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PYC Club Skippers

We have three levels of club skipper, Inshore, Coastal and Offshore, closely following the qualifications of the RYA training scheme. A fuller guide to skippering the club yachts is found in the Skipper Manual. This section, below, provides a short overview.

PYC Inshore Skipper

New club skippers usually start as PYC Inshore Skippers to build familiarity with the home area and less than 6 miles offshore and with the club’s yachts before venturing further afield.

Applicants require RYA Day Skipper (or above), RYA VHF Radio Licence and RYA First Aid (exam within the last 3 years),

Those with Day skipper are usually restricted to the area from Selsey Bill to Hurst Castle Spit for 6 months, and may only undertake short night passages (e.g. Haslar – Cowes). After 6 months, skippers may apply to the RCS to sail from Selsey Bill to Anvil Point and will normally be asked to submit a passage plan.

Restrictions are notified to the Skipper on appointment to PYC Inshore Skipper by the Training & Skipper Officer (Laurent Morlet).

PYC Coastal Skipper

PYC Coastal skippers may plan trips up to 12 miles offshore along all of the south coast of the UK, but not crossing the Channel. Many of the summer cruise weeks are also designated as suitable for Coastal Skippers, bringing the challenge and satisfaction of exploring a new cruising area.

Applicants require RYA/MCA YM Coastal (or above), RYA VHF Radio Licence and RYA First Aid (exam within the last 3 years).

PYC Offshore Skipper

Our PYC Offshore Skippers are some of the most experienced and qualified sailors in the club, who we rely on to skipper our yachts in offshore races and undertake the longer offshore passages that make our summer cruises possible. PYC Offshore Skippers are to plan trips within 60 miles of a safe haven.

Applicants require RYA/MCA YM Offshore (or above), RYA VHF Radio Licence and RYA First Aid (exam within the last 3 years).

I’d like to be a Club Skipper

We appraise all our members before they are allowed to take one of our yachts out as a skipper. PYC operates with three skipper levels: Inshore, Coastal and Offshore. You will first need to obtain the RYA qualification (or equivalent) for the Skipper level you want to be considered for and then you will need to be appraised by a PYC assessor in one of our yachts.

You also need RYA First Aid (Exam within the last 3 years) and a RYA VHF radio users licence to skipper our yachts.

Skipper Appraisal form

Becoming a Club Skipper

Once you have the relevant RYA qualification (RYA Day Skipper (or above), VHF Radio Licence and RYA First Aid (maintained at less than 3 years) and wish to skipper the club’s boats, or to move up to a more advanced level of skippering, then we require you to undertake a short appraisal trip to demonstrate your skills and knowledge of the club’s boats.

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Registered Address: THE PHOENIX YACHT CLUB LIMITED
Company number 02888498 - Cricket House High Street, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, England, RG20 6NY