Live Aboard Training
on Big Boats
Become a Competent Crew, Day Skipper, or Coastal Skipper in one glorious week in the British Virgin Islands

The Gold Standard in Sail Training Worldwide!

Those who learn and charter abroad know that RYA is the certification recognized by charter companies and governments where sailors go to cruise. The RYA Sail Cruising and Yachtmaster® Scheme, with 2200 schools in its system, is the training standard for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia. Offshore Sailing School is now recognized to teach RYA courses, bringing new options to sailing instruction in the Caribbean.

Total Live Aboard Training.

Offshore Sailing School’s RYA courses are taught at our British Virgin Islands base under the direction of Michael Domican (right), Chief RYA Instructor and Offshore’s British Virgin Islands Branch Manager. Courses run Sunday through Saturday – aboard 44’-51’ yachts supplied by The Moorings – a long-time partner of Offshore Sailing School and the most prestigious charter company in the world. No more than four students learn and live together during a course. Compare all this to other sailing schools and you’ll see why Offshore is America’s #1 Sailing School®.

Choose the Level You Seek When You Sign Up.

Want to become a serious skipper? Or accomplished crew? Want to qualify for ocean passages? Through RYA and Offshore Sailing School you now have options while learning and living aboard an impressive sailing yacht. If you just want to learn to crew and your sailing partner opts for skipper status, you can take the course together and pursue your individual goals. If you want to gain knowledge and experience for coastal passages, you will join others with similar experience and objectives.

Courses Offered

Competent Crew covers basic seamanship and helmsmanship, similar to Offshore Sailing School’s popular Learn to Sail course but taught on a larger yacht. No prerequisite or knowledge of sailing is required. You’ll earn Competent Crew Practical Certification and the skills and knowledge to be a valuable crew member.

Day Skippercovers basic piloting, boat handling, seamanship and navigation. Suggested prerequisites include the Competent Crew course and a minimum of five days of sailing time, 100 miles or more with at least four night hours under sail. You’ll earn Day Skipper Practical Certification for non-tidal waters, qualified to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters and bays.

Coastal Skipper covers passage planning, piloting by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. Suggested prerequisites include the Day Skipper course or equivalent training and at least 15 days of sailing time, two days as skipper with 300 miles and eight night hours under sail. In this course you’ll gain Coastal Skipper Practical Certification for non-tidal waters, qualified to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day or night.

If you are going to be sailing in tidal waters, RYA has arranged a short course to pick up those skills at certain training centers in Great Britain and other locations.

Your Schedule

Your instructor will meet you at 6 p.m. Saturday for a brief introduction and provide instructions for the next morning. Sunday after breakfast ashore, you’ll attend chart and safety briefings, boat orientation and familiarization, stow provisions and personal gear. After lunch aboard, you’ll cast off for a week of sailing instruction the RYA way. Your instructor will use RYA guidelines and check lists to monitor your proficiency level, providing instruction to reach the required RYA standards.

Monday through Thursday you’ll sail all day, with a lunch break aboard, while cruising from island to island. Student evaluations and classroom instruction are held at anchor prior to dinner. A four hour night sail will take place on Wednesday. Thursday afternoon you’ll arrive back at The Moorings, and after a personal course review and certification announcements, your instructor leaves you and your crew mates to enjoy private time aboard. Friday morning through Saturday morning is the true test of all you have learned – a mini cruise without the instructor aboard! Saturday night you’ll return to the Mariner Inn, and Sunday depart for home.

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Courses Offered | Course Schedule | Package Rates

US Toll Free: 800-221-4326

UK Toll Free: 0808-234-4681

Michael Domican
Chief RYA Instructor – British Virgin Islands

Package rates include the RYA course you choose upon enrollment, textbooks and course certificate; your berth aboard a 41’-51’ Moorings yacht; six breakfasts and lunches, snacks, and four dinners while aboard; two nights ashore at The Mariner Inn; transfers to and from the airport on Tortola. Travel, meals ashore, beverages and other incidentals are not included.

"The RYA school recognition process is arduous, leaving no detail behind. Our instructors who recently participated in the grueling RYA examination process proudly carry RYA Yachtmaster® papers."
Doug Sparks, Offshore Sailing School COO

"The RYA Yachtmaster® qualification, which is accredited by the British Government, is now the certificate of choice for commercial yacht skippers worldwide."
James Stevens, RYA Training Manager and Chief Examiner