Excellent books to complete your yachting library

We would like to recommend the following books and navigation materials to continue learning and to prepare your passages.

These articles can be bought amongst other at our training centre and some webshops. RYA members can benefit from a discount when buying these books at the RYA webshop.

We keep a small stock of these RYA books at our centre in Kortgene.

RYA Competent Crew Skills

RYA Competent Crew Skills is the official companion for the RYA Competent Crew Course.

This book is designed to assist you in understanding new concepts and the unique terminology that is used in the world of boating. It is an excellent starting point for those undertaking their first boating experience in order to make sense of the first few days on board, or as a handy reference book for those returning to the sport after time away from it.

We highly recommend this RYA Competent Crew Skills handbook to support your RYA five-day course.

The book is available for sale at our training centre.

RYA Day Skipper practical skills

The RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Notes offers guidance on all aspects of taking charge of a yacht for a short passage, such as crew briefing, safety, boat handling and more. It has been compiled to complement the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course and draws on the cumulative experience of hundreds of experienced sailing instructors.

The techniques shown or described are tried and tested and are suitable for most types of cruising yacht.

We highly recommend buying this book to support your successful participation at the RYA Day Skipper practical training course.

The book is for sale at our RYA training centre.

RYA Yachtmaster handbook

The RYA Yachtmaster Handbook is a fantastic guide for anyone preparing for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Coastal examinations. It will not only appeal to both leisure sailors and motor cruisers; there is a section covering commercial endorsement requirements for those who wish to use their qualification professionally.

It describes what you can expect on the day of the examination, the thinking behind the test and what the examiner is looking for.

With the aid of illustrations, it is designed to make you focus on areas where skills can sometimes be lacking, with the aim of setting you up for life beyond the Yachtmaster exam as a competent and confident skipper.

This book is on sale at our training centre.

RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques

RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques is the perfect companion for any skipper or crew looking for the basic skills to enjoy confident cruising in good conditions.

This will provide you with the information to enjoy relaxed yacht cruising in favourable conditions with a family, particularly for flotilla or bareboat holidays. 

This book will help building expertise by providing a basic overview of yacht sailing techniques in preparation of the RYA's Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses.

This book is on sale at our training centre.

RYA Sea Survival handbook

This book is the official text for the RYA Basic Sea Survival Course and the RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Course and supports ISAF approved Offshore Personal Survival courses. It also highlights the importance of having the correct safety equipment and will also give you the knowledge of how and when to use it, making it invaluable for anyone who takes a boat offshore for racing or cruising.

Amongst other the book covers life rafts, life jackets, calling for Help, understanding weather, MOB prevention and fire control.

This book is on sale at our training centre.

RYA Weather handbook

If you are doing an RYA course or are simply seeking to gain a greater understanding of the weather, this edition of the RYA Weather Handbook (which covers the Northern and Southern Hemispheres) is full of practical and useful information, on aspects such as theory, weather charts, clouds, predicting the wind, and the technology used in sourcing meteorological information.

This handbook provides information about where to obtain forecasts, the growing use of technology in forecasting weather and obtaining up-to-date information, and in particular monitoring the tell-tale signs around you for any indication that the weather may not be doing what was forecast.

RYA Navigation handbook

Best-selling RYA Navigation Handbook is essential reading for anyone taking to the water and looking for the complete guide to navigation.

Navigation techniques and practices have changed dramatically over the years and today, many sailors and motor boaters regard electronic instruments as their principal means of navigation. However, traditional methods still have an important part to play, as does knowledge of aspects such as tides, lights, buoys and beacons.

As with many RYA books, this edition is available as eBook and printed.