RYA Courses, RYA Training Centre, Solent Sailing School

Based in Mercury Yacht Harbour on the River Hamble, near Southampton in Hampshire, we are a fully recognised RYA Yacht Sail Training Centre offering the complete range of RYA Yacht Sailing Practical Courses within the Solent:

Whether you are looking to holiday abroad or wish to further

“ Not sure which RYA course is right for you? Let us help…….”

• Start YachtingDay Skipper
• Competent CrewCoastal Skipper
• Yachtmaster with Exam
• Boat Handling
• Sail Handling
• Try Yachting
• Mile Building Weekends
• Refresher / Rusty Skipper
• Flotilla Training / ICC
• Own Boat Tuition

START YACHTING

Weekend - Prices from £295 pp

The RYA Start Yachting weekend is an introductory course for complete beginners to understand the basics of sailing.

We run our courses with a maximum of 4 students normally 3. This offers each student much more hands on time and combined with the extra space onboard we find that by reducing the numbers it creates a better learning environment all round.

Our sailing school is based in Mercury Yacht Harbour on the River Hamble and sailing takes places in and around the Solent.

What To Expect FAQs Sailing Courses

PRICES/DATES  (* Own Cabin)

2 Day Weekend	£425* / £295
Start times	Friday 1800

 
Choose the right course for you.

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Sailing Holidays UK

…a holiday afloat…

Planning a holiday in the UK this year and fancy the idea of something a little different, sailing can provide a flexible and relaxing holiday for every member of the family around the Solent.

Whether a short break or a week or two week long holiday we can put together a package and itinerary to suit your requirements and we have a range of yachts to suit most budgets.

Taking the yacht on a bareboat basis you will enjoy the freedom to move around to different locations and enjoy some fine destinations along the South Coast of England.

Aspirations to venture further afield then why not take a longer charter and explore the beautiful scenery of the West Country, Channel Islands and Brittany.

If you are a little rusty and want to brush up on your sailing skills then we can provide a skipper who will not only teach you everything you need to know but also guide you around some of the best places to visit.

Once you are up to speed then continue with the remainder of your holiday alone, or they can stay onboard for the duration, it is up to you.

We also often run family RYA Training Courses for those looking to achieve a formal qualification. It is also a great way to prepare for an overseas holiday as a family unit and armed with a Day Skipper qualification you can apply for your ICC certificate which is essential if planning a Mediterranean holiday.

So whatever your plans we can provide you with all the right ingredients for a memorable sailing holiday CONTACT US and we will be more than happy to help you.

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Boat Ropes, Sailboat Terms, Rigging and Sailing Terminology

If you have just had your first outing on a sailing yacht and are bemused by some of the names that all the different ropes are called? Well here is a quick explanation as to why rope is not just called rope! Rope is generally the term used for the raw material used to make the ‘lines’ that we use on board a sailing yacht. For rope terminology wherever a rope has a purpose or use, it is called a ‘line’ and every single line that has a job to do will have it’s own name!

Running Rigging
This refers to all the moveable lines that are used to pull up and adjust the sails. The rope that runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called the halyard and to bring the sail down the line is called the downhaul.

Standing Rigging

The Standing rigging refers to all the lines that support the stationary objects on a sailing yacht, such as the mast. These are generally steel cables and are called either ‘shrouds’ or ‘stays’.

Mooring up

The lines that are used when you are tying up to a jetty or pontoon are often called ‘docklines’ or ‘warps’ There only a couple of examples of lines that are actually called ropes on a yacht; a ‘bolt rope’ a line which can be attached to the edge of a sail or even a ‘bell rope’ used to ring a ships bell! So there you have it, clear as old rope?




See Boat Ropes, Sailboat Terms, Rigging and Sailing Terminology for further details .  

 
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Dufour Yacht Sales – UK Sales Agents

Building yachts in La Rochelle France since 1964, Dufour Yachts offer a range of luxury sailing yachts between 31 & 63 feet in three ranges, Grand Large and Exclusive.
Identifiable by their sleek modern design, flexible interior layouts and quality finishes. Dufour yachts are also known for their superb sailing performance and easy sail handling.
There are many features incorporated into their design that make them amongst the fastest, most stable and easiest yachts to handle on the market.
Universal Yachting are proud to be UK agents for Dufour Yachts covering the Central South Coast Area and the Mediterranean.
Located on the River Hamble within Mercury Yacht Harbour we are ideally located to assist in all areas of sales and aftersales support.

• DUFOUR CATAMARAN
  – DUFOUR CATAMARAN 48
• Dufour Grand Large Range
  – 310 GRAND LARGE
  – 360 GRAND LARGE
  – 382 GRAND LARGE
  – 390 GRAND LARGE
  – 412 GRAND LARGE
  – 430 GRAND LARGE
  – 460 GRAND LARGE
  – 530 GRAND LARGE
• Dufour Exclusive Range
  – 56 EXCLUSIVE
  – 63 EXCLUSIVE
  

Contact Us  For full pricing options and to discuss the Dufour Range in detail.
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Let the sailing begin! with Universal Yachting!

With warm and sunny upon us we gather for breakfast before our in-depth briefing. We are taught the safety rules first: how to use fire extinguishers and wear life jackets, what to do in case of an emergency and how to use a VHF marine radio.
It’s then time to get acquainted with the rigging and sails.
It’s a lot to take in, but Clive’s motto is to learn by doing and soon we all know what he means when he talks about a jib, reefs and mainsail.
Mooring lines slipped, it’s time to leave the marina and let the fun (and hard work!) commence.
Hoisting the mainsail and jib is no mean feat, but with a bit of teamwork, up they go, and away we sail.
All about learning the points of sail, gybing, taking the helm mastering some basic rope work, mooring the boat to a pontoon, anchoring and using winches.
Being on a boat is all about working together. Everybody has a job and it’s important not to be in each other’s way.
Clive is incredibly patient and happily explains things over and over until we get them.
As we sail towards Gosport Marina, we see Sir Ben Ainslie and his team practicing on the Land Rover BAR. We all get very excited, especially Jane and I, who snap away at the catamaran until we get a good picture.
I’m behind the helm, heading towards Gosport. It’s a great feeling, but keeping the boat on course is not as easy as it looks. But we do get to our destination and it’s now time to secure Splash to our berth, freshen up and go for a well-earned drink and spot of dinner.
It’s only the end of our first day of sailing but I’m already feeling more confident, and I’m jumping on and off the moored boat without fear of falling into the water.

When you are sailing with a group you work, sleep and eat in very close proximity so it’s no surprise that by Saturday night it feels like the five of us have known each other for a long time, and not just 24 hours. As we enjoy dinner at Gosport Marina, our skipper Clive regales us with tales of his time in the Navy and the fascinating, if a little terrifying, story of when he took part in the 1979 Fast net race.
The feeling of achievement and camaraderie bring a wonderful day of sailing to an end. With one more day to go, it’s time to get a good night’s sleep, ready to tackle.
Tacking and man overboard recovery

It’s another beautiful sunny day and today we learn to tack. We are still getting a little confused when it comes to the points of sail, but practice makes perfect and soon enough we gain confidence.
Today we are also learning the man overboard recovery.
We may be ‘saving’ a fender, but the apprehension is still palpable. This is teamwork indeed and everybody has to be fast and alert. With the fender safely found and recovered, not once but twice, we congratulate ourselves on a job well done.
The wind is not on our side on Sunday, so we need some engine power to keep moving. Still it’s a beautiful, hot, sunny day and we take in enchanting sites and kick back a little.
Alas all good things must come to and end and it’s time to sail back to beautiful Universal Marina in Hamble.
The weekend has gone quickly. We are all proud of our team work and what we’ve learnt and achieved and a few of us are already thinking about signing up for the next course.
Whilst I still probably wouldn’t sail single-handedly around the world, by the end of the two days I am much more confident on the water and sailing a yacht. I’m not quite sure I’m ARC material like Jane, but maybe a flotilla holiday like Steve or the Competent Crew course like Martin could be on the cards in the future. Watch this space!
Click here for more information of Universal Yachting RYA Start Yachting course.
The weekend course costs £350pp or £245pp for a shared cabin.


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Yacht Buying Guide by Universal Yachting

Are you looking to buy a new yacht or a pre-owned vessel there is a lot to consider before committing to what most people consider as the second largest purchase after their house.In our yacht buying guide we have highlighted some of the key areas you should consider when making your initial choices about which yacht is right for you.

Do your homework ….

For the first time buyer it is really important to understand how you want the yacht to work for you, both in terms of sailing as well as how you live on board.

Recognizing the early signs of this emotion during your research will give you a really good indication when you have found the right boat.

Look around as many boats as possible ……

It will save you a lot of time if you can gauge the reaction of anyone else involved straight away. You will quickly find out the key features that are important to all of you.

Boat Shows

Attending a Boat Show is a great way to see a large range of the most popular boats all in one place. As well as new Boat Shows there are plenty of local second hand boat shows around the country organised by individual brokers and marina’s.

Yacht Brokers

Talk to a yacht broker, they are a great source of information and will happily show you the boats that they have for sale.

Boat Reviews

There are plenty of great boat reviews by yachting journalists available to read and videos to watch on line.

In the next article we investigate

– Contracts & other legal considerations

– Payment Terms

– Title Documents

– Insurance

– VAT

– Finance

– Delivery

– Commissioning and handover

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Spent an afternoon on the new Dufour GL 460

A Dufour GL460 

The Dufour 460 is the latest and newest model in the Grand Large range. Inspired by the successes of the 500GL & 560GL the Dufour 460 offers the highest level of performance and interior comfort.

The 460 takes advantage of a completely new hull and deck. The extra width in the beam and the transom optimises the space available in cockpit and below in the salon and aft cabins. The modern chines guarantee a high level of performance.

The deck has been redesigned to create more space in the cockpit, clearer foredeck and side decks.

Like with all the yachts in the Dufour range the D460 sailing characteristics are defined by simple easy handling with high aspect sails and self tacking jibs to create a un rivalled performance.

External Features and Benefits

Easy mounting for the Code Zero and Asymmetric Sails.                  Easier handling of the anchor with better protection for the                bow

Self Tacking Jib:

-Easy handling of sails. Optional Genoa Tracks for a traditional genoa.

Modern Style Hull :

-Wide beam for performance and interior volume. Hull chines for extra performance

Improved Outdoor living :

-Barbecue and sink, cockpit table with fridge. Wide aft platform. Large extendable cockpit seats to create a sun bed.

Internal Features and Benefits

Large amounts of natural light:

-Large side hull windows, large deck windows into saloon and aft cabins.

Re designed interior :

-Forward galley layout, spacious seating and dining area with spacious saloon table.

Choice of 3 layouts :

-Versatile interior layouts to suit your preference. 3 Cabins / 2 Heads / Front Galley. 3 Cabin / 3 Heads / Long Galley. 4 Cabins / 4 Heads / Long Galley.

Sliding Chart Table :

-Creates flexible interior space when in harbour and a practical chart table that angles when at sea .

Well Equipped Galley :

-Excellent stowage with plenty of cupboard space and a high capacity Fridge / Freezer

Large deck panels in cockpit :

-Plenty of light in to the aft cabins

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