The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School (INSS) is now taking bookings for its autumn Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course, held in the INSS clubhouse on the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire.
Targeted at sailors looking to step up from Day Skipper level, this course gives you the solid grounding needed for the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical tickets. Taught directly by an experienced instructor, the lessons run over eleven Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM (September to November), finishing with a final exam on Saturday 14th November from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The course begins on 3 September.
Charting progress: Students work through navigation exercises at the INSS clubhouse on Dún Laoghaire’s West Pier, where the 2026 Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course begins in September
What You Will Learn:
- Secondary Ports: Calculating precise tide times and heights for trickier harbours.
- Plotting & Vectors: Working out accurate courses to steer while accounting for leeway and tidal streams.
- Almanacks & Publications: Getting the most out of pilot books, light lists, and Admiralty charts.
- Electronics & Paper Navigation: Combining modern chart plotters with traditional paper navigation techniques.
- Weather: Reading synoptic charts and using a barometer to spot incoming weather changes.
- Passage Planning: Setting up complete passage and pilotage plans, including safety contingencies.
The full course costs €550 and includes all necessary training gear: official charts, textbooks, navigation plotters, dividers, and practice exam papers. Students just need to bring a notebook, pencils, and an eraser.
Applicants should have theory knowledge up to at least Day Skipper standard before starting. Classroom places are limited to ensure plenty of individual time with the instructor. You can reserve your spot online at the INSS Yachtmaster Theory Page here or contact the team directly on 01 2844195 / [email protected].
