Inshore Skipper 1 Course

This is an introduction to Navigation and Seamanship Course and is available at our ISSA Sailing Schools in Thailand, Malaysia and the Phillipines. Students must be able to sail before enrolling on this course, as there is only time to teach the course core subject material. The Inshore Skipper 1, is a basic entry level qualification that is 2 days theoretical and three days practical with a VHF Radio Course included. We heartily recommend that you arrive two days early for this course so you can get into a keelboat and 'warm up your sailing skills', before starting the Inshore Skipper 1 course.

This intermediate course is for those with some sailing ability, it is not a beginner’s course. Normally you should hold the ISSA Yacht Crew certificate, or RYA Competent Crew or some similar level qualification before applying to do this course.

This is the first level of training where we get serious with the theory needed to safely and competently sail a small yacht. You’ll study basic navigation and a range of supporting material like tides, weather, reading charts and how to pilot a yacht. This means that even if you are quite an accomplished sailor, if you have not previously studied the theory, this is the place to start. Full details of the subjects you will study in theory and the skills and techniques you will practice are at the bottom of this page.

Although there is a significant theoretical component that doesn’t mean just sitting in a classroom. Inshore Skipper 1, is very much a hands-on course that teaches you by getting you out there on the water, practicing what you have just learnt (in our comfortable, air-conditioned classroom). Our experienced instructors will guide you through the course ensuring you have a rewarding and enjoyable experience as you learn.

As well as practicing your Inshore Skipper skills you’ll get further practice in sailing and handling the yacht. You need to consistently improve and build on these skills as you progress through the training scheme. This is the first level at which you gain some command skills - so it’s a big step.

The course is called ISSA Inshore Skipper and it will qualify you to skipper a yacht alone, if that yacht is travelling in an organised and supported flotilla (a popular format for sailing holidays in many areas of the world, for example the Mediterranean and now in SE Asia, in Phuket, Thailand). Our Flotilla Sailing Holidays have been set up with the people completing this course joining a managed fleet of yachts. The fleet sails under the guidance of a lead boat with an instructor and engineer on board. Check out this next step course if you think it sounds interesting.

Once you have passed the Inshore Skipper 1 course you are eligible to apply to join an inshore skipper 2 course with SIA or any ISSA school.

Additional Details:

Chart Work / Navigation
Rules of the Road
Symbols and Abbreviations
Compasses - Fixes / Steering / Bearings
Dead Reckoning
Tides
Lights And Shapes
Safety
Ships Log
Anchoring
Electronics
Engines
Passage making
Estimated Position
MOB (Sail)
Pilotage
Crew management

Previous experience: ISSA Yacht Crew Certificate or RYA Competent Crew Certificate
Duration: 5 days
Qualifications: ISSA Inshore Skipper
What's included: Safety equipment, Instruction, Yacht, Bottled Water, Fuel and Insurance
What's Optional: Sailing Gloves, SiA T shirts, SiA Caps and Log Books
What's required: Sun protection. Sun hat. Shorts that cover the knees when sitting are best. Footwear for on-board tennis shoes / trainers / Crocs. Some people like to use gloves. Lightweight wet weather clothing.