The Day Skipper practical course is for aspiring skippers who have some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing ability. You should be able to sail around a triangular course and control boat speed. If gybing is still a surprise you need more practice. Navigation can be learnt by attending a RYA Day Skipper shorebased course.

Each trainee skipper will be asked to skipper the yacht on a short passage. The instructor will be on hand to give advice and encouragement and to ensure that your destination is reached safely. The essential element is that you experience being in charge, taking credit when
all goes well and being responsible when it doesn´t. The end of each day is usually
spent around the chart discussing the passages and gaining from each other´s
experience.