What is a Day Skipper?

The RYA Day Skipper certification is an entry-level qualification in the sailing world. It is designed for individuals with limited previous sailing experience who wish to become competent in handling a small sailing vessel during daylight hours in familiar waters. To achieve the RYA Day Skipper certification, candidates must complete a practical training course that covers theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It is strongly advised to complete the RYA Day Skipper Theory course first, which is typically a five-day classroom based programme. The course typically includes topics such as navigation, boat handling, safety procedures, and understanding weather conditions. Candidates will also gain experience in planning and executing short passages and basic seamanship.

What is a Coastal Skipper?

The RYA Coastal Skipper certification is a more advanced qualification that builds upon the skills and knowledge acquired in the RYA Day Skipper course. It is designed for sailors who have already obtained the RYA Day Skipper certification or have equivalent experience and wish to enhance their sailing competence to operate larger vessels in more challenging conditions. The Coastal Skipper course focuses on developing advanced navigational skills, including passage planning, offshore navigation, and night sailing. Candidates also gain experience in boat handling techniques, including manoeuvring under power, close-quarters handling, and sailing in various wind and sea conditions.

What is the Difference between RYA Day Skipper and RYA Coastal Skipper?

Skill Level: The RYA Day Skipper certification is an entry-level qualification suitable for members of competent crew or those with limited experience. It focuses on developing basic sailing skills, knowledge, and confidence to handle a small vessel in familiar waters. The RYA Coastal Skipper certification is more advanced and requires a higher level of competence, including proficiency in navigation, boat handling, and decision-making in various conditions. Scope of Operation: Day Skippers are qualified to operate small sailing vessels during daylight hours, within sight of land, in favourable weather conditions. Coastal Skippers have a broader scope of operation, allowing them to skipper larger vessels on coastal passages, including night sailing and navigation in more challenging weather and sea conditions. Navigational Skills: While the RYA Day Skipper course provides a solid foundation in navigation, the RYA Coastal Skipper course takes it to a higher level. Coastal Skippers gain advanced knowledge in passage planning, offshore navigation techniques, and the ability to navigate in more complex environments. Experience and Responsibility: Day Skippers are typically responsible for smaller vessels and may operate within familiar waters. Coastal Skippers handle larger vessels and have the skills and experience to navigate coastal passages, potentially in less familiar or more challenging areas.

World Mental Health Day 10 October 2023 UKSA announces four youth ambassadors to motivate and support young people

Published 08/10/2023

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October, UKSA has announced four new youth ambassadors who will take on a role of being the voice of authority and motivation for young people training with UKSA.

The four ambassadors are Harrison Alvey, 23 from Eastbourne, who is currently doing a Superyacht Cadetship, Lottie Butchers, 17, from the Isle of Wight, who is undertaking her second year in the Maritime Foundation Programme, Henry Griffiths, 18, from Portugal and pictured left, who is currently in his second year NCFE Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity (Outdoor Pathway) and Badr Ahmed Badr, 17 from Birmingham who recently completed the Sea.Change Foundation Course.

Kim Fry, Safeguarding and Welfare Manager said: “One of the areas which the youth ambassadors will be responsible for is offering peer to peer support to other young people and starting those conversations about mental health and wellbeing, which is often easier with someone your own age. By talking to other young people, it can instil hope for improvement and combat feelings of loneliness if past experiences are shared.

“Having someone to talk to that can then help them link up with a trusted adult or signpost to a support resource is invaluable. If the young person feels that another young person has benefited from support, they are more likely to trust their view and share their worries with the right people.”

Harrison Alvey, Cadetship Youth Ambassador said: “Coming from a background in event management, coaching and psychiatry, I understand the importance of a beneficial team culture. I’m currently pursuing my Yachtmaster certification as part of my educational and career journey, with an aspiration to become a superyacht captain who champions an inclusive culture of empathy, resilience, and sustainability. In this role, I aim to inspire individuals to prioritise their mental health while performing at their best. Embracing positive actions for ourselves and others, even in small steps, can yield profound improvements in overall well-being and contribute to our shared commitment to Sea.Change.”

Henry Pizarro Griffiths, Education Youth Ambassador said: “My primary aim is to become a superyacht captain and travel the world experiencing different cultures and meeting new people but ahead of undertaking a four year course to do so, I wanted to see what life at UKSA was like first. I am currently in my second year of my NCFE Diploma in Sport and Physical Activity (Outdoor Pathway) as a taster and I ended up loving it so much I did a summer working season at UKSA teaching children how to sail, windsurf, kayak and paddleboard.

“I wanted to become a youth ambassador because of the amount of help and support I’ve received from UKSA and the help it has provided in helping me find a sponsor to part fund my accommodation as a residential student here. The welfare, watersports and education teams have always been really supportive of my dreams and aspirations and always offered to help me with anything I needed and I’m looking forward to passing that on.”

Other areas the youth ambassadors will be supporting in addition to mental health include education and career, diversity, sustainability and Sea.Change. Within these areas, the ambassadors will be the representative voice of the young people at UKSA, aid team with identifying successful case studies of students and attend events to talk about the impact UKSA has had on them as an individual.

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