top of page

Motor Cruising

Broaden your horizons and venture further afield with our motor cruising courses

scroll-down-mouse.webp

About this category

If living on board, cruising the coast or venturing further offshore appeals, why not give motor cruising a go?


Motor cruisers have accommodation and cooking facilities on board, offering a degree of comfort while afloat. How adventurous you are is up to you! 


Whether you are a beginner wanting to get to grips with your first boat, or a more experienced skipper simply wanting to increase your knowledge and confidence, there's an RYA course for you.


Our motor cruising courses can also help you progress to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide and can be commercially endorsed for professional skippers and crew.


Whatever your goal, find out more about our motor cruising courses below.

Courses in this category

Start Motor Boating

This is an entry level course and can be run in conjunction with higher level courses for mixed ability groups. This course is ideal for introducing friends or family members to crewing a motor boat, and for giving them an understanding of how they can assist the helm.

Day Skipper

Basic sailing ability. 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours onboard a sailing yacht. Navigation and theory knowledge to Day Skipper Shorebased level.

Coastal Competition Certificate

15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours. Boat handling to the standard of the Day Skipper practical motor cruising course and navigation to the standard of the Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course. Minimum duration 5 days Minimum age 17 Content Passage planning, preparation for sea, pilotage, passage making and ability as a skipper, radar, boat handling, adverse weather conditions, emergency situations Certificate issuing criteria Able to skipper a motor cruiser on coastal passages by day and night. By the end of the course you should be ready to build on your experience and maybe work towards a Certificate of Competence. Format This is a practical course which will take place afloat however you will also be tested on elements of the theory during the course.

Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation

Duration: 4-5 days (Monday to Thursday / Friday) preparation Previous Experience Required: Minimum 50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged, 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper (Half the qualifying sea time must have been conducted in tidal waters). VHF radio operators certificate and a valid first aid certificate. Current theory knowledge to RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory. Course Overview: Preparation and revision up for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Revision of advanced skippering techniques, close quarters handling under power and sail, navigation and pilotage by day and night, man overboard recovery and overall yacht management skills. Ratio 3:1

Helmsman

This two-day course covers basic boat handling, helmsmanship, safety and basic engine maintenance. It aims to teach boat handling & safety within a defined area. It is specific to the type of boat in which the course is carried out and is therefore particularly suitable as an own boat course for new owners of motor cruisers who are conscious of the difficulty and potential hazards of boat handling in the marina. It is useful for crews as well as skippers. Apart from the obvious safety benefits of extra boat handlers on board, it adds interest if everyone can contribute to the trip.

ICC Assessment / Training

To apply for an ICC you must be: age 16 or over physically and mentally fit to operate a pleasure craft Completing the online application for an ICC If you are applying for your first ICC issued by the RYA or requesting a replacement for a lost ICC you will need: A digital copy (photograph or scan) of your passport or a national ID card showing your nationality If you do not have a passport or a national ID card showing your nationality you can only apply to the RYA for an ICC using the paper application form. A digital copy of a document which confirms your habitual residential address as detailed in ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility. Collectively these documents must verify your identity (name, address, date of birth, photograph) and your nationality. Evidence of your competence for each of the categories you request are validated on your ICC A photograph in portrait orientation Note: you can only upload pdf or jpg files of less than 5MB. If you are renewing or updating the details on your ICC you will need: Your current / expiring ICC Documents which verify any changes to the information printed on your current / expiring ICC, as detailed in ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility. Evidence of your competence for any additional categories you would like to be validated on your new ICC. A photograph in portrait orientation Note: you can only upload pdf or jpg files of less than 5MB. If your application is successful your ICC will be sent by post to your residential address. Sending the ICC to the address printed on the certificate is part of the RYA’s verification process for the issue of the certificate. The ICC will not be posted to any address other than the one printed on the certificate. If you are an experienced boater but you don’t have evidence of competence you will need to take an ICC assessment.

Yachtmaster Coastal Preparation

Previous Experience Required: Minimum 50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged, 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper (Half the qualifying sea time must have been conducted in tidal waters). VHF radio operators certificate and a valid first aid certificate. Current theory knowledge to RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory. Course Overview: Preparation and revision up for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Revision of advanced skippering techniques, close quarters handling under power and sail, navigation and pilotage by day and night, man overboard recovery and overall yacht management skills. Ratio 3:1

Yacht Master Fast Track Program

The below qualifications and courses we offer, I have based on, and I am assuming here, no or limited experience to date, you will need to complete the following courses: Powerboating level 2 course – 2 days Helmsman – 2 days VHF DSC marine radio course – Online / 1 day Day Skipper theory online or classroom with us – 5 days Day Skipper practical – 5 days Gain experience with us or others to get your miles PPR Exam on line with the RYA Coastal / Yacht Master Theory online or in a classroom with us– 5 days Coastal skipper practical course – 5 days Gain more experience with us or others to get your miles Diesel Engine maintenance course 1 day Yacht maintenance and systems on board 1 day Radar course on board - 1 day Yacht Master Prep 4 days Yacht Master Exam 1 day - Booked directly with the RYA with our preferred examiners Surveying boats with me, understanding every inch of a boat and it’s systems – 2-4 days All in all you are looking at a reasonable investment in yourself, plus exam fees of £230. An example return in investment from a client whom has completed similar training is a 3-4 months on the super yachts or the wind farms or even local deliveries or ships at yacht master level. I have a lot of contacts in the industry and everyone who successfully completed and passed a course with us is currently working in the industry which is great but not always guaranteed. I can also assist with your marine CV giving you a template to work from. Bear in mind that our competitors can not touch us on what we offer and if they did the fee would be in in the region of £18,000+ for this part alone. You may already have some experience and mileage which we can discuss. We also encourage you to seek delivery experience as much as you can on your own as this builds on your experience base. Our style is fun and informal natural instructing, whilst being safe at sea. We operate European wide for deliveries and our training centre is based on the beautiful Jurassic coast line in Dorset. Let me know your thoughts on these courses which is a lot of fun! We also offer a fast track for power vessels also, you could do a combined course for sail and power costing an additional fee to the above, this will give you better access also to the market place with multi skilled qualifications. Just a thought. Branching out from the above qualifications is teaching on the water, marine surveying, safety boating, and the opportunity to gain a grant (once the above courses are complete) to study further to become an officer of the watch 3000 gross tonnes or higher we have had two recent students gain the grant and they are now officer of the watch on board cruise liners.
  • Whatsapp
bottom of page