How to Become a Yacht Skipper

Gift an amazing sailing experience to your favourite seafarer wannabe! You can buy this now at the link below for just £105.

Buy a personalised voucher for a taster sail, yachting course, or any of our other fun-filled seaborne adventures on the gorgeous Suffolk coastline or beyond.

Our sailing vouchers can be used to pay for one of our Day Sails, or to offset the cost of any of our courses, charters or cruises.

Click the link below to buy one now – a personalised voucher will be in your inbox within a few minutes – or contact us for other options

What better way to watch an epic sporting event than to have a grandstand seat? Better still, how about a seat that moves around with the action, with a coffee and nibbles never more than an arms reach away? Where, still firmly attached to your seat, you can graze away at your lunch without queuing for hours to fetch it?

No such thing? Think again!

We have opportunities aboard our beautiful yacht Wings for companies, private groups and day sailors to do exactly that. Contact us to discuss your preference and enjoy a fabulous day with your friends, family, staff or clients, or simply treat yourself in the company of like minded sailing fans.

Dates currently available from 6-11th August, leaving from/returning to East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight.

Accommodation on board can be arranged at no extra cost, subject to availability.

If you’re a more experienced sailor looking for a challenging trip, why not join us on a cross-Channel trip to Dunkerque, before heading to the Solent via Eastbourne? At least 2 ‘qualifying’ passages (60 miles or more) and the opportunity for some night sailing (subject to weather conditions).

Dates: 5-9 September 2023

Prices & Availability: Please contact us

Another great opportuity for some serious cruising as we head back to Shotley from the Solent via the South Coast and France. A fabulous sailing adventure for those who want to enjoy more serious passages, or who are looking to build crewing or skippering experience or miles to put towards some of the higher level RYA courses.

For many crossing the Thames Estuary or English Channel under sail would be genuine ‘bucket list’ contenders. Join us on this trip to tick both off in one hit. Sail past iconic British coastline landmarks that most people will have heard of, but few will have witnessed close-up – Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters, Selsey Bill, and the 19th century forts built to protect the Solent.

It will be a few days of adventure, and maybe a glass or two of French red, plus some time to explore Brighton – maybe shopping in the Lanes or a stroll along the pier.

The journey will start from the Solent (probably Portsmouth) on the weekend of 15/16 June 2019.

Highlights
* a 5 day cruise in our classic 42′ Moody yacht ‘Wings’
* crossing the Thames Estuary and the English Channel
* stopovers in Brighton, Eastbourne, Boulogne and/or Dunkerque and Ramsgate.
* opportunity for skippers to practice their passage-making skills with mentoring from seasoned instructors
* ideal for cruisers/milebuilders/passage makers/those wishing to achieve their RYA Competent Crew or Coastal Theory tickets.

Each leg is 40-60 miles (with the exception of the 20 mile hop from Brighton to Eastbourne. If you haven’t yet visited Boulogne, the old town is a beautiful place to wander along the cobbled streets and maybe enjoy a plate of moules frites and a glass of something, whilst Dunkerque, of course, is famed for its wartime memorials.

At this stage the trip is available to either individuals who wish to share, or for exclusive charter.

Price & Availability: please contact us

We could turn right, head north up past Brightlingsea, duck into Pyefleet Creek and pick up a mooring buoy (or drop the hook). Then watch as your pre-ordered box of crab, lobster, king prawn, mussels – not to mention locally sourced oysters – is delivered to the boat. Yes, really. It’s a bit like a drive thru without the driving or the queuing! And then, replete with fruits de mer, you could sit and watch the sunset over Mersea Island.

Or go straight ahead. Past the Colne and up the Blackwater to West Mersea. Thumb a lift from the yacht club ferry to the jetty, and stroll ashore to make a late lunch table booking at the famous Company Shed. Perhaps (hopefully!) there’s time for a quick drink in the West Mersea Yacht Club beforehand. Followed by a fabulous seafood platter in one of the simplest but most fabulous restaurants you will come across.

Hey, if you’re a real seafood junkie you could even do both!

Talk to us for prices and availability. This is a two or three-day trip.

The Annual Pin Mill Barge Match, one of a series of regional barge matches, is held in late June/early July. Starting on the River Orwell, and following a course dictated by the day’s weather and tide conditions, the match is a true spectacle of years gone by.

Once coastal cargo carriers, these beauties have been lovingly restored and maintained, and several are available for day trips, charters and social occasions.

This is very much a day sail with a difference, as the itinerary will be geared to a very satisfying combination of match watching – with the endless photo opportunities this will entail – plus time to enjoy your own bit of sailing up and down the Orwell and Stour rivers. You will see a veritable forest of brown sails, gaffe rigs, and more ‘ropes’ than you can shake a stick at.

Prices & Availability: Please contact us

We will leave Shotley around 1000 for the 2 ½ hour sail down to Clacton, and once there we drop anchor as close to the ‘fairway’ as possible. The fairway is a cordoned off area of the sea just off Clacton Pier, and it is above this area that the serious flying is done. Which means the planes often fly directly overhead during their display, seemingly clipping mast tops as they zoom by!

The line-up for the show will be announced nearer the time, but normally includes several of the following:

The Red Arrows
The Battle of Memorial Flight
Modern and/or classic fighter jets
Aerobatic, wing walking, parachuting and more……..

You can see a review of the 2024 show here……

When we’ve nibbled our way through the 3-4 hour show, it’s time to weigh anchor and head back home after a truly memorable day. This is a long day, so please expect a return to Shotley by around 1930 on Day 1 and 1800 on Day 2 (approximate timings and subject to change)

Price: £130 per person (offered on bring your own lunch basis). Please contact us for availability

Important Note: the schedule and content of this event are obviously beyond our control, as is the weather. If we are unable to sail down to the show for any reasons beyond our control, then we will enjoy a ‘normal’ day sail instead. More extreme weather could result in cancellation, in which case our normal cancellation terms and conditions would apply.

Our skipper will work with you before your trip to create a passage plan to suit your requirements and the experience of your party. This will obviously depend on tide predictions and the number of days you choose to book for. There are many fantastic destinations to the North or South to choose from, and a variety of ‘challenges’ ranging from passages which are (relatively speaking) ‘just around the corner’, to Thames Estuary and Channel crossings. Possible destinations include Southwold, the River Blackwater, Burnham-on-Crouch and, further afield, London, the South Coast and the Continent.

Price & availability will depend on duration and destinations agreed, please contact us to discuss options

Your skipper gives you the options for the day (weather and tide dependent) and you decide the agenda. A river sail, a short coastal cruise, a bit of both – whatever ‘floats your boat’. Your day starts with a coffee and the essential safety brief on board, and then you head out on your sailing adventure. Maybe you’ll choose to explore the rivers in the morning, or head round to Hamford Water if the tides are right. After anchoring for lunch** on board  you might decide on an afternoon at sea. Maybe checking out Rough’s Tower (the ‘Principality of Sealand’), or a round trip past Felixstowe to the Deben entrance, before returning through the lock to Shotley Marina.

Base Price: weekday from £270* (half-day) or from £390* (full day), weekend from £450* (minimum full day)

* These are our base prices which cover two adults plus up to four children (aged 16 or under). There is a supplementary charge of £15 per additional adult (half-day trips) and £20 per additional adult (day trips).

** You can choose between bringing your own lunch to enjoy on board, or we can provide lunch to suit your needs. We can discuss this when you book.

Up to four children (aged 16 or under) go free when accompanied by two adults.

Why not extend to a Sleepover Sail for an additional charge of £90? Stay on board the night before, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and enjoy a bacon roll breakfast before sailing the next day.

For pricing and availability

A lot of people do most of their sailing at weekends, and that’s when we are often at our busiest. But if you’re lucky enough to have time for some sailing on weekdays then one of our Day Sails might be just the thing for you. You will get the same fabulous sailing experience but at a great price of £105 per day. In order to minimise costs we ask you to bring your own lunch, and the only other proviso is that we need a minimum of 3 people to run the day.

Simply register for our newsletter (sign-up is available at the foot of all our website pages) and we will let you know the Day Sail dates when they are available along with all our other news and offers.

If you would like to buy a Day Sail as a gift for someone else, take a look at our Sailing Gift Voucher option – when you buy we will send you a PDF by email, and your lucky friend can contact us directly to arrange their date.

Price £105 per person (£100 per person if you bring one or more friends)

Availability: Please see our sailing schedule or contact us

Join with up to 5 others who want to share the cost of sailing and meet new people.

Your day will start at Shotley Marina where your skipper will give you a safety briefing over a cup of coffee on board. You’ll help prepare the boat for departure, exit the lock gates, hoist the sails and head out for an adventure on the local rivers and coastlines. You will get the chance to participate fully in the running of the ship – hoisting, helming, trimming – hey, you can even put the kettle on if you like! After a morning sail we will drop anchor for lunch on board, maybe at Hamford Water (Secret Water), Wrabness (beach huts on stilts), or somewhere on the very beautiful River Orwell. After lunch, more sailing, more fun, and more tea (and perhaps a cheeky biscuit) before heading for home.

Price £105 per person (offered on a ‘bring your own picnic’ basis)

For dates and bookings……..

Suffolk Coast Sailing runs classroom-based Day Skipper and Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory courses at Shotley Marina and venues in the East Anglia region. We can offer private, one-to-one courses, and courses for groups (businesses, clubs and associations) at your chosen venue. Face to face courses are best if you prefer to learn in an interactive environment, as you benefit from wider discussion prompted by questions from other participants.

See more about our classroom courses.

We also offer online theory courses which you can complete in your own time and in the comfort of your home or office. These are delivered by our partner company, Sailing Course Online, who are a RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training. The course content is specifically delivered for an online experience, with bite-sized modules, regular auto-marked tests, and full support from the instructors at Sailing Course Online whenever you need them.

Find out more about online theory courses.

See below for more information or

Day Skipper Theory

A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.

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.

The course is taught over 40 hours with two exam papers.

Course topics include:

• the basics of seamanship
• the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage
• chartwork
• electronic charts
• position fixing
• plotting a course to steer
• weather forecasting and meteorology
• tides
• collision regulations
• construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat
• emergency and safety procedures including distress calls,use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore

Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.

This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal and Yachtmaster™ Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

The course is taught over 40 hours with three exam papers.

Course topics include:

• position fixing
• course shaping and plotting
• tidal knowledge
• use of almanacs and admiralty publications
• electronic position finding equipment
• taking and interpreting forecasts
• plotting weather systems
• weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
• collision regulations
• customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

Own Boat Tuition

All of our RYA courses can be run in the comfort of your own boat, or we can tailor a programme to focus on what you need to learn, practice or perfect the most. The agenda is very much up to you, and we will discuss your needs thoroughly before recommending a program for you.

Suitable insurance and a reasonable level of safety gear will be needed on your boat, you can see our requirements here

For prices and availability

Please note we may need to add travelling expenses depending on the location of your boat.

Coastal Skipper

Advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.

We will expect you to complete the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory course beforehand as there is insufficient time to teach you theory during the week.

Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions.

Requirements & Outcomes

Pre-course experience: Minimum 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours.

Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to at least the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shorebased Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore

Minimum duration: 5 days

Minimum age: 17

Course content: Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations

Ability after the course:  Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night

Prices and Availability: £760 per person please Click Here for Course Schedule or

Day Skipper

A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

Learn to skipper a short passage with the instructor on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety. Experience being in charge, taking credit when it all goes well and being responsible when it doesn’t.

If it’s help with navigation that you need, you should take our Day Skipper shorebased or online course.

Requirements & Outcomes

Pre-course experience: 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht

Assumed knowledge: Theory to the level of Day Skipper. It is recommended you take our Day Skipper shorebased or online course beforehand.

Minimum duration: 5 days residential

Minimum age: 16

Course content: Preparation for sea, deck work, navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, victualling, emergency situations, yacht handling under power, yacht handling under sail, passage making, night cruising

Prices & Availability: £760 per person please Click Here for Course Schedule or

Competent Crew

This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers.

Experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered.

By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You will also have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday.

Requirements & Outcomes

Pre-course experience: None

Assumed knowledge: None

Minimum duration: 5 days.

Minimum age: None

Course content: Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies

Ability after the course: Able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines

Prices & Availability: £760 per person Click Here for course schedule or

A short introduction to sailing for complete beginners, this course is available by arrangement to groups of 3-5 people.

By the end of the course you will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board.

Holders of the Start Yachting certificate can go on to complete the Competent Crew course in a reduced time of three days.

Requirements & Outcomes

Pre-course experience: None

Assumed knowledge: None

Minimum duration: 2 days

Minimum age: 8-10 years old

Course content: The yacht, ropework, underway, rules of the road, man overboard recovery, clothing and equipment, emergency equipment and precautions, meteorology.

Ability after the course: Basic knowledge of yachting.

Prices & Availability: If you have booked a charter of two or more days with us, we may be able to  build the Start Yachting syllabus into your itinerary. If you have a party of 3 or more people, we can arrange a course to suit your schedule.