ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course
– 2 Day Recreational Course

ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course
– 2 Day Recreational Course

Duration
2 Days

Level
Advanced

Location
Mai Khao

Certification
ISSA Recognised

Experience
100 hours Keelboat Sailing

Accommodation
Nearby Hotels & Vehicle

Why take this ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course?

Why take this ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course?

  • Progress from competent crew member to keelboat skipper
  • Develop confident boat handling and decision-making skills
  • Learn to take responsibility for a small boat and crew
  • Practise advanced sailing techniques in real conditions
  • Develop crew management, safety and leadership skills
  • Apply navigation, weather and passage-planning knowledge
  • Build confidence handling a keelboat in moderate conditions
  • Gain an internationally recognised ISSA qualification

What does a Keelboat Skipper do?

What does a Keelboat Skipper do?

A keelboat skipper takes responsibility not simply for sailing the boat, but for the safety of the vessel and everyone aboard. This means making good decisions, anticipating changing conditions, communicating clearly with the crew and ensuring that the boat is handled safely and efficiently throughout the passage.

The ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course develops these skills aboard Sail in Asia's responsive Platu keelboats. Students progress beyond individual sailing tasks to bring together boat handling, navigation, weather awareness, safety and crew management while taking responsibility for the boat.

Training includes more advanced techniques such as reefing, heaving-to, anchoring, man-overboard recovery and selecting an appropriate sail plan for the conditions.p.

Continue Your Sailing Journey :

The ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course completes the progression from Keelboat Crew → Keelboat Navigator → Keelboat Skipper, developing the skills required to take responsibility for a keelboat and its crew during daylight coastal sailing.

After gaining further practical experience as skipper, students who want to progress onto larger cruising yachts can continue their training through Sail in Asia's wider ISSA yacht training programme.

See the Course in Action

See the Course in Action

Learning to skipper the Platu 25

Course Overview

Course Overview

The ISSA Keelboat Skipper Course is an advanced two-day practical course for experienced keelboat sailors who are ready to progress from competent crew member to taking responsibility for the boat and crew.

Students should already be confident helming and handling a keelboat and have a good understanding of the practical and theoretical subjects covered at Keelboat Crew and Navigator level. A minimum of 100 hours previous keelboat sailing experience is required before attending the course.

Training concentrates on bringing your existing skills together at skipper level. You'll develop more advanced boat handling, sail selection and trim, reefing, heaving-to, anchoring, man-overboard procedures and manoeuvring under both sail and power, while learning to organise and manage the crew effectively.

Navigation and passage planning also form an important part of skipper training. You'll be expected to understand weather and tidal information, basic Collision Regulations and modern electronic navigation, and to use that information when making decisions for the boat and crew.

The course takes place during daylight hours in good to moderate conditions and develops the judgement, confidence and leadership required to skipper a keelboat safely and effectively.

On successful completion you'll receive the ISSA Keelboat Skipper Certificate, marking the completion of Sail in Asia's progressive Keelboat training pathway.

Skills You'll Learn

Skills You'll Learn

Advanced Sailing & Boat Handling

  • Preparing and rigging the keelboat
  • Advanced helming under sail and power
  • Sail selection for changing conditions
  • Helming under sail and power
  • Tacking and gybing under skipper control
  • Reefing underway
  • Heaving-to
  • Mooring under sail and power
  • Anchoring techniques
  • Man-overboard recovery

Skippering Navigation & Safety

  • Outboard engine operation and checks
  • Skipper responsibilities and decision-making
  • Crew organisation and communication
  • Personal and onboard safety
  • Weather interpretation and planning
  • Tides and currents
  • Basic Collision Regulations (IRPCS)
  • Passage planning and pilotage
  • Electronic navigation and chartplotting
  • Navigating a planned passage underway

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

  • Students should have a minimum of 100 hours previous keelboat sailing experience and be confident performing the practical skills covered at ISSA Keelboat Crew and Navigator level.
  • Keelboat Crew and Navigator training provide the recommended progression to Skipper level. Equivalent previous sailing experience may also be considered
Contact us if you're unsure whether your experience is suitable.

Official ISSA Student Textbook

Optional Study Guide - ISSA Student Textbook

The Official ISSA Keelboat Skipper Student Textbook is available as an optional purchase and is an excellent companion to your practical training. Many students choose to purchase a copy before their course to become familiar with the syllabus, while others use it afterwards as a valuable reference to reinforce the skills learned on the water.

Sample Pages:

  • ISSA PDF Handbook index page for keelboat skipper student textbook
  • ISSA PDF Handbook page displaying diagrams and information about collision prevention rules whilst sailing
  • ISSA PDF Handbook page displaying diagrams and information about collision prevention whilst sailing
  • ISSA PDF Handbook page displaying diagrams and information about meteorology describing wind patterns and synoptic charts
  • ISSA PDF Handbook page displaying diagrams and information about meterology describing types of waves encountered at sea
VIEW TEXTBOOK DETAILS

Course Availability

Course Availability

  • 2 Day Course - maximum students 5
  • From Play Yard - Mai Khao (NE Phuket)
  • 28th to 29th • monthly (February no course)
  • Private Courses available, price upon application
  • Training Available from Mai Khao
  • Advanced Booking Recommended • Discounts Available*
  • Available all year round • once monthly excluding February

Select your preferred course dates and we'll confirm availability before any payment is required:

Select your preferred course dates and we'll confirm availability before any payment is required:

CHECK AVAILABILTY

Early Bird Booking Discounts*

Early Bird Booking Discounts*

  • NORMAL PRICE
  • Booking within 29 days • 38,000 thb
  • 30 - 59 Day Discount
  • Book in advance 30-59 days in advance • 36,000 thb
  • 60 Day + Discount
  • Book in advance 60 days plus • 34,000 thb

Flexible payment options available, including PayPal, Wise, KBank and direct bank transfer.
Early booking discounts may be available for courses reserved more than 30 days in advance. Contact our team for current availability, payment options and booking assistance.

PAYPAL
Online Payment

WISE
Electronic Transfer

KBANK
KPlus Payments

BANK TRANSFER
Direct Bank Transfer

Ready to take the Next Step?

Ready to take the Next Step?

If you're ready to progress to skipper level, send us your preferred dates and details of your previous sailing experience. We'll check your experience, availability, instructor scheduling and boat allocation before confirming the next steps.

If this course sounds right for you, send us your preferred dates and details. We'll check availability, instructor scheduling and yacht allocation before confirming the next steps.

SEND COURSE ENQUIRY

Frequently Asked Questions about the Keelboat Skipper Course

Students should have at least 100 hours of previous keelboat sailing experience and be confident with the practical sailing skills covered at Keelboat Crew and Navigator level. You should already be a capable helm and crew member before progressing to Skipper training

Keelboat Crew and Navigator provide the recommended progression to Skipper level. If you have equivalent sailing and navigation experience from elsewhere, contact us and we'll help determine whether you're ready for the course.

On successful completion you'll receive the ISSA Keelboat Skipper Certificate, recognising your ability to take greater responsibility for a keelboat and its crew.

Rather than concentrating on individual sailing or navigation skills, Skipper training brings them together. You'll be expected to make decisions, organise the crew, manage the boat and take responsibility for safety while demonstrating confident sailing and navigation.

The course is designed for daylight sailing in good to moderate conditions. Training may include sailing in winds up to approximately Beaufort Force 4 where conditions and instructor judgement allow.

Training can include reefing, heaving-to, anchoring, manoeuvring under sail and power, man-overboard recovery, mooring and efficient sailing on different points of sail. You'll also practise choosing an appropriate sail plan and managing the crew during manoeuvres

Yes. Skipper candidates are expected to have existing navigation knowledge and will apply passage planning, weather, tides, Collision Regulations and electronic navigation when making decisions underway.

Yes. Crew management is an important part of becoming a skipper. You'll develop clear communication, task allocation, situational awareness and decision-making while taking responsibility for the safety and effective operation of the boat.

The emphasis is firmly on practical training. You'll spend your time applying existing sailing and navigation knowledge at skipper level, with theory incorporated where required to support the practical exercises.

After gaining further experience as a skipper, you can progress into Sail in Asia's larger-yacht training programme. The ISSA Inshore Skipper pathway is a logical next stage for sailors wishing to develop their skills aboard cruising yachts and in coastal waters.

That last one is supportable too: ISSA describes Inshore Skipper as training to skipper sailing yachts in coastal waters, with navigation, pilotage, passage planning and crew management forming part of the programme.

Sail in Asia's Platu keelboats can carry up to five students with an instructor for training. This allows everyone to take an active role and gain practical experience during the course.

Courses operate from two dedicated Sail in Asia locations. Cape Panwa offers direct access to Phuket's southern islands and longer cruising routes, while Mai Khao provides convenient access from Phuket Airport and a relaxed training environment. Compare Cape Panwa and Mai Khao training bases →

Waterproof roll bag, light deck shoes, shorts or long trousers, t shirt, sunglasses and sunblock.

Sailing Gloves, SiA T shirts, SiA Caps and Log Books.

Course fees typically include tuition, use of training vessels, certification fees where applicable and course materials. Specific inclusions are listed on each course page.

Yes. We can recommend a range of nearby accommodation options to suit different budgets and locations. Please contact us before booking if you'd like advice on the most convenient place to stay.


We also have our own rental property in Mai Khao, you can read more here Accomodation with Sail in Asia in Phuket→

We accept a range of payment options, including credit card, Wise, KBank transfers and international bank transfer. Our team will confirm the most suitable payment method when your course availability has been confirmed.

Discounts may be available for courses booked well in advance or for multiple course bookings. Please contact us for current offers and availability. Our standard discounts for this course are listed above

Your Sailing Journey Continues Here

Whether you're progressing through the Sail in Asia Keelboat programme or bringing previous sailing experience with you, our experienced instructors will help you develop the judgement, confidence and practical skills needed to take responsibility for a boat and crew.

Need advice before booking?

Not sure whether you're ready for Keelboat Skipper? Tell us about your previous sailing, helming and navigation experience and we'll help you decide whether you're ready to progress to Skipper level or would benefit from additional Crew or Navigator training first.

Contact us by email or WhatsApp — we're here to help.

CONTACT US