RYA Courses


RYA qualifications are known and respected the world over and our range of courses has something for all ages, abilities and goals. What’s more, learning to sail in the sheltered waters around Swanpool is a joy, though power-craft are always on the water should you need assistance. We also offer powerboat courses that take place in Falmouth harbour.

We can offer our clients recognised Royal Yachting Association qualifications in the following:

Start Sailing Level 1
Duration: 2 Days
Cost: from £150 per person

This course provides a short introduction to sailing for novices. By the end of the course you will have a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and background sailing knowledge. You will learn how to sail in all directions and will gain an awareness of how to launch and recover your vessel. You can expect to be able to sail in light winds under supervision by the end of your two days.

Basic Skills Sailing Level 2
Duration: 2 Days
Cost: from £150 per person

The Level 2 course is designed for people who have completed Level 1 course, or who have a basic level of sailing knowledge and experience. On completion you will be able to sail safely and confidently on all points of sail in light winds without an instructor on board. Many people choose to combine this with their Level 1 course over a period of 5 days.

Better Sailing Level 3
Duration: 2 Days
Cost: from £150 per person

This course is designed for more confident sailors who are sailing at a Level 2 standard. The aim is to consolidate existing skills and try new ones in more testing conditions, and prepare sailors for the advanced modules of the national sailing scheme. The course will include taster sessions from the five advanced modules: seamanship skills, sailing with spinnakers, day sailing, start racing and performance sailing.

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RYA Youth Scheme

We also run the RYA Youth scheme, which is designed for sailors who are under 16 years of age. It breaks down the adult programme into easily manageable stages, with the emphasis on fun in a supportive, friendly environment. Each stage is two days in duration. However, because of the bite-sized nature of the youth scheme, we tend to assess learners’ progress throughout the first day and then teach to their potential on the second day. This means students often achieve more than they expected!

Stage 1
Duration: 2 days
Cost: £140 per person

This is our introduction course for children. Students will gain a basic understanding of how a boat works and will acquire some experience of steering and handling the boat. They will also help launch and recover their boat and begin to learn some basic sailing terminology.

Stage 2
Duration: 2 days
Cost: £140 per person

Continuing from Stage 1, pupils studying Stage 2 will work on a range of sailing skills to help them become a confident small-boat sailor. By the end of the course, students will be able to sail around a triangular course.

Stage 3
Duration: 2 days
Cost: £140 per person

Having completed Stage 3 you will be able to sail in any direction, and will be able to rig and launch your boat. These skills mean you can regard yourself as a sailor, not a beginner.

Stage 4
Duration: 2 days
Cost: £140 per person

A Stage 4 certificate means that you have the skills to sail a double-handed boat as a crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat. Passing this course is the natural entry point for the advanced courses on the national sailing scheme.

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RYA Powerboat level 1
Duration: 1 day
Cost: From £99 per person

The RYA Powerboat Level 1 course is a one-day introduction to powerboating (minimum age 8). This is the perfect course for both adults and children wanting to learn the basics of everyday boat handling. Candidates will cover: launching & recovery (8-11 year olds will observe), preparation of the boat and crew, boat safety, boat handling, picking up & securing to a mooring buoy, leaving & coming alongside, being towed and theory.

RYA Powerboat level 2
Duration: 2 day
Cost: From £180 per person


The RYA Powerboat Level 2 training course is run over two days and is the place to start a hobby or career on the water. Our state-of-the-art Zodiac RIB is the perfect craft in which to teach you how to make a tidal sea passage during daylight hours. You do not need any previous experience at the helm of a boat to take this course, so there is no need to take the level 1 course which is recommend for junior students. Passing this level 2 powerboat course allows you to apply for an ICC - International Certificate of Competence, which is often needed for boating abroad.

RYA Safetyboat
Duration: 2 day
Cost: From £150 per person

This course trains competent powerboat drivers in fleet rescue and the techniques required when rescuing small craft including dinghies, paddle craft and windsurfers. It is useful for those wanting to run rescue cover at their sailing club and is also a pre-requisite for the RYA Senior Instructor course.