RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course

Nautical terms

• Parts of a boat and hull
• General nautical terms

Ropework

• Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use

Anchorwork

• 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
• 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
• General rules

Definition of position, course and speed

• Latitude and longitude
• Knowledge of standard navigation terms
• True bearings and courses
• The knot

Navigational charts and publications

• Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance
• Navigational publications in common use
• Chart correction

Navigational drawing instruments

• Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments

Compass

• Application of variation
• Awareness of deviation and its courses
• Use of hand bearing courses

Chartwork

• Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway
• Techniques of visual fixing
• Satellite-derived positions
• Use of way points to fix position
• Course to steer

Tides and tidal streams

• 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

• 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 way points on passage
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source
• Keeping a navigational record

Navigation in restricting 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

None, although we would advise all candidates to have completed an RYA Competent Crew course.

• Plotters and dividers
• RYA Training charts 3 & 4 and RYA Training Almanac
• RYA Day Skipper Northern Hemisphere Exercise book

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