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RYA Competent Crew
RYA Competent Crew is one of the strongest entry points for anyone who intends to sail cruising yachts. RYA currently lists it as a five-day practical course requiring no previous sailing experience, normally run liveaboard on a cruising yacht.
The purpose is not to create a skipper. The purpose is to create an active crew member who understands what is happening aboard: steering, changing sails, reefing, ropework and knots, safety equipment, person-overboard recovery, basic meteorology, keeping a lookout, general duties and onboard routines.
It suits complete beginners who want yachts rather than dinghies; couples planning to cruise who want both partners competent; and anyone whose end goal is charter, ownership or offshore passages. Someone who only wants to try sailing once may prefer Start Yachting — two days rather than five.
- Duration
- 5 days, practical
- Experience required
- None
- Boat
- Cruising yacht, usually liveaboard
- What comes next
- Day Skipper Theory & Practical
The RYA sail cruising pathway
Day Skipper Practical marks the transition from crew to skipper. It should not be marketed as “become an expert skipper in five days” — it is an important stage in skipper development, and experience still matters.
IYT equivalent
International Crew — theory and practical for an active crew member; modules 1–11 of the IYT passport.
American Sailing equivalent
ASA 101 Keelboat 1 followed by ASA 103 Coastal Cruising covers similar ground on smaller boats first.
Australian Sailing equivalent
Start Crewing on a keelboat — boat handling, safety, terminology, theory and crew roles in sheltered waters.
Schools offering RYA Competent Crew
SailCorp
RYA Training Centre on Sydney Harbour. Also lists Cruising Level 1 and 2 for a shorter introduction before the full five days.
Yachtmaster Sailing School
Publishes 2026 prices from short introductory programs through liveaboard RYA courses on Port Phillip.
Oceanwest RYA Sailing School
RYA centre on Cockburn Sound, also listed for Cruising Level 1 and Level 2.
Sunshine Sailing Australia
Separate current prices for RYA, ASA and charter-preparation programs on the Sunshine Coast.
Every price on this site carries the date it was checked. A two-hour introduction and a five-day liveaboard course should never be compared on price alone. How much do sailing courses cost? →
Is Competent Crew the right first course for you?
If you would rather start in a dinghy or keelboat, or you already crew, the three-question finder will say so.