Sailing Guides & Articles

Expert advice from our RYA instructors — covering qualifications, course preparation, and everything you need to know before getting on the water.

Skipper at the wheel of a yacht stern-to on a harbour quay with a waterfront village behind

RYA Coastal Skipper Requirements: What You Need Before You Book

The RYA Coastal Skipper requirements are 15 days at sea, 300 logged miles, 8 night hours and 2 days as skipper. An RYA examiner explains what the five days involve, what the certificate lets you do, and how it halves your Yachtmaster Coastal sea time.

Richard Beniston

16 July 2026

Cruising yacht under sail at dusk with a cargo ship on the horizon

RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore: Requirements, Sea Time and the Exam

The RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore is about logged experience, not a course you pass. An RYA examiner explains the sea time, qualifying passages, certificates and what the practical exam involves.

Richard Beniston

1 July 2026

RYA Powerboat Level 2 RIB at planing speed on the Solent off Netley

Do You Need a Powerboat Licence in the UK?

There is no legal powerboat licence in the UK for private use at sea, but training still matters. Here is where a certificate is actually required and how the RYA Powerboat Level 2 prepares you.

Russell Lake

18 June 2026

Crew sailing a yacht under full sail on the Solent with the Isle of Wight beyond

How to Learn to Sail a Yacht (A Beginner's UK Guide)

How to learn to sail a yacht in the UK: the RYA pathway from Start Yachting to Yachtmaster, realistic timelines, costs, and what a beginner week looks like.

Russell Lake

4 June 2026

Sailor holding a VHF DSC handset at the helm of a sailing yacht

The RYA Marine Radio Short Range Certificate: A Complete Guide

A complete guide to the RYA VHF radio course (SRC): the syllabus, the exam, what it costs in 2026, and where it sits in your sailing pathway.

Richard Beniston

20 May 2026

Highfield RIB powerboat training on the Solent

Your Complete Guide to the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course

The RYA Powerboat Level 2 is the standard qualification for driving a powerboat in the UK. Here's everything you need to know before booking your course.

Russell Lake

12 March 2026

RYA Day Skipper Requirements: What You Actually Need

Planning to take charge of a yacht? Here's a straightforward guide to the RYA Day Skipper requirements — covering theory, practical, experience, and minimum age.

Richard Beniston

12 March 2026

Have a question about RYA courses?

Our experienced instructors are happy to help you find the right course.