Looking out over the bow of a yacht at sea

RYA Competent Crew

These hands-on courses are for yachting beginners looking to gain the skills and experience to become fully active crew members.

About the course

We offer a 5-day course as well as a combined 2-day and 3-day Competent Crew course. You will need to have completed the 2-day course first in order to book and take part in the 3-day course.

The 2-day course is an introduction to yacht sailing. You will learn skills like hoisting, sailing and helming a yacht. These two days are day sailing from the Town Quay in Southampton, which means you will return to Southampton each night.

On the 3-day course you will take the skills you have learnt from the 2-day Competent Crew course and put them into practice on a sailing adventure. You will spend two evenings in different ports around the Solent.

The 5-day course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. You will experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all of the course is hands on. You are the crew, without you the sails won't go up and the boat won't be steered.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

  • to steer a yacht 
  • to handle the sails 
  • to keep a lookout 
  • to row a dinghy
  • assist in all the day to day duties on board

You should have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday. 

This course leads on to the RYA Day Skipper Theory and the RYA Day Skipper Practical

If you have any questions or want to discuss if this is the right course for you, please contact our Watersports Team:

Phone: +44 (0)23 8059 0110

Email: watersports@soton.ac.uk 

Dates and times

2 day courses run from 9am to 5pm each day.

3 day courses run from 9am Saturday to 4pm Monday (staying onboard).

5 day courses run from 9am Monday to 4pm Friday (staying onboard).

Competent Crew - Part 1 

Competent Crew - Part 2 

Competent Crew 

2 Days 

3 Days 

5 Days 

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

6 to 8 July 2024

Competent Crew 

:

22 to 26 July 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

31 August to 1 September 2024

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

7 to 9 September 2024

Competent Crew 

:

5 to 9 August 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

28 to 29 September 2024 

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

5 to 7 October 2024  

Competent Crew 

:

19 to 23 August 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

16 to 20 September 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

21 to 25 October 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

4 to 8 November 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

25 to 26 January 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

1 to 3 February 2025

Competent Crew 

:

3 to 7 March 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

8 to 9 February 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

15 to 17 February 2025

Competent Crew 

:

7 to 11 April 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

15 to 16 March 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

22 to 24 March 2025

Competent Crew 

:

14 to 18 April 2024

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

26 to 27 April 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

3 to 5 May 2025

Competent Crew 

:

12 to 16 May 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

10 to 11 May 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

17 to 19 May 2025

Competent Crew 

:

2 to 6 June 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

19 to 20 July 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

26 to 28 July 2025

Competent Crew 

:

9 to 13 June 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

23 to 24 August 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

30 August to 1 September 2025

Competent Crew 

:

30 June to 4 July 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

11 to 12 October 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

18 to 20 October 2025

Competent Crew 

:

14 to 18 July 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

22 to 23 November 2025

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

29 November to 1 December 2025

Competent Crew 

:

4 to 8 August 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

18 to 22 August 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

8 to 12 September 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

6 to 10 October 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

27 to 31 October 2025

Competent Crew - Part 1 

:

Competent Crew - Part 2 

:

Competent Crew 

:

10 to 14 November 2025

Prices

Our courses are available to everyone, but Southampton Sport members can book at a discounted rate.

In 2025 parts 1 and 2 must be booked at the same time, so the cost will be the same as for the 5 day course.

Membership type

Competent Crew Part 1 (2 Days)

Competent Crew  Part 2 (3 Days)

Competent Crew  (5 Days)

Membership type

:

Southampton Sports Membership

Competent Crew Part 1 (2 Days)

:

£140.25

£209

Competent Crew  (5 Days)

:

£390

Membership type

:

Mayflower Member, Sports Pass or Non-Member

Competent Crew Part 1 (2 Days)

:

£255

£380

Competent Crew  (5 Days)

:

£650

 

Included in the course fee: 

  • Certificates upon successful completion
  • Use of lifejackets and lifelines 
  • Morning breakfasts, snack lunches and tea/coffee/soft drinks 
  • Two evening meal on board (5 day courses)/One evening meal onboard (3 Day Courses)
  • Boat fuel

Not Included in the course fee:

  • Other evening meals  
  • Mooring fees for berths other than Southampton Town Quay Marina
  • Cruising Scheme Logbook is available for purchase on the course for £7.99 

Booking a course

Book your course online

You can also:

Cancelling or rescheduling a course

You can cancel or reschedule a booking by contacting the Jubilee Sports Centre. Your options depend on how much notice you give us. Notice periods are based on the date of your booking, not on the start time.

Notice given

Refund options

Notice given

:

7 days or more

Refund options

:

Full refund or reschedule to another date

Notice given

:

Between 48 hours and 7 days

Refund options

:

Full refund if you present a doctor’s note stating why you can't complete your booking

Notice given

:

Less than 48 hours

Refund options

:

No refund available

When we might cancel your booking

We might need to cancel a booking if:

  • the weather means we cannot safely run a course
  • staff members are sick and their absence cannot be covered
  • we cannot meet our minimum student-instructor ratio

If we need to cancel your booking, we’ll always try to give you at least 24 hours' notice. We’ll also offer to reschedule your booking.