Day 2 of The Project: Dream vs. Discipline

Honestly, day two of documenting The Distant Horizon Project has been a bit tough. The simple fact of writing down my goals has made the dream feel much more real, and that’s made it a serious challenge to stick to the plan.

I know I need to be rational, but I’ve been constantly looking at yachts for sale, figuring out where Filipa and I might sail first, and watching videos on trimming sails like I’m about to leave the dock this afternoon. This pull between the structured planning I need and the romantic daydream is going to be the central struggle of this whole project!

I also read back through my first two posts and realised I missed something crucial: I haven’t actually explained why I’m enrolling in the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course first, and how it fits into the overall RYA path.

Closing the Gap: Where the Essential Navigation Course Fits

My commitment is to earn all the necessary certificates, build proper experience through chartering, and be a genuinely competent skipper before we buy a yacht. To do that, I need to follow the recognised RYA progression.

Since I’m still working full-time, my plan has to be done around that. I need to master the theory from my desk before committing valuable holiday time and money to practical courses.

The RYA Sail Cruising Flowchart: My Planned Route

The RYA provides a really clear learning path, and the way I see it, the theoretical classes (Ashore or Online) are the foundation you build before you jump into the practical skills (Afloat).

Here is my planned sequence to reach the point where the both of us can start chartering with confidence:

1. Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course (Online): This is where the journey starts. I’m skipping the ‘Start Yachting’ practical course because those few hours in a dinghy when I was a teenager mean I know the absolute basics. This online course will force me to properly learn the grown-up stuff: chartwork, safety procedures, tides, and navigation principles. It’s the essential classroom work before I touch a wheel.
2. Competent Crew Course (Afloat): Once the theory is nailed down, I’ll book a five-day practical course. This course is all about hands-on seamanship—heaving ropes, steering, and getting the boat ready. Having the navigation theory already sorted means I can focus entirely on being a valid crew member.
3. Day Skipper Theory Course (Online): After getting that first taste of practical experience, I’ll move straight onto the online theory for Day Skipper. This covers advanced navigation and meteorology—all the knowledge needed to take full command of a boat.
4. Day Skipper Practical Course (Afloat): This is the immediate goal. Upon completion, I will be a fully qualified skipper, able to safely run a yacht in familiar waters during the day.
5. International Certificate of Competence (ICC): Immediately after achieving my Day Skipper Practical, I will apply for the ICC. This is crucial for me, as it’s the certificate I’ll need for chartering yachts in most international waters—a key step in gaining experience before owning.

Experience First, Purchase Later

Once I have the Day Skipper certificate and the ICC, the next phase of the project kicks off: Experience Accumulation.

The plan is to charter boats for vacations once or twice a year. I guess this will be the crucial stage where I gain genuine experience without the hassle or cost of ownership.

After a few years of charter trips with Filipa across various Mediterranean spots, I’ll have the necessary confidence and data to make the biggest decision: whether to push on for the advanced Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore tickets, and finally, committing to buying our own boat.

This is the planned pipeline. It might sound a bit dry compared to those beautiful yacht listings, but it’s the only way to ensure The Distant Horizon Project is built on a competent, safe foundation.

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For those who have gone through this RYA progression, did you find the online theory courses adequately prepared you for the practical weeks? Do you think that this plan is a reasonable one?