• Wave icon Trip Type: Coastal, Masterclass
  • Speech bubble icon Instructors: 2
  • People icon Crew Size: Max 9 (10 for ocean)
  • Cake icon Ages: 18-70 ish
  • Pin icon Region: UK & Ireland
Intermediate

Adventure Rating:
Intermediate

Day Skipper +

Experience Required:
Day Skipper +

12 Days from Original price was: £2,199.Current price is: £1,999.

Dates, Prices & Travel

Beyond the Certificate: Build Confidence & Competence at Sea

There’s a world of difference between gaining qualifications and having the real-world skills and confidence to sail or even skipper a yacht. The Rubicon 3 Passage Making Masterclass is designed for sailors who’ve reached at least Day Skipper, ASA 104 or above (or have equivalent skill, experience or qualification) – and who know that the real learning starts after gaining the certificates. Whether you’re an experienced sailor looking to push further and learn more, or a rusty and occasional sailor returning after time away, this is where we help you bring it all together.

Over two intensive weeks, you’ll sail with Rubicon 3’s skippers through the demanding waters between England, Scotland and Ireland, learning how they do it, tricks of the trade and building your own skills and experience. These are technically challenging cruising grounds, with strong tides, commercial shipping, exposed headlands, and complex approaches, making them perfect conditions to build real competence.

You’ll take on offshore legs, night sailing, port entries in unfamiliar places, and anchoring when there’s little room for error. You’ll plan and lead real passages, manage a watch, and make decisions when it matters. To make that next leap forward, you need to be learning from expert skippers in real-world situations. The Passage Making Masterclass is exactly that.

Want to join?

You don’t need to be an expert – just someone with the basics and a real drive to push on. If you’ve got RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104, the German Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS), or similar experience, even if it’s rusty, this Masterclass is for you. This is for sailors with foundation skills who want to build real confidence and competence at sea. Solo crew are welcome, and we usually have a broad mix of ages and a good mix of men and women on board. If that sounds like you, hit the Dates & Prices button to see when the course runs, along with full details on where to fly, when to arrive, and how to join the boat.

Why Rubicon 3’s Masterclass

Rubicon 3 skippers are professional expedition sailors who run voyages across oceans and to some of the most remote corners of the world, from the Arctic to the Caribbean. We’re not based in a sailing school or circling the same buoys – we’re out there, doing it for real. When you sail with us, you’re learning from the people who sail for a living – and know exactly what it takes.

Sailing Area

sailing scotland an england area map
sailing england to scotland route map
The Yachts

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Key Information
What’s included
  • All food and accommodation on board

  • All fuel & berthing fees

  • Your own bunk and storage area

  • Use of oilskins

  • Use of lifejacket with PLB

  • All sailing tuition

  • RYA Competent Crew (supplementary fee)

What’s Not included
  • Your connecting travel to & from boat

  • Sailing & travel insurance

  • Meals you choose to eat ashore

  • Alcohol

  • Visas (where required)

  • Discretionary crew tip

Interested in dates & availability?

To see when this trip runs, its start and end locations, price to join the crew and availability, click on the ‘Dates, Prices & Travel’ button up top.

Discretionary tipping of the Rubicon 3 crew

We’ve priced this trip 5-10% lower than we otherwise would to allow you the option, at the end of your adventure, to offer a discretionary tip to the Rubicon 3 skipper and mate if you feel they’ve provided exceptional service. A combined tip of 5-10% is suggested but is entirely at your discretion and based on your satisfaction with their performance. See our FAQs here.

Got Questions? We’re Here to Help!

We get it – joining a major sailing adventure is a big decision, and it’s natural to have lots of questions before you book. Wondering who else will be onboard? What the experience will be like? These and many more questions are completely normal. While our homepage and FAQs provide loads of info, we know sometimes it’s best to talk it through. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or live chat (at the bottom of the screen). Better yet, we’d suggest you schedule a call. Most crew who join do and find it really useful. We can discuss your options, answer every question, and make sure you’re booking on the perfect trip for you.

Course Overview

This is an overview of the types of topics and situations we cover during the Passage Making Masterclass. Each one is different due to the weather at the time, Whatever you face, it’s a highly practical, hands-on course designed to take competent sailors and give them the confidence and real-world skills to take on more ambitious passages. We focus on the areas that often make sailors hesitate including offshore passages, commercial traffic, anchoring, tidal routes, night sailing, and heavy weather. These are the real-world challenges that hold many aspiring sailors back from sailing or skippering more interesting passages. With expert guidance from the Rubicon 3 skippers throughout, this is where you’ll make big gains in your seamanship, experience and capabilities.

crew at sea in foulies

Offshore Sailing

You’ll take on various offshore routes, including the exposed crossing of the Irish Sea, perhaps from the coasts of Wales or Scotland to Dublin, Ireland, or the Isle of Man. You’ll plan the route, select sail plans, and experience the requirements of longer stretches away from land. These are the moments when your navigation, boat handling, and ability to adapt to changing weather are tested and refined.

Night sailing

Night Sailing

You’ll sail through the night, experiencing standing watch in darkness, perhaps entering the Isles of Scilly at first light or crossing shipping lanes under the stars. You’ll navigate by lights, radar and AIS, learning how to manage fatigue and maintain situational awareness when it matters most.

storm sails

Heavy Weather Handling

The Irish Sea and the western approaches to the English Channel can serve up challenging conditions. We’ll sail in real weather: not chasing strong wind and big seas, but not shying away either. You’ll develop your skills in sail plans, reefing, helming in big seas and maintaining crew morale when wind and sea state rise.

Using a hand bearing compass

Commercial Traffic and Busy Waters

The Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) around Land’s End and the entrance to the English Channel are among the busiest in Europe. You’ll learn how to interpret radar returns, assess key AIS data such as CPA and TCPA and identify the movement and intentions of large vessels. These are critical skills for sailing safely in commercial zones, and you’ll be navigating them firsthand.

pilotage on deck

Tides, Headlands and Coastal Navigation

Rounding tidal headlands like St David’s or the Mull of Galloway, threading through the shifting channels of the Scilly Isles, or using back eddies to slip into the Sound of Jura is where theory meets reality. You’ll plan passages around tidal gates, anticipate overfalls, and learn to pilot confidently in moving water.

Anchoring with Confidence

You’ll anchor in places that require thought, judgement and precision – tucked into the islands of western Scotland, or finding shelter off the Scillies. You’ll assess holding, swinging room, scope and exit plans, learning how to drop the hook with confidence in the kind of places you’ll want to return to.

Crew navigating on a chart

Real-World Passage Planning

From deciding when to cross the Irish Sea to planning a route through the Inner Hebrides, this is where you learn how professional skippers prepare. You’ll work with live forecasts, tidal data, Navionics, paper charts, radar overlays and more. You’ll build plans that flex with changing conditions – because they always do.

Boat Preparation and Maintenance

Before each leg, whether it’s a short hop or an overnight offshore, you’ll work with the skipper to prepare the yacht, learning from every moment. That means rig checks, safety gear, systems checks, passage briefings, and dealing with whatever minor issues have come up. It’s about building the discipline and awareness that underpins every successful voyage.

By the end of the masterclass, you’ll sailed and trained through beautiful and technically demanding cruising grounds, from the Irish coast to the Hebrides – and built the confidence, judgement and seamanship that will help you make the next big leap forward.

Want to learn? Check the Dates & Prices tab to find upcoming departures, routes and travel info

Dates, Prices & Travel

Start Date & Location

June 9, 2025
Scotand

End Date & Location

June 20, 2025
England

Price

£1,999

Deposit

£549

Availability

2 Places Available

Trip Information

Start Date: June 9, 2025

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: Scotand

Start Port: Largs

Start Marina: Largs Yacht Haven

End Date: June 20, 2025

End Time: 10:00

End Country: England

End Port: Plymouth

End Marina: Plymouth Yacht Haven

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Glasgow (IATA code: GLA)
Fly Out of: Exeter (IATA code: EXT)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes

Joining the boat

  • You will join the boat in Largs Yacht Haven, Scotland,
  • Getting to Largs from Glasgow airport is easy and takes just over an hour.
  • Get the 757 bus to Paisley Gilmour Street Station and from there take the train direct to Largs.

Leaving the boat

  • You will arrive into Plymouth on the evening of June 19, 2025 and will need to disembark by 10:00am on June 20 2025.
  • The nearest airport is Exeter International Airport (IATA code: EXT) and you can take a train or bus to Exeter from Plymouth. Bristol Airport (IATA code: BRS) is another option, also with regular train and bus connections from Plymouth.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, any non EU residents will likely require an ETIAS, the new EU border control / visa waiver system. You can find out all the information here. You must have this before you join the boat,
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.
Add Trip Extras

Sub total: Original price was: £749.Current price is: £549.

Start Date & Location

September 2, 2025
England

End Date & Location

September 13, 2025
Scotland

Price

£2,199

Deposit

£799

Availability

Available

Trip Information

Start Date: September 2, 2025

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: England

Start Port: Plymouth

Start Marina: Plymouth Yacht Haven

End Date: September 13, 2025

End Time: 10:00

End Country: Scotland

End Port: Largs

End Marina: Largs Yacht Haven

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Exeter (IATA code: EXT)
Fly Out of: Glasgow (IATA code: GLA)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes
Joining the boat
  • You will join the boat in Plymouth, United Kingdom
  • Direct trains run from London Paddington to Plymouth, taking around 3-3.5 hours (details here)
  • The nearest airport is Exeter International Airport (IATA code: EXT) and you can take a train or bus from Exeter to Plymouth. Bristol Airport (IATA code: BRS) is another option, also with regular train and bus connections to Plymouth.
  • The course starts at 9:00 AM on September 02 2025, so you will need to be in Plymouth by September 01, 2025.
  • You have two options for accommodation on the night before the start date:
    • Stay in a hotel or AirBnB
    • Alternatively, you can stay onboard the boat from 6:00 PM on a bed & breakfast basis. Select this option during your booking process.
Leaving the boat
  • You will leave the boat in Largs, Scotland
  • The boat is scheduled to arrive into Largs on the evening of September 12, 2025, and you will need to disembark by 10:00am on September 13 2025
General Notes
  • If you have RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104 or equivalent, this is suitable for you.
  • You cannot stay on the boat after the trip end date.
  • Once you have booked, we will connect you up with other crew so you can liaise regarding connecting travel, meet up in advance etc.
  • If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
  • There is a suggested packing list here.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, any non EU residents will likely require an ETIAS, the new EU border control / visa waiver system. You can find out all the information here. You must have this before you join the boat,
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.
Add Trip Extras

Sub total: £799

Start Date & Location

June 8, 2026
Scotland

End Date & Location

June 19, 2026
England

Price

£2,299

Deposit

£999

Availability

Available

Trip Information

Start Date: June 8, 2026

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: Scotland

Start Port: Largs

Start Marina: Largs Yacht Haven

End Date: June 19, 2026

End Time: 10:00

End Country: England

End Port: Plymouth

End Marina: Plymouth Yacht Haven

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Glasgow (IATA code: GLA)
Fly Out of: Exeter (IATA code: EXT)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes

Joining the boat

  • You will join the boat in Largs Yacht Haven, Scotland.
  • The trip starts at 9:00 AM on June 08 2026, so you will need to be in Largs on or before June 07 2026.
  • You have two options for accommodation on the night before the start date:
    • Stay in a hotel or AirBnB
    • Alternatively, you can stay onboard the boat from 6:00 PM on a bed & breakfast basis. Select this option during your booking process.
  • Getting to Largs from Glasgow airport is easy and takes just over an hour.
  • Get the 757 bus to Paisley Gilmour Street Station and from there take the train direct to Largs.

Leaving the boat

  • You will arrive into Plymouth on the evening of June 18, 2026 and will need to disembark by 10:00am on June 19 2026.
  • The nearest airport is Exeter International Airport (IATA code: EXT) and you can take a train or bus to Exeter from Plymouth. Bristol Airport (IATA code: BRS) is another option, also with regular train and bus connections from Plymouth.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, any non EU residents will likely require an ETIAS, the new EU border control / visa waiver system. You can find out all the information here. You must have this before you join the boat,
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.
Add Trip Extras

Sub total: £999

Start Date & Location

September 28, 2026
Scotland

End Date & Location

October 9, 2026
England

Price

£2,299

Deposit

£999

Availability

Available

Trip Information

Start Date: September 28, 2026

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: Scotland

Start Port: Oban

Start Marina: Oban Transit Marina

End Date: October 9, 2026

End Time: 09:00

End Country: England

End Port: Falmouth

End Marina: Port Pendennis

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Glasgow (IATA code: GLA)
Fly Out of: Exeter (IATA code: EXT)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes

Joining the boat

  • You will join the boat in Oban, Scotland.
  • The trip starts at 9:00 AM on September 28 2026, so you will need to be in Oban on September 27 2026.
  • You have two options for accommodation on the night before the start date:
    • Stay in a hotel or AirBnB
    • Alternatively, you can stay onboard the boat from 6:00 PM on a bed & breakfast basis. Select this option during your booking process.
  • Getting to Oban from Glasgow airport is easy and takes just over 3 hours.

Leaving the boat

  • You will arrive into Falmouth on the evening of October 08, 2026 and will need to disembark by 9:00am on Ocotber 9 2026.
  • The nearest airport is Exeter International Airport (IATA code: EXT) and you can take a train or bus to Exeter from Falmouth. Bristol Airport (IATA code: BRS) is another option, also with regular train and bus connections from Falmouth.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, any non EU residents will likely require an ETIAS, the new EU border control / visa waiver system. You can find out all the information here. You must have this before you join the boat,
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.
Add Trip Extras

Sub total: £999

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