RYA Day Skipper Theory

The course includes exercises, which will mostly be done as homework – you should allow sufficient time for this. There are also 2 assessment papers to be sat during the course.

As you will be based in the Sussex Yacht Club (Shoreham club house), you will meet like minded members whose passion is yachting. Many skippers are looking for crew to help with club racing and rallying and if you become a member you can join the Crew Register and get an opportunity to sail on these craft.

The course fee includes all training materials from the RYA. However, you will require your own plotting equipment – a Breton/Portland or Parallel Rules and a set of Dividers. You can either purchase these from a local chandler, or given at least a week’s notice ahead of your course commencing, may be ordered through Sussex Yacht Club.

Following on from this course you will have the opportunity to put these new found skills into practice on a 5 day RYA Day Skipper Practical Course. Several courses are arranged by Sussex Yacht Club through Fairview Sailing at Port Hamble Marina for the Spring or Autumn time in the Solent.

Course Structure

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 nautical mile

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 rules, 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