RYA vs IYT

[NZDD]

Greetings! I'm considering to start sail training and have doubts as to which system to choose -- RYA or IYT. I intend to sail (charter) primarily in Europe, but highly likely in other regions too.

Currently I'm looking at this combination of initial courses --

RYA Competent Crew course + Day Skipper course + Radio
IYT International Crew + International Bareboat Skipper + Radio

As I see, there are more advantages studying with RYA: more stringent course, more recognizable in different countries, no need to renew certificates, less practical hours required during training (i.e. slightly lower cost).


However, I stumbled upon this -- IYT's International Bareboat Skipper certificate apparently does not impose daylight-only restriction, whereas RYA Day Skipper does.

Of course it is possible to obtain RYA Coastal Skipper later on, but this will probably not happen for a number of years.

So my question is, does the daylight limitation on your RYA certificate severely restricts yachting experience? How does this work in practice ? Do charter companies check this and require you to anchor for night or they refuse chartering for more than a day (daylight hours)?

Also, if you manage to charter for a week or so under RYA Day Skipper, and sail at night can you log night hours (to count the hours towards prerequisite for higher certificates), or this is serious violation of RYA Day Skipper certificate?


Looking forward hearing what's the best selection in your opinion -- RYA or IYT


Thank you.

[boatman61]

To the best of my knowledge charter companies do not encourage/permit night sailing.
Most fleets operating where I have sailed in the Med have early starts with boats arriving at the next port mid afternoon where they promptly drop the anchor and dinghy ashore to eat and drink then head off again around 7am.

[fxykty]

I’m with boatman61, I can’t think of or find a single bareboat charter company that allows night movements. So your qualification point regarding night sailing is moot. Besides, in a non-charter setting, nothing precludes a holder of a RYA Day Skipper certificate from sailing at night to build miles and hours. In either case, you need an ICC to bareboat charter in the Med.

[Uricanejack]

I don't know take your pick or flip a coin.

In reality its the quality of the particular school and its training more than the piece of paper.
No certification is required for UK unless its a commercial operation. So the Day Night thing doesn't matter. It's a recommendation giving you an idea what is covered and what you should be comfortable with after having taken the course.

In many ways the RYA is being a bit more realistic. Suggesting as the box says.
You will be ready to Skipper a boat by Day.

A basic entry level giving you the knowledge to sail a small sail boat in familiar water in Daylight. Is a good place to start.

You can build on it later. As you gain experience. By taking course's, reading books or sailing with friends.

Truthfully, In a similar course time, the amount of time given to night sailing would be very minimal. You might get an overnight passage in. You might not depends on itinerary.
I used to teach CYA, quite often we included an overnight passage. On one hand It was mostly a long cold night.
On the other hand I was able to show students some simple things and take the mystery out of it having crewed they might be more confident trying it later.

For most people. Sailing as a skipper at night is a big jump. Confidence being the hurdle. Unless they have crewed at quite regularly night. It's not really any harder. It some ways it easier.
The hardest bit is getting a good watch routine, and dealing with cold and fatigue.

A good prep, Do an online or classroom coastal navigation course. RYA ect.

Have fun, Sailing is quite easy.

[Imkalaur]

Haven't read all the posts thoroughly. Day skipper can easily be converted into ICC (just a formality). It's quite robust but the word day in title has thrown off several countries (namely Greece). In Italy, Aeolian isles, you can sail at night (around Stromboli) with charter companies but they would probably prefer an ICC vs IYT certificate. As noted above, you'll need a license not necessarily a certificate to charter in the Med. Each charter company slightly different in requirements. Some require license to sail in home country. Where are you from? Croatia has its own ministry list.

[Kiwi_Rob]

Go with whichever organisation near you offers a training programme that works best for your schedule/availability. Their syllabus should be very similar. If you have time, go and talk with both training schools, have a chat with an instructor, and check out their boats to get a vibe for the school and whether it 'feels right' for you.

The RYA Day Skipper syllabus includes 4 hours of night sailing so you'll get a taste of sailing and navigating at night.

Once you have your certificate you will need to apply for an ICC which is a simple admin process and is needed to Charter, rather than your RYA or IYT certificate, so at this point which organisation you went with is largely irrelevant.

I haven't come across a lot of IYT certificates/sailors but that's largely because I'm in the UK and RYA is #1 over here - and I'm an RYA instructor for Sail so have to drink the kool aid...

As for night sailing, chances are you won't be doing much (if any) on charter. Night sailing can be exciting but is most often required on longer passages (think multiple days sailing from A to B) whereas on Charter you probably won't be sailing that far and will want to enjoy the local scenery which is obscured at night.

You should keep a log of all trips/hours/miles/weather early in your sailing education. This not only may be required for further progression (eg. RYA course prerequisites) but by recording what you have been doing it can help identify areas where you may require further training or practice. More information is always better than less, and recording it as soon as practical after your trip helps you record the details as accurately as possible.

Best of luck with your sailing journey!