BeginnerRYA Start Yachting
Try sailing over a relaxed two-day weekend and learn the first essentials of steering, sails, ropework and safety aboard.

RYA training in Phuket
RYA sailing courses from Phuket Yacht Haven Marina
Learn to sail
Learn to crew and skipper a cruising yacht in a small group, with real time at the helm and life onboard included.
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Explore the Andaman
Build miles while discovering limestone bays, remote marine parks and unforgettable anchorages.
Go professional
Prepare for your RYA Yachtmaster exam, complete PPR and STCW training, and work toward an RYA Commercial Endorsement.For recreational boating abroad, review the separate ICC application route.
Our home port
Our practical courses begin at a full-service, deep-water marina on Phuket's sheltered northeast coast—an easy place to arrive, prepare and set sail into the Andaman.

Around 20 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport, the perfect starting point for your Andaman Sea adventure.
Sail toward Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Racha and the southern islands with scenic passages.
Course calendar
Choose an upcoming course or explore the full training calendar.

Stephen Miller
Chief Instructor
Commercially Endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Ocean — Sail and Power
Steve is an accomplished RYA Yachtmaster and Shorebased Theory Instructor with more than a decade of professional teaching experience. His sailing and training experience spans the Baltic, UK and Atlantic coasts, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
Experienced in the waters between Langkawi and Phuket
Steve served two teaching seasons with Red Cap Sailing School in Langkawi, delivering courses and sailing regularly between Langkawi and Phuket. He brings first-hand familiarity with the passages and training waters of the Andaman Sea.
In 2018, Steve founded Marbella Sailing School and served as its Principal and Chief Instructor for five years. Students value his clear explanations, patient approach and ability to build confidence at every level—from first-time crew to aspiring Yachtmasters.
Training yacht
A modern 2012 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS, carefully maintained, commercially coded for RYA training and operated to the highest safety standards.
Rare training-yacht comfort
Unlike many practical RYA training yachts, Andaman Cruise 2 is equipped with AIR CONDITIONING—adding welcome comfort during a liveaboard course in Phuket's tropical climate.

Yacht charter
Continue your time on the water with a hand-picked selection of catamarans and monohulls available from Phuket.
Sailing the Andaman
Watch sailing around Phuket and the Andaman Sea—from tropical island passages to everyday life aboard.
Why train with us
Choosing a sailing school that suits you can make a huge difference to your experience of learning. Here are six reasons people love us and choose to sail with Phuket Sea School.
Learn among spectacular scenery, beautiful beaches and warm swimming spots, with welcoming local communities and excellent Thai food along the way.
Train within the recognised RYA system, with clear standards for safety, course delivery and training quality.
Learn with an experienced British instructor who knows how to teach, how to make training enjoyable and how to use local Andaman knowledge effectively.
Train aboard a well-maintained yacht with onboard accommodation included, air conditioning and support from the experienced Cruise Asia charter team.
Phuket offers rewarding wind and varied conditions for every level, from complete beginners to experienced sailors developing advanced skills.
Meet students from around the world—around 60% from Europe and the Americas and 40% from Asia-Pacific. We love that diversity.
Course reviews
Illustrative testimonials for design development. Replace these examples with verified student feedback before public launch.

“I arrived as a complete beginner and finished the week confidently helming, handling sails and helping around the yacht. Steve Miller explained everything calmly, and learning among the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay was unforgettable.”
Alex Morgan
RYA Competent Crew
United Kingdom

“The liveaboard format made the course feel like real cruising rather than a series of classroom exercises. Phuket's warm water, quiet anchorages and spectacular scenery made an ideal place to learn.”
Sofia Bennett
RYA Competent Crew
Singapore

“Steve gave me space to make decisions while always keeping the boat and crew safe. By Friday I was planning approaches, briefing the crew and taking command with much more confidence.”
Daniel Wu
RYA Day Skipper Practical
Germany

“A challenging but very rewarding week. Pilotage around Phuket's islands turned the chartwork into something practical, and Steve's feedback after every manoeuvre was clear and useful.”
Lena Fischer
RYA Day Skipper Practical
Hong Kong

“The passages, changing conditions and busy approaches gave us plenty to work with. Steve remained calm throughout and pushed each student at exactly the right level.”
Oliver Grant
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
Australia

“I wanted more confidence leading an experienced crew, not just another certificate. The coaching was precise, the yacht was comfortable, and the Andaman sailing area was genuinely beautiful.”
Camille Laurent
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
France

“Steve quickly identified the small habits that were weakening my skippering. The week was intensive, practical and focused, and I went into the exam feeling properly prepared rather than simply rehearsed.”
Thomas de Vries
Yachtmaster Preparation
Netherlands

“Excellent preparation for command, pilotage and crew management. Steve asked difficult questions but always explained the reasoning, and the varied waters around Phuket provided a superb training ground.”
Maya Hassan
Yachtmaster Preparation
United Arab Emirates

“The passage-planning and navigation topics finally made sense. Every exercise connected back to situations we could encounter around Phuket and Phang Nga Bay.”
Narin Chai
RYA Day Skipper Theory
Thailand

“A well-structured course with patient explanations and plenty of practical examples. It gave me the confidence to move from theory into my Day Skipper practical week.”
Li Wei
RYA Day Skipper Theory
China

“An intensive programme made manageable through logical teaching and excellent course materials. Weather, passage planning and collision regulations were all connected into one clear picture.”
Erik Lund
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory
Sweden

“The radio procedures were taught clearly and then practised until they felt natural. I left understanding how to make routine, urgency and distress calls—not merely how to pass the assessment.”
Aisha Rahman
RYA Marine Radio SRC
Malaysia

“Steve made a technical subject relaxed and practical. The DSC exercises and realistic call scenarios were especially useful, and I felt fully prepared for the exam.”
Connor Murphy
RYA Marine Radio SRC
Ireland

“A practical first-aid day focused on the realities of helping someone afloat. The marine scenarios made the training far more relevant than a standard workplace course.”
Hannah Brooks
RYA First Aid
New Zealand

“Two packed days of manoeuvring, planning and close-quarters handling. Steve was patient, precise and encouraging, and I finished feeling ready to handle a powerboat independently.”
James Walker
RYA Powerboat Level 2
United Kingdom

“The training was professional without feeling pressured. Practising around Phuket gave us a useful mix of open water, marina handling and real traffic.”
Emi Tanaka
RYA Powerboat Course
Japan

“A perfect introduction to sailing. I was nervous at the start, but Steve had me steering and helping with sails on the first day. I immediately wanted to continue to Competent Crew.”
Chloe Martin
RYA Start Yachting
Canada

“Real miles, proper watchkeeping and useful coaching rather than simply being a passenger. Sunrise among the islands and the overnight sailing were highlights of the trip.”
Pieter Jacobs
Andaman Mile Builder
South Africa

“The two-course pathway worked brilliantly. I built solid crew skills first and then learned to make decisions as skipper, all while living aboard in one of the most scenic sailing areas I have visited.”
Luca Bernardi
Competent Crew + Day Skipper Package
Switzerland

“The private format let Steve tailor every exercise to our family and our future cruising plans. We learned a huge amount, enjoyed beautiful Phuket anchorages and never felt rushed.”
Rachel Adams
Private Yacht Training
United States
Good to know
No. Competent Crew is designed for complete beginners. We teach in a practical, supportive environment.
You will receive the relevant RYA course certificate when you complete the course and demonstrate the required standard. Practical courses such as Competent Crew and Day Skipper are continuously assessed. Yachtmaster Preparation is training rather than a qualification; the Yachtmaster certificate is awarded only after passing the separate examination.
Our initial practical courses use Andaman Cruise 2, a well-maintained Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42DS based at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina. She has three double cabins, a galley sofa, two heads and air conditioning, and is equipped and operated for RYA training. Your confirmed course run and joining instructions identify the assigned yacht.
RYA sail-cruising practical weeks are limited to a maximum of five students aboard our training yacht. Yachtmaster Preparation and examination programmes have a maximum of four candidates. Actual groups may be smaller, and the school may further limit advanced-course numbers to protect training quality.
Online card bookings are paid securely through Stripe. Bank transfer is also available; when a course starts at least 90 days after booking, an eligible transfer booking may pay a 30% deposit with the remaining 70% due 60 days before the course. Otherwise, full payment is required. The checkout shows the payment methods and currencies currently available for your booking.
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