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Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Feefo 848 reviews
RYA Recognised Training Centre

More Than Just Online We're Sailors

Sailing Course Online offers Royal Yachting Association (RYA) theory courses through our advanced online portal. Over 50,000 students from 115 countries have trained with us – but we're not a faceless tech company. We're a team of professional sailors backed by a recognised RYA Practical Training Centre at Hamble Point Marina on the Solent.

Learn at your own pace with our easy-to-use instructional courses, designed specifically for distance learning. Track your progress through modules and bite-sized sub-topics. Any time you need it, you have direct access to RYA Yachtmaster™ qualified instructors who will support and encourage you – no chatbots, no call centres.

50k+
Students Trained
115
Countries
4.9★
Feefo Rating
100%
Pass Commitment
Our Story

How It All Began

Twenty years ago, Urban Truant RYA Practical Training Centre appointed a third-party provider to offer online RYA learning to our students. Unfortunately, the learning experience wasn't to the standard we set for ourselves or our students.

So we built our own.

Three years later, we launched the first version of Sailing Course Online. Today, we're on version 7 – constantly updating with new content, including all-new 3D animations for 2025. We are now the RYA online learning portal of choice, trusted to deliver training to RYA staff and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.

Version 7

Constantly updated with new content and all-new 3D animations

RYA Portal of Choice

Trusted by RYA staff and Maritime & Coastguard Agency

Used by RYA Staff & Recommended by MCA
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Hamble Point Marina
Why We're Different

Backed by Real Sailors

Sailing Course Online is backed by a recognised RYA Practical Training Centre at Hamble Point Marina – one of the best locations on the Solent to learn your practical skills. This means your theory instructors aren't just academics – they're active sailors who put this knowledge into practice every week.

When you have a question, you're speaking directly to RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructors and Examiners. Fast, knowledgeable answers to any question, typically within hours.

Active sailors who practice what they teach every week
Direct access to Yachtmaster™ Instructors & Examiners
Fast, knowledgeable answers – typically within hours
Meet Your Instructors

Real Instructors. Real Conversations.

Direct access to elite RYA professionals.

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Richard Beniston

RYA Instructor Trainer

1 of 22 Instructor Trainers Worldwide

Richard brings 23 years of experience skippering yachts across the world – from running luxury yachts across the Atlantic and through the Caribbean, to competing in three Fastnet races and numerous RORC campaigns as skipper. He has delivered sail training on 70ft tall ships around the Baltic, and founded his own RYA school in the North East of England.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Examiner
RYA Instructor Trainer – 1 of 22 worldwide
3 Fastnet Races & RORC Campaigns
Read full bio & all qualifications

With a background in IT services sales and marketing (BSc Management Sciences, UMIST), Richard combines deep technical sailing knowledge with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly. He is one of only 22 RYA Instructor Trainers worldwide – the instructors who train other instructors.

All Qualifications & Appointments

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Yachtmaster Instructor – Sail & Powerboat Yachtmaster Examiner – Sail & Powerboat Instructor Trainer – Sail Powerboat Instructor SRC Marine Radio Assessor Sea Survival Instructor Shorebased Instructor

Read Richard's Articles

The Switch to Digital Navigation, Popular Navigation Apps, Class M Personal AIS Beacons
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Russell Lake

RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructor | RYA Training Committee Member

Founder | RYA Committee Member

Russell founded Urban Truant and Sailing Course Online, building the business into a leading authority in both RYA practical training and e-learning. His work has been featured in multiple RYA publications for excellence in training delivery.

RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructor – Sail & Motor
Member, RYA Training Committee
Founded Egypt's First RYA Training Centre
3 Fastnet Campaigns & Britain Circumnavigation
Read full bio & all qualifications

In 2021, Russell was appointed to establish Egypt's first-ever Royal Yachting Association Training Centre – a national initiative founded by the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development. He directed all aspects of the centre's design, construction, and accreditation, achieving official RYA recognition during the construction phase and setting new national standards for maritime education. The programme has now expanded to its fifth student cohort, supplying qualified Egyptian professionals to the global yachting industry.

On the water, Russell has competed in three RORC Fastnet campaigns as skipper and completed a circumnavigation of Britain in a 5.4m rigid inflatable boat (RIB).

All Qualifications & Appointments

Yachtmaster™ Instructor – Sail & Motor Advanced Powerboat Instructor SRC Marine Radio Assessor RYA Training Committee Member British Marine Committee Member Founded Egypt's First RYA Centre Featured in RYA Publications

Read Russell's Articles

What Licence Do I Need to Charter Abroad?, Day Skipper Practical and Theory, Automatic Identification Systems
Simon Pendlebury

Simon Pendlebury

MCA Master 200 | RYA Principal

Commercial Master Mariner

Simon is a commercial skipper who commands crew transfer vessels of up to 25 metres, serving offshore wind farms for RWE and Equinor. He is also Principal and Chief Instructor of the Red Sea Yachting Institute in El Gouna, Egypt, where he trains local merchant navy officers to become RYA instructors.

MCA Master 200
RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore, Commercially Endorsed
Principal, Red Sea Yachting Institute, Egypt
Master, Offshore Wind Crew Transfer Vessels
Read full bio & all qualifications

In 2020 Simon founded Wright Marine, a yacht delivery company that safely delivered more than £6 million worth of vessels worldwide in its first 18 months. He also contributes expert advice to yachting publications.

Before that, Simon spent eight years running Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre for Sefton Council as RYA Principal and Senior Operations Manager. He led the centre to RYA Sailability Centre of Excellence status and secured funding for new boats and instructor training for disabled sailors.

All Qualifications & Appointments

MCA Master 200 Yachtmaster Offshore (Motor), Commercially Endorsed RYA Principal & Chief Instructor MCA Small Ships Navigation & Radar STCW ECDIS STCW Medical Care on Board STCW Leadership & Management Pilotage Exemption, Port of Mostyn BA (Hons) Management
Behind the Platform

The Wider Sailing Course Online Team

Jake Holmes

Jake Holmes

Technology Lead

Jake looks after the technology behind Sailing Course Online. He keeps the platform running smoothly for every student, with a modern system that is always up to date so you get the best possible learning experience. He is also a qualified RYA Powerboat and Sailing Instructor.

RYA Powerboat Instructor RYA Sailing Instructor
Meghan Thorneloe

Meghan Thorneloe

Marketing Lead

Meghan runs our social media, sharing student stories, sailing news and course updates with our community. She also looks after PR, working with the sailing press and our partners so that more sailors hear about Sailing Course Online and find the right course for them.

100%

Pass Rate – Our Commitment to You

We commit to supporting every student throughout their course, exams, and any necessary resits. We work with all students until we're mutually happy that they have a full understanding of all required concepts to keep them as safe as possible whilst navigating at sea.

Students learn in different ways, and our content is delivered in multiple formats to suit any individual's learning style – video, 3D animations, text, diagrams, and interactive quizzes. When you need extra support, our RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructors are available via the in-built messaging system, phone, or video call.

Video

3D Animations

Text & Diagrams

Quizzes

Direct Support

What's Included

Everything You Need, Delivered

Every course includes everything you need to succeed.

Sailing Course Online Pack
🗺️

Physical Charts, Plotters & Dividers

Real navigation tools shipped free worldwide

🚚

Next-Day UK Delivery

Express international shipping available

📋

Exam & Unlimited Retakes

Everything included – no hidden costs

📆

12 Months to Complete

Lifetime access once you pass

💬

Unlimited Instructor Support

Email, phone & video from RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructors

Included with RYA Day Skipper Theory and RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster™ Theory.

FREE Worldwide Shipping
Recognition

Recognised Excellence

We're proud to hold industry-leading accreditations and awards for our commitment to quality training.

Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026

Independently verified customer reviews

4.9

RYA Recognised Training Centre

Official accreditation for both online and practical courses

British Marine Membership

Leading the industry in online sailing education

Contact

Get in Touch

Address

102 Saltmakers House
Hamble Point Marina
Hamble, SO31 4JD

Email

hello@sailingcourseonline.co.uk

Phone

+44 (0) 1489 250 040

Have a question about your training? Our instructors are here to help.

View Our Courses

Sailing Course Online Ltd | Company Registration No. 12358490