York Cruiser Training Club (YCTC) are providers of Royal Yacht Association (RYA) shore-based training in York. YCTC organise both the longer Day and Coastal Skipper Theory training courses and one-day courses for Diesel Engine, Radar, First Aid and VHF.
There are many options available for shore-based training including some excellent on-line courses. We encourage everyone to train in a manner that suits them. We pride ourselves on genuine face to face leaning where you have time with a dedicated instructor. You also will not be distracted by kids or the TV in another room.
Attending an instructor based course will require travelling to lessons on a regular basis but we think you will find it time well invested and hopefully an enjoyable way of learning. Our instructors are very experienced and we keep class sizes small. You will benefit from interacting with students on your course along with other members of the club at social gatherings.
We generally run the Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper Theory courses over the winter months from October although depending on numbers and preference we can also run these as a more intensive six-week course on a weekend day. The Theory courses are the same for powerboat and sailing boat students and you will usually find a mixture of both on the course.
One Day Courses are run to demand usually twice a year.
Please contact us on the link at the bottom of the page to register your interest and discuss your preferences. You can also join us as a social member and be kept up to date with everything happening at the club.
We do not provide Practical Courses, nor do we recommend any particular provider as we find different people like to do practical courses in locations specific to their budget, experience and requirements. Join us at a social event and find out where our members would recommend from their experiences.
introduces the aspiring skipper to the wide range of subjects needed to take a cruising yacht to sea.
These include the construction, parts and equipment of a yacht, emergency and safety equipment and procedures (such as distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, life jackets and liferafts).
RYA Day Skipper Shorebased candidates are taught the basics of coastal navigation and pilotage covering chartwork, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, a knowledge of tides and the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.
The course is run in a relaxed and informal setting to encourage enjoyable learning.
At the end of the course, you will sit two exams, one on navigation and the other a general paper covering seamanship, meteorology and the collision regulations.
At the end of the course, students will be awarded the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Certificate and will have sufficient knowledge to undertake the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course.
We currently run this course on a weekly basis from September for 24 weeks. Contact us on the link below for more information and to register your interest.
Cost: £250, there are no entry requirements but we would recommend you have a basic knowledge of the sea before starting this course, such as the Start Sailing or Competent Crew Practical courses.
builds on the information learned in the Day Skipper Shorebased Course, it is the most advanced shore-based course in the RYA Syllabus.
Most people will use the RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course to prepare for the higher practical courses but we should remember this course also teaches valuable skills for skippers undertaking longer and more advanced passages in unfamiliar waters. Practice makes perfect and completing this course will give you more confidence and a better understanding of many of the principles used when skippering a boat.
If you are looking to move up the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster practical courses, this theory course will give you the knowledge you need. Although it is not mandatory for your Yachtmaster qualifications passing this course will ensure your theory knowledge is up to standard and one less thing to worry about on the exam.
This is an intensive RYA course covering
- Advanced navigation techniques including navigation and electronic position finding equipment.
- Tidal knowledge and use of almanacks and Admiralty publications.
- Meteorology including the taking and interpretation of forecasts, plotting of weather systems and weather prediction using a barometer and by observation.
- Using this information to create a safe and efficient passage plan.
- Customs and Excise regulations for going and returning from abroad.
- Detailed understanding of the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.
During the course, students sit for three exams. Successful students will be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory Shorebased Certificate. Depending on demand, the course can be run as either 24 weekly sessions starting in September or a six-week course on consecutive weekend days.
Cost: £300 reduced to £270 for YCTC Day Skipper Theory certificated students returning within 3 years. There is no formal entry requirement to the course but we would recommend completing the RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical Courses before joining this course.