Seeing as you have nav experience and some open
water experience I would suggest the Coastal
Skipper course.
Theory can be done online and Practical can be done at any of the schools on the S coast, most of which are
liveaboard for 5-7 days and covers all aspects of
boat operations.
This will allow you to operate vessels up to 64ft/80gt anywhere.
You can choose
Power only or the Sail/Power combo.. my ticket covers both to the above limits.
PS: I took my exam in the early 80's in Poole, Dorset.. I did not do the course but studied the Theory at night
classes and took the Practical on my own
boat (solo) with an instructor hired for the day from a RYA
school locally.
I followed all the manouveres under sail or power while he threw the theory questions at me at the same time, buoyage, rules etc..
I was ex RN so felt competent enough to bypass to conventional
route.
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