Marine Careers

There are many websites offering advice on how to work at sea. Classic Sailing have created this information resource to help those who have a particular passion for working on traditionally rigged sailing boats or tall ships, or building and restoring them. This is a very small sector of the industry and we always advise you keep your career options as wide as possible.

Our Credentials as Career Advisors

Classic Sailing has direct links with many ship owners and sail training organisations through our work promoting adventure sailing holidays around the world. Our working directors have also been involved with sail training orgaisations for over 20 years on a voluntary basis helping shape the future careers of many young people and adults . We also run a recognised RYA Training Centre in Cornwall.

See our page on 'How to work on tall ships' for details on world recognised marine qualifications for larger vessels and super yachts over 24m

RYA Cruising Scheme

The most well know UK qualification route into a yacht sailing career is the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) training scheme for Cruising (yachts)

The key qualification stages are:

RYA Competent Crew

RYA Shorebased Day Skipper Theory

RYA Day Skipper Practical

RYA Shorebased Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course

RYA /MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competency

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competency

Yachtmaster Ocean Theory

MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competency

Cornwall Residents - Training Grants for RYA Day Skipper 2009

If you live in Cornwall then you probably have the sea in your blood. Classic Sailing can help you gain upto a £120 training subsidy towards your RYA Day Skipper Practical if you sail on our pilot cutter Eve of St Mawes this autumn. RYA Day Skipper Practical is the first real step on the professional sailor career ladder and a sailing qualification recognised all over the world.

Are you already in a marine career and Day Skipper is your next step ?

Planning a career change and want to retrain as a sailing instructor, work on super yachts or similar ?

Even if your interest is only sailing for leisure at the moment – you can still apply. Maybe you have already started the day skipper theory course at evening class and you are keen to get out there and put your new skills into practice ?

Did you know that you can usually skipper a yacht on a flotilla holiday with just a RYA Day Skipper certificate ?

As a member of Cornwall Marine Network, Classic Sailing can help you access training grants for upto 20% of your Day Skipper Practical Course Costs.

You can apply if you fit the following criteria:

Resident in Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly
Aged 16 or over with no upper limit for adults
In employment for more than 8 hours a week
Have the pre requiste skills to go for your Day Skipper Practical

Free Marine Careers Advice and further training grants

You will also get a visit in your own home by Cornwall Marine Network training advisor who can help you plan the next stages of all sorts of career training from Business Management to Yachtmaster. Your advisor can also put together a training course plan with you which can lead to higher levels of training grant subsidies for further courses.

You will need to book and pay for your course with Classic Sailing as normal, and we will arrange for Cornwall Marine Network Training Advisor to visit you and guide you through the inevitable paperwork. There is a short literacy and numeracy test but it is for European Union Funding Statistics – You do not need to pass !

Half Price Voyages for Eve RYA Day Skippers

(Trainee Mates Berth Opportunities)

Scillies 2010
Now there is a real incentive for doing a RYA Day Skipper Practical on our pilot cutter Eve this autumn (6 day RYA courses available from October to November 2009)

If you successfully pass your Day Skipper on our gaff rigged boat you can take your skills further by applying for a Voluntary Mates Berth on Eve next summer (Isles of Scilly Voyages)

The mates berth for these popular 6 day Scillies adventures is offered at HALF PRICE saving £345. You also gain two 60 mile passages towards your Yachtmaster and get to practice advanced pilotage in this rocky archipelago.

Being familiar with the boat, the daily maintenance, style of customer care and understanding how she handles is every bit as important as the RYA Syllabus so we will only accept applications from sailors who have sailed Eve.

Brittany 2010
If you have not sailed Eve but already have a RYA day skipper or RYA Yachtmaster Certificate, or loads of experience – then join us for a cheaper 3 day voyage as a familarisation. We also require a Yachtmaster or Coastal Skipper who has sailed on Eve as voluntary mate for two Brittany Voyages.

We will not allocate 2010 mates berths until the 1st January so you have time to sail with us.

Link to 2009 and 2010 current schedule