Finding the right sailing course can sometimes be a little daunting so we've created the charts below in order to help guide you through the various courses we offer. If the charts below leave any questions unanswered or if you still need further guidance, please feel free to Contact Us at any time and we'll be happy to provide you with personal assistance.
Glossary of terms
RYA: The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the UK national governing body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrow boats, and personal watercraft. RYA certifications are the most internationally recognized yachting qualifications in the world.
ISA: The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating, and windsurfing in Ireland.
Practical/Sea-based courses: These are courses where instruction and practice occurs out at sea.
Onshore/Shore-based courses: These are theoretical courses that occur on land in a classroom type of setting.
With regard to sailing, the main role of the RYA and ISA is to govern the standards for their yachting certifications - they do not provide sail training. All courses are completed and certifications are provided through qualified sailing schools such as Sovereign Sailing.
Course objectives quick guide
Our quick guide to course objectives briefly outlines the requirements and goals of each course. Simply click a type of course below to view our quick guide charts. For more information on a course, simply click the name of the course for further details.
| Course | Experience required | Course outcome |
|---|---|---|
| RYA Start Yachting | None | After successful completion of this sailing course the participant will possess the ability and knowledge to crew a yacht under direction of an experienced skipper. |
| RYA Competent Crew | This is a beginners practical sea based course and assumes no previous sailing experience. | After successful completion of the Competent Crew course the participant will possess the ability and knowledge to confidently crew a yacht. |
| ISA-RYA Day Skipper | Ability to competently crew a yacht and a basic knowledge of navigation. Competent Crew certificate advantages but not essential. | After successful completion of the Day Skipper course you will possess the ability and knowledge needed to skipper a sailing yacht on short passages within sight of land. |
| ISA-RYA Coastal Skipper | Day Skipper practical and shore based certification or equivalent knowledge. 600nm logged, 20 days at sea and 8 night hours. | You will be issued with either an Irish Sailing Association or Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Coastal course attendance certificate. |
| ISA-RYA Yachtmaster Preparation | Experience and knowledge to yachtmaster offshore shorebased level (2,500 nm sea time logged). | The participant will have the experience and confidence to sit an Irish Sailing Association or Royal Yachting Association yachtmaster practical assessment. |
| Mile Building Cruises | This would be an ideal introduction to Coastal-Offshore sailing for those sailors with some cruising experience. | This is also an ideal opportunity to gain some mileage if working towards Yachtmaster coastal certification. |
| RYA Cruising Instructor | Participant must be an experienced and qualified Yachtmaster Offshore. | After successful completion of this course the participant will possess the ability and knowledge to teach up to Day Skipper practical. |
| Course | Experience required | Course outcome |
|---|---|---|
| RYA Engine Maintenance | A one-day beginners’ course to help you prevent and solve diesel engine failure | This course teaches you how your engine works, how to keep it healthy by using basic checks and maintenance procedures, and how to get it started again in the event of a breakdown. |
| RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship | This course is for anyone interested in sailing, motor boating, sea angling or diving, and works well to complement our on-the-water training, such as the Start Yachting, Competent Crew and our full range of Keelboat courses. | This is a highly informative course with lots of opportunities for you to put your new found knowledge into practice. You will find many interactive exercises to help reinforce the information and lots of chances to try out what you’ve learned. |
| RYA Day Skipper Shorebased | A detailed introduction to cruising for skippers with little experience. | This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising. |
| RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore | Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. | This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, focusing on advanced navigation and meteorology skills. |