What You’ll Learn on the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course

The RYA Day Skipper Theory course is the perfect first step for anyone who wants to skipper their own yacht or simply build strong navigation skills.

By the end of the course you’ll be able to:

• Navigate confidently in familiar waters by day

• Understand the basics of lights for night sailing

• Use real charts, almanacs, and navigation tools you’ll rely on at sea

We keep it practical, using official RYA training materials and hands-on exercises to make sure you’re ready to put theory into practice.

Why Choose Jolly Roger Sailing in Hythe?

At Jolly Roger Sailing, you’ll learn from an instructor with real-world experience. Our Principal Instructor has sailed over 50,000 offshore miles, including Atlantic crossings, and brings that expertise directly into the classroom.

✔ Small, friendly classes
✔ Real-world navigation practice
✔ Flexible options to fit your schedule
✔ Based in Hythe, near Southampton – easy to reach from Hampshire, Dorset and the South Coast

Course Duration, Format & Location

• Total time: 40 hours plus two exam papers

• Formats available:

  • Evening classes

  • 5-day intensive (Mon–Fri)

  • Weekend and flexible options available on request

• Location: Hythe (Southampton Water, UK South Coast)

One-to-One Coaching and Refreshers

Want extra confidence before skippering on your own? We also offer personal coaching and refresher sessions (Price on Application). These are tailored to your needs and can focus on any area you’d like to strengthen.

How to Book Your RYA Day Skipper Theory Course

📅 Select a date from the calendar on this page, or
📞 Call us directly on 07834 733323 to discuss weekend or flexible options.

Don’t wait – start your journey today and gain your RYA Day Skipper Theory certificate with Jolly Roger Sailing. Get ready to take the helm with confidence!

• 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 life rafts

£359 includes the RYA Day Skipper Pack worth £38. Student packs include assessment papers, course notes, exercises, practice charts and certificate of satisfactory completion. . You will need bring a navigation plotter and dividers we can order these for you at a cost of £25. You will also need to bring stationaries such as pens, pencils, rubber and a note pad.

Testimonials

Sally Hare via Google Reviews

***** Stars

Day Skipper theory via WebEx. Small classes ... with extra individual time if required... timing sessions, wherever possible, to suit all the participants. Virtual classroom easier to manage than anticipated once everyone gets the hang of it (using mute/unmute and not talking over each other) . Roger is inclusive and appreciates that not everyone learns at the same speed and all have differing sailing backgrounds and different reasons for doing the course....he tries his best to adapt the course around everyone’s needs. He is a patient teacher and explains things clearly. I fully recommend this course!

Amy Gower via Google Reviews

***** Stars

We had an amazing week learning loads with Roger to complete our Day Skipper Theory. Roger is extremely knowledgeable and very approachable. Really looking forward to putting everything we learnt into practice. We'll be booking other courses with Roger in the near future. Thank you Roger!!

Our teaching will take place normally at Hythe Community Centre. http://www.hythecommunity.org.uk. or Hythe Marina, both are only a two-minute walk from Hythe Ferry which gives easy access to the mainline railway station in Southampton. There is a café in the centre, or alternatively, there are sandwich shops and coffee shops close by. We will provide tea and coffee, but please bring or expect to buy some lunch. We will only have 30 minutes break for lunch as well as a coffee break in the morning and afternoon. If you require a list of B&B accommodation in Hythe please feel free to ask.