RYA Competent Crew is the perfect introduction to sailing. This 5-day course is ideal for complete beginners or those with a little sailing experience. With relaxed daily schedules and expert guidance from our fully qualified instructors, you’ll quickly feel at home on board.
Over five enjoyable days, you’ll learn the essential skills to become a confident and helpful crew member on a cruising yacht. From hoisting sails to steering and safety, you’ll gain hands-on experience in a fun and supportive environment.
Competent Crew is one of our most popular courses, and for good reason. It’s social, engaging, and a great option whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or with friends. It’s also perfect for private bookings or a family sailing holiday.
No previous experience? No problem. This course is suitable for all ages and welcomes anyone curious about life at sea, even if you’ve never set foot on a boat before!
You’ll gain the skills and confidence to be a valuable crew member on a cruising yacht. During the course, you’ll learn to:
Steer the yacht
Hoist, trim, and drop sails
Handle lines and the anchor
Tie essential knots and know when to use them
Understand basic sailing theory and terminology
Stay safe at sea and react in emergencies
There’s no final exam – your instructor will assess your progress throughout the course, based on your enthusiasm, participation, and how well you’ve picked up the new skills and knowledge. If you’re competent and safe to assist as crew, you’ll successfully complete the course and be ready for the next step: the RYA Day Skipper Practical course.
Price List Competent Crew
High Season Mid-Season Low Season June - July - August - September May - October March - April - November 5-Day RYA Competent Crew course (single cabin) €1,495 €1,395 €1,150 5-Day RYA Competent Crew course (shared cabin) €1,295 €1,195 €950 Extras: Start Yachting - Weekend €450 €450 €450
All prices for practical courses include yacht expenses, breakfast, and lunch. All activities ashore and dinner are at your own expense, and travel costs to reach Aegina are not included.
We offer private versions of all our courses! Depending on the season, the type of boats, and the number of days, from €3700 up to €7950, you can book a yacht for yourself and friends/family to enjoy your time in a more intimate setting while learning the skills you want to complete. Your instructor will always be on board for safety but will respect your space.
You can contact us and ask for more info and/or select “private” when enquiring a course.
There will be a maximum of 5 students of each yacht, according the RYA regulations. Other students might follow the same course or a higher level. A mix of students allow everyone to fulfilled their respective syllabus while showing you what the nextcourse for you could be!
The instructor on board will be a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster and he/she will also have an RYA instructor’s certificate and be qualified to teach sailing. Instructors are selected for their personality and teaching skills, to provide a happy, safe and encouraging environment on board!
We have a 5-page course guide covering in detail what to expect on your course and, most importantly, what the prerequisite theory and practical knowledge is. We recommend you read this as it includes answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Download our guide to The RYA Competent Crew Course.
Read what some of our sailing students have to say, explore our course catalogue, and contact us for more information about each course and our availabilities to come and sail in Greece!