RYA DAY SKIPPER THEORY | ONLINE

• All required learning materials

• Postage of materials

• Questions answered and support from an instructor

• Plotter Set - can be bought on Amazon

• Extra Time for access if required, you have 6 months to complete the course and it cost £30 for a 3 month extension.

Please contact us at info@londonschoolofsailing.co.uk to discuss payment options

Please see our BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS for details about changing your course once booked

Previous experience required:

• It is great and preferable if you’ve got some sailing experience, ideally up to or beyond Competent Crew level

• The course consists of modules that take approximately 40 hours to complete

After completing the Day Skipper Theory course you will have the background knowledge to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day. This is perfect for taking your Day Skipper Practical course.

Nautical terms

• Parts of a boat and hull

• General nautical terminology

Ropework

• Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use

Anchor work

• Characteristics of different types of anchor

• Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring

Safety

• Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see RYA Boat Safety Handbook C8)

• Fire precautions and fire fighting

• Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and life jackets

• Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radiotelephone

• Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

International regulations for preventing collisions at sea

• Steering and sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12-19)

• General rules (all other rules)

Definition of position, course and speed

• Latitude and longitude

• Knowledge of standard navigational terms

• True bearings and courses

• The nautical mile

Navigational charts and publications

• The information shown on charts

• chart symbols and representation of direction and distance

• Navigational publications in common use

Compass

• Chart correction

Chartwork

• Navigational drawing instruments

• Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments

• Application of variation

• Awareness of deviation and its causes

• Use of hand-bearing compass

Tides and tidal streams

• Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway

• Course to steer

• Tidal definitions, levels and datum

• Tide tables

• Use of admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port and awareness of corrections for secondary ports

• Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases for chartwork

Visual aids to navigation

• Techniques of visual fixing

• Satellite-derived positions

• Use of waypoints to fix position

• Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics

Meteorology

• Sources of broadcast meteorological information

• Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft

• Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts

Passage planning

• Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages

• Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages

• Use of waypoints on a passage

• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source

• Keeping a navigational record

Navigation in restricted visibility

• Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by, fog

Pilotage

• Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines

• IALA system of buoyage for Region A

• Use of sailing directions

• Pilotage plans and harbour entry

Marine Environment

• Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment