The Beginner to RYA Day Skipper Catamaran course practical and theory with ionianMode in Greece is ideal for those who want to build skills and gain knowledge and experience to be able to skipper a catamaran safely with confidence in familiar waters by day. At the end of this 2 week course you will be able to skipper a catamaran in short passages and operate a short-range VHF radio with DSC. This course includes the online RYA Day Skipper theory course – around 40 hours online and the back-to-back RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper practical. We will work on catamaran handling techniques under sail and power and we will develop together your skippering skills. During the second week, you will prepare passage plans, you will navigate, will organize a night sail and you will be in charge at times to gain experience as a skipper.

The Weekly Schedule 

• The tuition catamaran is ready for accommodation by Sunday midday.
• On day one you will join the catamaran and you will meet the rest of the crew and your instructor. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and briefed by your instructor about the basics regards the yacht and the surroundings. Once everyone has arrived we will have the chance to discuss the course and the plan for the week.
• On Sunday afternoon the Day Skipper candidates will have the chance to revise the theory and the competent crew candidates to familiarise themselves with the yacht and her equipment.
• The Beginner to RYA Day Skipper Catamaran course starts on Monday morning from our base in Lefkas (Sivota Bay) and finishes on Friday afternoon. We have a relaxed morning on Saturday and around noon we return to our base. You have a free Sunday on week one and we start again on Monday morning on week two.
• During your training, you will sail a minimum distance of 200NM around the islands of the Ionian and you will visit the most interesting and beautiful ports of the area.
• On our daily routine, we will have lunch and swim stops in some of the most idyllic bays of the Ionian islands and we will spend the night in a different destination at a time, where you will have the chance to explore the local culture and cuisine of Lefkada, Kefalonia, and Ithaca.
• The yachts for Private Tuition are ready for accommodation by Sunday midday, the course starts on Monday and finishes on Saturday noon of week two back in our base.
• The VHF test is taken on Saturday afternoon in our classroom in Sivota 

• By Sunday 09.00 we will have to leave the yachts until 16.00  for our base crew to get them ready for the second week

About the Certificate 

The RYA Day Skipper certificate is the minimum accepted certificate by most authorities worldwide to charter a yacht. In addition, the holders of an RYA Day Skipper certificate can apply to the RYA for an ICC ( International Certificate of Competence ) which is an internationally recognized qualification.

During the first week of – RYA Competent Crew practical, you will learn how to steer, handle sails, tie knots, keep a lookout at sea, and row a dinghy. You will learn how to react in emergencies and how to participate in the day-to-day duties of the yacht as a confident crew member. You will have the chance to experience some night sailing and to assist on a longer passage. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with the yacht her sails, and her equipment.

During the second week – RYA Day Skipper practical focus changes mostly to navigation, chart work, and sail