If you are looking for a sailing course in Croatia or Europe, in order to obtain a valid skipper licence (sailing certificate) recognized in Croatia and worldwide, or you just want to improve your sailing skills, look no further.
Besides being one of the most respected yacht charter companies in Croatia, we at NCP, are also recognized as the number one Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training center in Croatia and its surroundings countries providing all kinds of theoretical and practical RYA sailing courses, exams, and certificates, teaching sailing to people from all around the World and helping them obtain one of the most recognized and prestigious skipper licences valid in Croatia and worldwide.
If you are interested in attending a sailing course, read the whole article and book the most suitable RYA sailing course for you.
Throughout the article you will learn:
- What is the RYA - Royal Yachting Association.
- Why are we the best sailing school in Croatia providing top-notch RYA sailing courses in Mediterranean.
- What do you need to obtain a valid skipper licence in Croatia and worldwide.
- Detailed presentation of most common sailing courses.
- Which RYA course is the most suited for your current level of experience and knowledge.
About Royal Yachting Association - RYA sailing school
RYA stands for British Royal Yachting Association which is together with the American Sailing Association (ASA sailing school) the most recognized and the biggest world yachting and sailing school worldwide. It is also the largest and longest-established organization (sailing school) worldwide, providing sailing courses, trainings, and RYA sailing certification with top-quality global reputation.
Formed in 1875, at the time as Yacht Racing Association, RYA has become the UK national governing body for dinghy, motor, and sail cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing, personal watercraft, and the leading representative body for inland waterways cruising. With governments and other key organizations, they develop best online and in-person sailing courses, sailing lessons, sailing training, and exams, providing global top-notch sailing certifications that ensure a level of sailing excellence.
Their sailing school covers a wide range of different sailing courses adequate for any level of your current sailing skills and experiences. No matter what is your sailing background, they have the proper RYA sailing course for you.
RYA`s main goal is to get as many people into sailing, boating, and all kind of different watersport activities while promoting safe boating practices and raising the standards of yachting and sailing expertise among sailors worldwide.
RYA is present in more than 58 different countries with a network of over 2.400 certified training centers worldwide.
More than 270,000 people every year get certified by attending their courses and learning to sail and safely operate all kinds of boats. Whether you are without any previous sailing experience and knowledge and want to attend your first RYA sailing course and obtain your first RYA sailing qualification, are a sailing beginner with basic sailing skills, an expert, or just a boat owner looking to make your time on the water smoother, safer and funnier for an even more enjoyable sailing experience, during our sailing courses in Croatia, our RYA certified instructors will teach you whatever you need and want to learn, to become a skilled, confident, and safe boater.
With our RYA sailing school in Croatia, we provide the best sailing courses far around
Operating as a certified RYA training center (RYA sailing school) in Croatia, we are organizing sailing courses since 2014. Our team of highly skilled and experienced RYA sailing instructors has inspired and taught people from all around Europe and the World about the exhilarating experience of enjoying sailing life on the open sea – whether it’s for work or pleasure.
We offer a full range of sailing courses for beginners and professionals, for motor boats and sailing boats. Regardless of whether you are an experienced sailor or just a beginner, we will organize the appropriate and specialized training programs through the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), most adequate for you.
From basic RYA sailing courses like the beginner RYA Competent Crew Courses, RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper Sailing Courses, to professional RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore.
Whichever sailing course you get involved in you will learn the best practices and skills of sailing based on the knowledge and standards imposed by the prestigious British RYA sailing school.
All our sailing courses are run by the highly professional, fully dedicated, very skilled, and experienced sailing instructors in the region, with an extensive knowledge of sailing on a vast fleet of modern and comfortable motor yachts, sailing boats and catamarans.
During your sailing course in Croatia with us, you will learn all indispensable theoretical knowledge, and acquire practical sailing skills on our well-maintained and equipped boats conforming to the highest RYA standards:
- Motorboat cruising courses are held onboard our Prestige 420 Fly
- Sailboat cruising courses are held onboard Grand Soleil 43
- Powerboat courses are held onboard our Brig Navigator 610L.
Theory courses are held in our classroom within our Croatia sailing school base in Marina Mandalina in Šibenik. You can complete any theoretical part of sailing courses online, too. All practical and online RYA courses, and all examinations, are organized held entirely in English according to the official RYA rules.
The RYA sailing courses and certificates are recognized worldwide and can be converted (from Day Sipper and above) into the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
All our instructors are RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualified, having passed the RYA YachtMaster Offshore examination and achieved the RYA instructor’s endorsement, considered the most challenging and demanding examination in the industry. Besides sailing expertise, they also know the best places to sail in/and around the Croatian coast, all the best ports and mooring spots, and more.
They can be also your expert sailing guide on what to do in Croatia too, teaching you about:
- best sailing routes in Croatia,
- top places to anchor for a swim,
- where you can meet the dolphins hanging out,
- where you can see and take spectacular Instagram-worthy views and sunsets in nearby National Parks and
- which are the best restaurants on Croatan cost and islands offering tasty freshly caught fish and the finest wines.
We are proud of offering an array of bespoke solutions with maximum flexibility for our students. You can enjoy our regular RYA course in Croatia alongside other students or an exclusive and specialized one, tailored to your specific requirements in groups with your friends or family with the possibility of choosing any of our yachts or charter from our impressive fleet!
Based in one of the best sailing locations in Croatia, Marina Mandalina in Šibenik, with a friendly coastline and sailing areas in front of one of the most stunning archipelagos in the World, home of the National Natural parks of Kornati, Telaščica and Krka.
We are also easy to reach (by plane or by car).
During your practical course, you will visit at least 5 different amazing Islands with a mix of anchorages and a modern and comfortable marina.
Summarized reasons our students consider us the best sailing school in Croatia and further
If we have to summarize our students’ words after finishing our sailing courses, improving their sailing skills, and obtaining their RYA sailing licences, they are most enthusiastic about:
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Our experienced and skilled instructors.
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Our amazing location.
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Optimal weather and sailing conditions (on almost all days of the sailing season).
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Our vast selection of perfectly maintained, modern yachts (Marex, Grand Soleil, Dufour, …).
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Our fully dedicated team!
Come and join one of our sailing trainings in Croatia!
What RYA sailing courses you need for obtaining a valid skipper licence in Croatia and worldwide
To obtain your valid skipper licence and navigate your own boat or a chartered bareboat yacht worldwide you need to complete the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course.
In Croatia for navigating your own boat or charter a bareboat yacht you need to complete the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course. On top of that, you (or another member of your crew on board) needs also a valid VHF Marine radio (SRC) licence (we provide VHF Marine Radio (SRC) courses at our base in Mandalina Sibenik Croatia).
To apply for the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course, you need to have some previous sailing experience or have completed the RYA Competent Crew Practical Course or similar (for sailing boats) or the practical RYA Helmsman course or similar (for motor boats and yacht).
Although the minimum requirements are the ones stated about, navigating a sailboat, catamaran or motorboat is a big responsibility and you will be responsible for the whole boat and crew. This is why we strongly recommend to obtain the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course before enrolling in the RYA Day Skipper Practical course.
Now that you know what are the minimal requirements for achieving your valid skipper licence and what are the recommended and mandatory courses you shall complete, let’s review the most common and requested practical courses you can attend with us.
The full list of our RYA (practical/theory) courses that you can complete in our training center is outlined here.
Detailed presentation of our most popular sailing courses in Croatia
RYA competent crew practical course
The best sailing course for beginners and an excellent introduction to sailing is RYA Competent Crew practical course.
This course is the perfect starting point for those of you with little to no experience at all.
During our Competent Crew Course in Croatia, you will learn everything you need to know to become a useful crew member, including personal safety, seamanship, and helmsmanship.
You can book any of our regular RYA sailing lessons in Croatia individually, and attend them with other 2, 3, or 4 students on board, or book your own private course with friends or family up to 5 people on board plus our RYA instructor.
Every day of the course is different. We will take you to a different marina, harbor, or one of the gorgeous anchorages in the surroundings each evening.
When planning to attend your next sailing training with us have also in mind that during the summertime, we usually organize only private courses, while during the low season, we organize regular sailing courses that welcome a mix of people, candidates who can attend both alone, with friends or a partner.
This course is a great introduction to sailing and you will usually have also a lot of fun. It is like a true holiday where you will learn to sail with great company on board, and a fully qualified and friendly instructor to welcome and teach you all the sailing tricks you need to know.
All our school instructors are professionals recognized for being enthusiastic and knowledgeable sailors, who offer a wide range of experience, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching sailing and are already waiting for you….
Apply for your first RYA sailing course now!
RYA competent crew practical course content:
- Sea Terms and Parts of the Boat
- Rigging and Sails
- Sail Handling
- Ropework
- Safety on Board
- Personal Safety Equipment
- Man Overboard (foundations)
- Emergency Equipment
- Manners and Customs
- "Rules of the Road"
- Tender Usage
- Meteorology (foundations)
- Helmsmanship and Sailing
- General Duties
- And much more….
RYA competent crew practical course requirements & details:
- Required pre-course experience: none;
- Assumed knowledge: none;
- Minimum duration: 5 days minimum;
- Minimum age: none;
- Number of students: Minimum 2 - Maximum 5 persons;
Private tuition is also possible on request
This course teaches you all the basic skills you will need or sailing on your own. After the course, you will be able to:
- steer the boat,
- handle sails,
- keep a lookout, and
- assist in all the daily routines on board.
Prices, dates and bookings: click here for all our RYA courses prices and dates.
For booking or questions contact us on vedran.mandura@ncp-charter.com
Next-level courses are: RYA Day skipper shore-based & RYA Day skipper practical.
RYA day skipper practical course
The RYA Day skipper practical course is for candidates with some basic yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.
The certificate/qualification which you get after the course is the sailing qualification recognized in most charter companies worldwide, especially charter companies in the Mediterranean, where is required to have a recognized sailing certificate to charter a yacht. You can use this qualification also to obtain an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) by sending the certificate to the RYA with an application form.
Before taking the RYA Day skipper practical course, your practical knowledge needs to be on a RYA Competent Crew sailing course level, at the very least, and your navigational knowledge, in theory, needs to be on the RYA Day Skipper Shore-based course level.
If your knowledge is not at the required levels, we warmly recommend booking the RYA Day skipper online theory course before taking the RYA Day skipper practical course in Croatia.
With the instruction and supervision of our experienced instructor, during the RYA Day skipper practical course, you will learn how to skipper a yacht, safely and smoothly and all the other duties that are necessary for safe and pleasant navigation.
Courses can be booked individually with either 2, 3, or 4 students on board, or as a private course with up to 5 people on board plus RYA instructor.
During summertime, we usually book private courses and execute private sailing lessons only. In low season we welcome a mix of people, candidates who attend it alone or with friends or a partner.
If you are a couple, a group of friends, or a whole family (up to 5 persons) and your individual knowledge is at different levels you can do Competent Crew and Day Skipper Courses together, on the same boat at the same time!
Since we put a lot of emphasis on the quality of our sailing school and the knowledge and expertise you will get from our sailing trainings and lessons, we do not arrange fast track Day Skipper Course in Croatia.
In this course, we will teach you how to skipper a short passage with the instructor who will be there to give you advice, assist and inspire you and of course ensure your safety. During the Day skipper practical course, you will maneuver the boat under engine on and off pontoons in our school base, at the beginning. Later also in other harbors and bays. You will learn how to plan and conduct short passages, and before you notice, you will be skippering the yacht.
Private tuition is also possible on request!
Do not wait anymore. Book your next Day Skipper Practical RYA sailing course before all our dates get booked out!
RYA day skipper practical course content:
- Preparation for Sea
- Deck Work
- Navigation
- Pilotage
- Meteorology
- "Rules of the Road"
- Maintenance and Repair Work including Diesel Engines
- Emergency Situations
- Power Handling (Docking, Mooring)
- Yacht Handling Under Sail
- Passage Planning
- Night Cruising
- And much more…
RYA day skipper practical course requirements & details:
- Pre-course experience - 5 days, 100 miles, 4-night hours on board a sailing yacht;
- Assumed knowledge - Theory on the level of Day Skipper. It is recommended you attend the Day Skipper shore-based course beforehand too;
- Minimum duration - 5 days minimum;
- Minimum age - 16 years;
- Number of students - Minimum 2 / Maximum 5 persons:
Prices, dates and bookings: click here for prices and courses dates.
For booking or questions contact us on vedran.mandura@ncp-charter.com
Next-level courses are: RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster shore-based and Coastal skipper.
RYA coastal skipper practical course
The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course teaches advanced skippering techniques for those wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.
After finishing the Day Skipper practical course, The Coastal Skipper practical course is your next step. It covers more refined skippering techniques required for sailing in coastal and offshore waters.
When moving to this more advanced level, it is assumed you already have navigation skills on the level and standard the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shore-based course teaches. In case you do not meet the requirements, you should pass first the RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course (shore-based or online) before doing the practical course.
Like the Day Skipper course, the Coastal Skipper course in Croatia consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations however there is more emphasis on passage-making. It is a fun but intense week.
You will be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate. You can use this RYA sailing qualification to obtain the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) by sending the certificate to the RYA with an application form.
Book your RYA Coastal Skipper Practice Course now!
Coastal skipper practical course content:
- Advanced passage-making and advanced skipper skills
- Advanced yacht handling under power
- Advanced yacht handling under sail
- Sailing in adverse weather conditions
- Handling emergency situations
After successfully completing this RYA sailing course you will be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
RYA coastal skipper practical course requirements & details:
- Pre-course experience - 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8-night hours;
- Assumed knowledge - Boat handling on the level and standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shore-based Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore;
- Minimum duration - 5 days minimum;
- Minimum age - 17 years.
Prices, dates and bookings: Click here for prices and courses dates.
For booking or questions contact us on vedran.mandura@ncp-charter.com
