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RYA Start Yachting
Two days aboard a cruising yacht, for complete beginners who want a genuine taste of yachting.
Start Yachting is a short introduction to cruising-yacht sailing.
It suits people who:
Students learn basic:
- Who it suits
- Someone who wants to try yachting once, or who is not yet ready to commit to five days liveaboard.
- What it is not
- It is not Competent Crew. If you already know you want to sail yachts seriously, book the five days instead and save the money.
Primary source: RYA training. Course structures and prerequisites can change; confirm the current version with the training body and school.
The course in context
Start Yachting is a short introduction to life and sailing aboard a cruising yacht. It lets you test whether you enjoy the environment while learning useful crew tasks. It is particularly helpful if you are considering a longer course but have never handled sails, shared a cockpit or spent meaningful time afloat.
Before you start
No previous sailing experience is expected. Ask about overnight accommodation, the boat’s facilities and the equipment supplied. Share any concerns about seasickness, swimming confidence or mobility before arrival so the centre can discuss the actual arrangements.
Skills you will develop
Steering a yacht
Feel how the helm changes the yacht’s direction and how that relates to the sails. Early practice is about developing awareness, not keeping a perfect course immediately.
Sails and ropes
Become familiar with basic sail handling and the language used aboard. You should have opportunities to participate rather than watching an instructor perform every task.
Safety and life aboard
Learn the routines that allow a group to share the boat safely. Understanding where equipment is and how to respond to instructions is part of becoming useful crew.
Training and assessment
The RYA describes Start Yachting as a two-day introduction. Confirm the centre’s local itinerary and whether you sleep aboard. It is not a substitute for the broader Competent Crew course, although a centre can explain how prior Start Yachting training may count towards further learning.
Questions to ask the school
- Do we stay aboard overnight?
- How much time will each person spend steering?
- How can I progress to Competent Crew?
Related learning
Other RYA courses
RYA Sailing Pathway
The whole RYA cruising route in order, and where you are allowed to skip a step.
RYA Cruising Level 1: Start Sailing
A short introduction aboard a small cruising yacht — the shortest way to find out whether yachting suits you.
RYA Cruising Level 2: Basic Skills
The follow-on from Level 1, adding real boat handling on a small cruising yacht.
RYA Day Skipper Theory
The classroom half of Day Skipper: charts, tides, buoyage, collision regulations and passage planning.
RYA Day Skipper Practical Sailing
Five days in which you stop being crew and start being the person responsible for the boat.
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
Skippering beyond familiar water and beyond daylight — longer passages, night pilotage, heavier weather.
RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory
The advanced shorebased course: tidal work, passage planning, meteorology and collision regulations at Yachtmaster depth.
RYA Yachtmaster Guide
Not a course. An examination against a published standard, taken after qualifying sea time.
Australian schools using RYA
These schools advertise training under the RYA system. This does not confirm that every school currently runs RYA Start Yachting; check the current course list directly.
Which course should you actually book?
Three questions — your experience, the boat you want to sail, and your goal — give you a starting course and the schools that teach it near you.