RYA Courses
The golden global standard in sea training
Royal Yachting Association
About the RYA
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is widely regarded as the leading authority for boating certification worldwide. Its training system and certification sets the benchmark for safety, seamanship, and teaching quality, and is trusted by sailors, charter companies, and maritime employers across the globe.
RYA Courses
RYA Sailing Courses
The RYA Sailing Scheme is the international benchmark for training and certifying sailors. It provides a structured pathway from beginner to expert, ensuring competence, safety, and confidence at sea. Recognised worldwide, RYA qualifications are trusted by charter companies, employers, and sailing communities as proof of practical skill and seamanship.
RYA Powerboat Courses
The RYA Powerboat Scheme is designed for those operating small, open, planing boats (<10m) typically used in coastal waters. These vessels are lightweight, responsive, and capable of high speed, making them ideal for short passages, rescue operations, and support roles. The courses are practical, hands-on, and tailored for both leisure and professional use.
RYA Motor Cruising Courses
The RYA Motor Cruising Scheme is designed for those wishing to operate larger motorboats (<24m), typically with accommodation and equipment for extended cruising. These boats are built for comfort and capability at sea, whether for leisure or professional purposes, and are ideal for longer passages, coastal cruising, and offshore adventures.
RYA Shorebased Courses
Our RYA Shorebased Courses provide the essential knowledge sailors need to complement practical skills. Covering navigation, pilotage, passage planning, tides, weather, and safety, these courses build a strong foundation for all practical training as well as specialist qualifications such as RYA SRC (Short Range Certificate) and PPR (Professional Practices and Responsibilities).
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore
For professional skippers, the RYA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence—both Coastal and Offshore—represent a globally recognised standard of professional expertise. These qualifications demonstrate not only advanced sailing skills and navigational proficiency but also the practical experience required to operate yachts safely and confidently in demanding conditions.
Yachtmaster Ocean
The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence is the highest level of recreational and small commercial skippering qualification issued by the Royal Yachting Association. It certifies that a skipper is capable of undertaking ocean passages worldwide, including navigating far offshore, beyond the limits of terrestrial navigation aids.
RYA PWC Jet Ski Courses
This category of RYA training focuses on developing the essential skills needed to operate Personal Watercraft (jet skis). It includes the RYA PWC Proficiency Course, designed for riders and operators, as well as the RYA PWC Instructor Course, aimed at those wishing to qualify as instructors and deliver RYA-recognised PWC training to students.
International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is a standardized qualification recognized under United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution No. 40. It serves as evidence of a person’s competence to operate pleasure craft, including both sailing and motor vessels, in international waters. The ICC is particularly valuable for recreational boaters navigating inland and coastal waters across Europe and beyond.
