RYA Day Skipper

This course is run over 5 consecutive days (preferred) or 2-3 weekends. The RYA have developed this course for aspiring skippers with some prior yachting experience and reasonable navigation skills. It is recommended that candidates have completed the RYA Day Skipper theory course before attempting the practical. Also a minimum of 5 days sailing with 100 logged miles including 4 night hours are suggested. This along with the Competent Crew course provides a broad basis to build further skills on, it will enable the student to skipper a small boat by day in familiar waters.

Living on the boat with 4 nights at anchor or in harbour the whole course becomes an adventure!

Useful Information

The course content includes:-

• Preparation for sea, deck work inc shaking out and reefing sails. Victualling.

• Anchoring, mooring, berthing.

• Navigating:- taking and plotting fixes, use of electronic aids, waypoints, Dead reckoning and estimated positions. Tidal height and rates. Course to steer.

• Bouyage. Rule of the Road/Col Regs.

• Pilotage planning, entry in and out of harbour, transits, leading lines etc.

• Meterology-sources of forecast, their interpretation, use of barometer.

• Maintenance and repair at sea. Impeller renewal.

• Knowledge of rope types.

• MOB procedure, emergency procedures:- flares, VHF use, helicopter rescue etc.

• Handling a yacht under power and sailing all points of sail.

• Passage making and night cruising.