Training for those interested in becoming a skilled yachtsmen can be achieved by signing up for Rya courses. RYA stands for the Royal Yachting Association and getting qualified by them means you will be universally recognized. They offer sailing courses at colleges and as distance learning, but also offer self study courses such as Dayskipper interactive which is offered as a CD-ROM. You will be able to get a certificate upon completion of the course after passing the examination.

Rya courses offer sailing courses to people with all experience levels. For example, the Competent Crew course requires no experience, and teaches someone the skills they need to become a useful member of a yacht’s crew. There is no exam and you receive a certificate upon completion of the course. The Day skipper course,however, is for someone with a little experience. To qualify for this course one must have 4 hours of night sailing, 100 miles logged in waters, and 5 days of living on board. There is no exam, and at the end of the course one will be able to skipper a small yacht by day in familiar waters. The Day skipper certificate is acceptable if someone wants to apply for an International Certificate of Competence.

There are a number of other sailing courses included in the Rya courses, such as Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster preparation. These courses are good to take if you want to become a reliable crew member, or even skipper of your own boat, and can be a vital part to someone’s sailing success.

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