Additional courses
Our additional courses are there to sharpen both the theory and the practical side of your sailing.
Theory
RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory
Advanced course for experienced skippers who want to safely navigate coastal and offshore passages. Ideální pro kandidáty na praktický kurz Coastal Skipper a zkoušku Yachmaster Coastal, nebo Yachtmaster Offshore.
RYA Day Skipper Theory
Comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology, and the fundamentals of good seamanship.
Additional course
Essential navigation and seamanship
A course on operating VHF radios, including training in DSC and GMDSS—upon successful completion, you will be able to operate all modern marine radios. The license is valid for life; renewal is optional, not mandatory.
RYA First Aid
Knowledge and skills that can truly be a matter of life and death.
RYA Sea survival / World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival
We all hope to never face an emergency at sea. However, if a crisis arises despite all precautions, knowing how to respond can significantly reduce its impact. The primary goal of the survival course is to explain and practice life-saving procedures that can make the difference between survival and disaster.
RYA Short Range Certificate
A course on operating VHF radios, including training in DSC and GMDSS—upon successful completion, you will be able to operate all modern marine radios. The license is valid for life; renewal is optional, not mandatory.
FAQ
How long is an RYA certificate valid?
It is the sovereign right of every country to decide which certificates it recognises for sailing in its own waters. RYA, however, is universally recognised as the best certification for recreational sailors — not only for its famously uncompromising standard of training, but because it is the certification of a British maritime power with a long history of yachting success and a teaching method perfected over more than 150 years.
Do I have to take the additional courses in a set order?
How you approach your training is entirely up to you, but the process does have its own logic, which is why we at NYS have mapped out an ideal learning route to make the journey as easy as possible. The additional courses themselves, though, are mostly not tied to other licences — you can take them in whatever order suits you.
Why should I take these courses at all if they are not compulsory?
Put simply, because they deal with situations and subjects you genuinely want to know. Or ones you would wish you had known, the moment you find yourself in a situation that calls for them.
Is there an exam on the additional courses?
It depends on the course — some have one, some do not. As a rule, if you take the course preparing you for the exam with us (and pay attention), you will have no trouble at all. Our aim is not to catch you out on detail, but to confirm that you really do understand the subject.
Do I need the shorebased course before the practical one?
To be awarded a practical certificate you need theory to the required level. Whether you already have it from previous experience or take a shorebased course with us is your decision. The advantage of studying the theory with us is that it can be done online, and we recommend it above all for how clearly and efficiently it is put together — it includes illustrative animations, simulations and recordings, which works far better than studying from books on your own.
What we really do urge is that you arrive on the course already holding the theory you need, however you acquire it. Once you have a yacht at your disposal for practical training, it is a real shame to spend the time below decks over the theory.
How does the RYA SRC radio operator's licence differ from the one issued by our own national authorities?
- RYA SRC courses are taught practically. Theory only as far as it is necessary, and more a matter of drilling what you will actually need in real life – calling marinas, calling other boats, and sending distress messages if it comes to that. Throughout the course you have a training VHF set in front of you, the same as the ones you will later find on a boat
- RYA SRC courses also cover DSC and GMDSS, so they qualify you to operate every modern radio set
- The course (not the exam) can also be taken online. It is a highly interactive online module including a radio simulator and recordings of real calls, and you get access to it for a calendar year. You can study at your own pace, whenever you have the time and the inclination
- RYA SRC is awarded for life – refreshing your knowledge is an option, not an obligation
Why choose RYA training?
The route you take is entirely up to you. But if you decide on RYA, you have a guarantee from the very start of quality, logical training built on acquiring practical skills. It also saves you from having to unlearn bad habits later in your sailing career. Why gamble when you can go with a sure thing?