénia itself retains the character of a small fishing village, overlooked by a stunning castle and home to four marinas. While our focus is on sailing, it's worth noting that Dénia is a recognized UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, famous for its signature red prawns and incredible rice dishes. After a day on the water, you can enjoy this world-class cuisine, a testament to the region's rich culinary heritage.

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What You'll Learn

This is a hands-on course focused on coaching your practical skill-set up to an advanced level. By the end of the week, you should have the knowledge and experience to confidently plan and execute longer passages, and to manage a yacht in more challenging conditions. Key topics include:

• Passage Planning: Advanced planning for coastal passages, including consideration of weather, tides, provisioning, and customs.
• Skipper Skills: Taking full charge of the yacht, directing the crew, and using electronic navigation for complex passages.
• Yacht Handling: Advanced techniques for controlling the yacht in a confined space under both power and sail, in a variety of wind and tide conditions.
• Adverse Weather: Preparing for and handling a yacht in heavy weather and navigating in restricted visibility.
• Emergency Situations: Advanced man overboard recovery, life raft deployment, and procedures for helicopter and lifeboat rescues.

Upon successful completion, you will be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper practical certificate. For many students, this course is the first step towards the coveted Yachtmaster certificate of competence.

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Living Aboard & Course Details

This is a live-aboard course, where you'll spend the week on the yacht, learning by doing. The course includes breakfast and a light lunch on board each day. We focus on getting the most out of our time on the water, but with the exception of the night passage, you have the option to sleep ashore at your own expense if you prefer. This is a great choice for students concerned about heat in the summer months, though the breeze is always pleasant when we are sailing or at anchor.

Our cruising ground covers approximately 100 nautical miles and includes a Yachtmaster qualifying passage of at least 60 nautical miles. We will visit Dénia, the Bay of Javea, Moraira, and Altea, and may even take a trip across to Ibiza depending on the weather. The course starts and ends in Dénia, and we will spend at least a night away from our home port.

Requirements

To take this course, you must have significant prior sailing experience. It is recommended that you are at least of Day Skipper standard and have:

• Practical Experience: 15 days, 300 miles, and 8 night hours on board a sailboat, with at least 2 days experience as skipper.
• Theoretical Knowledge: A solid understanding of Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster shore-based theory.
• Physical Fitness: You should be in reasonable physical shape. We only accept students under 18 if a parent or guardian is also taking the course.

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Upgrade

If you haven't already completed a shore-based theory course up to the level of Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster, it is essential that you do so. The RYA Coastal Skipper practical course requires a thorough understanding of advanced navigation and meteorology. We strongly suggest you complete the RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course Online before attending.

To fully prepare for the responsibilities of a skipper, it's essential to have a comprehensive understanding of yacht safety and emergency procedures, which includes proficient use of marine radio equipment for distress calls. This course will cover the vital skills you need, but if you do not already have a marine VHF radio qualification, we suggest the RYA Marine VHF SRC — Online Course + Exam to ensure you are fully equipped to handle communications at sea.

Confirmation

You can reserve your place with an online deposit payment of 200€ or contact us for other payment methods. We will confirm your booking once we have met the minimum requirement of three participants, which is essential not only for economic viability but also to ensure a proper learning environment where students can effectively assume the different roles of a yacht crew.

We strongly advise that you do not make any non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements until you have received this confirmation, as we cannot reimburse you for any expenses incurred in the event of a rescheduling.