RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

Pre-course Experience

Day Skipper Pre Course Experience

Whilst the Day Skipper practical course is an introduction to Skippering a yacht and is an instructional course, a certain level of sailing competence, theoretical knowledge and command skills are required to successfully pass the course.

On the practical front prior to taking this course, students need to be confident with all aspects of the Competent Crew syllabus; particularly with:

• Helming
• Sailing & basic sail trim on all points of sail
• Tacking & gybing (students They should be able to take charge when tacking or gybing and should be able to recognise when close to a gybe situation to avoid any accidental gybes)
• Reefing (students should know the correct order for putting in and taking out reefs)
• Tying the yacht up alongside (The use of the different mooring lines)
• Students should be able to use winches and jammers safely
• Know how to use an anchor safely

5 days, 100NM & 4-night hours is a minimum pre-course requirement, and we would usually recommend that students have more experience than this, to develop their sailing skills and in particular wind awareness.

Day Skipper students should have successfully completed the Day Skipper shore-based course, prior to joining us for the practical. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept students on the course who do not have a good knowledge of the Day Skipper theory syllabus.

To receive the Day Skipper practical certificate, students need to demonstrate the required level of attainment for each of the sections on the syllabus. At the end of the course, those students who get all the sections of the practical syllabus signed off and will be awarded the certificate.  Sometimes a student may need a little more time and experience to complete the course.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your level of experience, please contact us on 02380 457733. One of our course advisers would be happy to run through your experience and make sure you are on the right course.

Day Skipper Theory Syllabus

Nautical terms

• Parts of a boat and hull
• General nautical terminology

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 (see RYA Boat Safety Handbook C8)
• Fire precautions and fire fighting
• Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and lifejackets
• 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 knot

Navigational charts and publications

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

Navigational drawing instruments

• Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments

Compass

• Application of variation
• Awareness of deviation and its causes
• Use of hand-bearing compass

Chartwork

• Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway
• Techniques of visual fixing
• Satellite-derived positions
• Use of waypoints 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 waypoints on 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