Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

This professional diploma prepares you to handle motor and sailing yachts with confidence and precision. You will learn how propellers, rudders, wind and current shape a boat's response, how to maneuver with one or two engines, thrusters and joystick systems, how to berth alongside, bow-to and Mediterranean stern-to, anchor and pick up moorings, tack, gybe, reef and fly downwind sails, deal with man overboard, breakdowns, fire and flooding, and prepare boat and crew for heavy weather and night passages.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

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You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling?

This professional diploma is devoted to the art of handling yachts and pleasure craft safely in harbor, at anchor and at sea. You will study the types of yachts and their steering and propulsion systems, planing and non-planing hulls, mandatory equipment, documentation and pre-departure checks, the theory of maneuvering with propeller walk, pivot point, single and twin engines, bow and stern thrusters, joystick and IPS drives, berthing and unberthing with lines, fenders and springs in crosswinds and currents, Mediterranean mooring, anchoring, mooring buoys and night anchoring, sail handling from tacking and gybing to reefing and spinnaker work, emergency maneuvers, and heavy weather tactics such as heaving to, running before a gale and using a sea anchor.

What sets this professional diploma apart: it focuses squarely on boat handling rather than on navigation theory, explaining why a yacht behaves as it does so you can predict and control it; it covers both motor yachts with modern joystick and pod drives and sailing yachts under sail and engine; it gives emergency and heavy weather maneuvers a full module each; and it closes with a structured skills review, logbook and personal improvement plan that help you keep progressing as a skipper.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Boat fundamentals: yacht types, steering and propulsion, planing and non-planing hulls, equipment and pre-departure checks.
  • Maneuvering theory: propeller walk, wind and current, pivot point, twin engines, thrusters, joystick and IPS drives.
  • Berthing and anchoring: lines, fenders, springs, Mediterranean stern-to, scope, two anchors, buoys and night anchoring.
  • Sail handling: tacking, gybing, reefing, points of sail, spinnaker and gennaker and single-handed maneuvers.
  • Emergencies: man overboard, engine or rudder failure, towing, grounding, fire, flooding and abandoning the boat.
  • Heavy weather: forecasts, preparing the boat, heaving to, running before it, sea anchors, refuges and night passages.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of the pleasure craft

  • 1.1. Types of yachts and pleasure craft
  • 1.2. Steering and propulsion components
  • 1.3. Nautical terminology
  • 1.4. Mandatory equipment
  • 1.5. Rules on nautical qualifications
  • 1.6. Differences between planing and non-planing hulls
  • 1.7. Vessel documentation
  • 1.8. Pre-departure checks
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Theory of maneuvering

  • 2.1. Propeller effect and blade pitch
  • 2.2. Influence of wind and current
  • 2.3. Pivot point and hull response
  • 2.4. Maneuvering with one and two engines
  • 2.5. Bow and stern thrusters
  • 2.6. Maneuvering with joystick and IPS systems
  • 2.7. Maneuvering in confined spaces
  • 2.8. Effect of load and trim
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Berthing and unberthing

  • 3.1. Preparing lines and fenders
  • 3.2. Berthing bow-to, alongside and in a finger berth
  • 3.3. Using springs
  • 3.4. Maneuvering in crosswinds
  • 3.5. Communication with the crew
  • 3.6. Berthing in Mediterranean-style marinas
  • 3.7. Berthing with current
  • 3.8. Using the gangway safely
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Anchoring and mooring

  • 4.1. Choosing the anchorage
  • 4.2. Calculating the scope
  • 4.3. Anchoring with two anchors
  • 4.4. Mooring to a buoy and to a sinker
  • 4.5. Anchor watch
  • 4.6. Anchoring with a tripping line
  • 4.7. Weighing anchor in wind
  • 4.8. Anchoring at night
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Sail maneuvers

  • 5.1. Tacking and gybing
  • 5.2. Reefing
  • 5.3. Sailing on different points of sail
  • 5.4. Harbor maneuvers under sail
  • 5.5. Crew management
  • 5.6. Sailing with spinnaker and gennaker
  • 5.7. Reducing sail
  • 5.8. Single-handed sail maneuvers
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Emergency maneuvers

  • 6.1. Man overboard
  • 6.2. Engine or rudder failure
  • 6.3. Towing
  • 6.4. Grounding
  • 6.5. Emergency communications
  • 6.6. Fire on board
  • 6.7. Flooding
  • 6.8. Abandoning the boat
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Heavy weather sailing

  • 7.1. Interpreting the weather
  • 7.2. Preparing the boat
  • 7.3. Heaving to and running before a gale
  • 7.4. Managing fatigue
  • 7.5. Entering harbor in bad weather
  • 7.6. Planning ports of refuge
  • 7.7. Night navigation
  • 7.8. Using a sea anchor
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Practice and assessment

  • 8.1. Planning outings
  • 8.2. Harbor maneuvers
  • 8.3. Coastal navigation
  • 8.4. Skills assessment
  • 8.5. The logbook
  • 8.6. Skipper self-assessment
  • 8.7. Personal improvement plan
  • 8.8. Safety and good practice
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

01Master boat handling and anchoring techniques, maneuvering safely with due regard to current, wind and depth, using appropriate ground tackle and respecting environmental rules.
02Manage safety and emergencies on board, applying safety procedures, organizing drills for fire and abandoning the boat and communicating effectively with port and rescue authorities.
03Maintain and repair a boat's basic systems, diagnosing and solving common faults in plumbing, basic electrics and auxiliary engines so the boat runs safely and efficiently.
04Interpret the maritime rules that apply to yachts, including the relevant SOLAS, MARPOL and crew requirements, and understand the skipper's responsibilities for safety, pollution prevention and crew management.
05Develop advanced handling skills on sailing and motor yachts, carrying out complex berthing and unberthing maneuvers in different weather and harbor conditions.
06Optimize fuel consumption and resource management, planning the route around weather, currents and tides to reduce passage time and consumption and adjusting the plan as conditions change.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

01Yacht or pleasure craft skipper, once the relevant official license has been obtainedresponsible for navigation, safety and upkeep of the boat.
02Sailing and boat handling instructor in nautical schools
03Yacht chartermanaging bareboat and skippered rentals and the upkeep of the fleet.
04Water sports and boat trip companiesexcursions, boat tours and sea-based activities.
05Marina and yacht club staffmooring assistance, boat handling in the harbor and facility support.
06Nautical eventssupporting the organization of regattas, competitions and other boating events.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Yacht and Pleasure Craft Handling

Yes. It covers single and twin-engine motor yachts with thrusters, joystick and IPS drives as well as sailing yachts under sail and under engine, including tacking, gybing, reefing and downwind sails.

Yes. The berthing module covers bow-to, alongside and finger berths, the use of springs, crosswind and current berthing and Mediterranean-style stern-to mooring, together with gangway safety.

Yes. A full module deals with man overboard, engine or rudder failure, towing, grounding, emergency communications, fire, flooding and abandoning the boat.

Yes. You study weather interpretation, preparing boat and crew, heaving to, running before a gale, sea anchors, fatigue management, ports of refuge, harbor entry in bad weather and night navigation.

No. Navalis Institute teaches the subject matter; official recreational and professional licenses are issued by the competent maritime authority after its own examinations and practical requirements.

No. It is taught online, with explanations, videos, case studies and planning exercises; it prepares you to understand and plan each maneuver and to review your own handling on the water, but it does not replace supervised practice on board.

Through exercises and case studies in each module and a final module in which you plan outings, review your harbor and coastal maneuvers, keep a logbook and draw up a personal improvement plan as a skipper.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at yacht skippers, pleasure craft captains and experienced sailors who want to refine their handling, nautical instructors, yacht and motorboat owners, candidates preparing for recreational nautical licenses and water sports enthusiasts; a recreational skipper's license or proven experience handling yachts or pleasure craft is recommended, together with basic knowledge of navigation, maritime safety and boating rules.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a broadband internet connection, able to play video material and open technical documents.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $364 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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