FAQ’s: About The RYA Multihull Seamanship Skills Course

How much will the Multihull Seamanship Skills cost?

Prices range from between £160 - £190 (approx. $230-$280, 220-265 EUROS) depending on what time of year you do it, and where.

What will you get out of the course?

Sailing a multihull isn’t just about blasting around the buoys.

With a low draft and minimal fuss in beaching, you can have fun day sailing them as well. Whether to an exposed coral reef in the Caribbean a secluded cove in the Aegean, sailing multihulls is much more than being first across the line in a race.

The Seamanship Skills course will impart essential skills in helping you plan and do a day sail on your catamaran or trimaran.  These include safety techniques such as recovering a man overboard, but also basic passage planning as well as anchoring and other techniques necessary for you to enjoy a day out at sea…

What are your limits on passing it?

With this qualification you should be able to venture out to sea on a short day sail, leaving the watching rescue boat behind.

Is the Seamanship Skills course theory or practical?

It is partially theory and partially practical.

With the optional Coastal endorsement you will look at tide calculations, meteorology, basic navigation and tides. It is primarily practical, with the idea of furnishing you with the skills to enable you to sail safely unsupervised.

Can you take the course in any country?

You can take the multihull seamanship skills course anywhere in the world that offers it through the RYA.

What level of experience do you need before you take it?

You should have at least an RYA Multihull Level 2 qualification or monohull equivalent. Do consider getting the RYA Multihull Level 3 before beginning this as you will have less of a learning curve.

Duration - How long does it take?

It will tale 2 days to complete the course, why not consider doing it over the weekend?

What exactly does this course involve?

These skills are best summed up as theory and practical skills:

Practical skills include;

• Launching and recovery
• Ropework
• Reefing under sail
• Sailing with no rudder
• Stopping the boat under sail
• Man overboard recovery
• Anchoring
• Being towed by another vessel.

Theoretical skills include

• Capsize recovery
• The Collision Regulations
• The language of the sea (this does not include the colourful language of the sailor – best to learn that from experience!)
• Meteorology
• With the Coastal endorsement, you will look at tide calculations and how to read and use marine charts.
  
  

What's my next steps after completing the course?

Consider developing your sailing in one of two directions – via the RYA yacht cruising syllabus with a view to perhaps sail camping up the coast with an RYA Day Skipper qualification, or through developing your racing skills to the next level via Sailing with Spinnakers and RYA Performance Sailing. 

Does it give you international accreditation?

No.

Where can I learn more about the RYA multihull seamanship skills course?

Also, have a look at this pamphlet for a full idea of what the course entails.