The course is broken into modules designed to introduce and develop the skills & knowledge required. Each one contains bite-sized sessions allowing you to jump in and out of the module as and when time permits.
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Tap on any module to find out more about its content, or to see the full course syllabus click here.
The RYA defines the Day Skipper / Watch leader syllabus. It includes a comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and seamanship for those ready to take the next step in their skippering journey and start making decisions onboard.
The list below indicates the depth of knowledge required and the minimum time which is to be spent on each subject area.
A: Full knowledge
A depth of knowledge which is fundamental to safe navigation and good seamanship. The student will be able to apply the knowledge in a practical situation and also appreciates why the knowledge is so important.
B: Working knowledge
Understands what knowledge to apply, when and how to apply it for a particular undertaking. Recognises what their level of knowledge is relative to the given situation. The student is aware that their knowledge is broad but not necessarily deep.
C: Outline knowledge
An awareness of the subject area but only a superficial understanding of its application in practice. The student recognises that further knowledge of the topic will be required in some practical situations and knows enough to find appropriate sources of information for learning.
| Depth of knowledge | Minimum time (hours) | ||
| 1. | Nautical terms | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parts of a boat and hull | B | ||
| General nautical terminology | B | ||
| 2. | Ropework | ½ | |
| Knowledge of the properties of synthetic rope. | B | ||
| 3. | Anchorwork | 1 | |
| Characteristics of different types of anchor | B | ||
| Factors to take into account when anchoring | B | ||
| 4. | Safety | 3 | |
| Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see G103 RYA Safety Handbook) | B | ||
| Fire precautions and firefighting | B | ||
| Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and life jackets | B | ||
| Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radio | B | ||
| Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue | B | ||
| Stability | C | ||
| 5. | International regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea | 3 | |
| Steering & sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 – 19) | A | ||
| General rules (all other rules) | B | ||
| 6. | Definition of position, course and speed | 1 | |
| Latitude and longitude | B | ||
| Knowledge of standard navigational terms | B | ||
| True bearings and courses | B | ||
| The knot | C | ||
| 7. | Navigational drawing instruments | 1 | |
| Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance | B | ||
| Navigation publications in common use | C | ||
| Chart correction | C | ||
| 8. | Navigation drawing instruments | 1 | |
| Use of parallel rulers, dividers and propriety plotting instrument | B | ||
| 9. | Compass | 2 | |
| Application of variation | B | ||
| Awareness of deviation | C | ||
| Use of hand-bearing compass | B | ||
| 10. | Chartwork and navigation | 6½ | |
| Dead reckoning and estimated position | B | ||
| Awareness of leeway | C | ||
| Techniques of visual fixing | B | ||
| Use of GNSS and chart plotters for position fixing | B | ||
| Use of waypoints to fix position | A | ||
| Course to steer | B | ||
| 11. | Tides and tidal streams | 4 | |
| Tidal definitions, levels and datums | B | ||
| Tide tables | B | ||
| Use of Admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port | B | ||
| Awareness of corrections for secondary ports | C | ||
| Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases | B | ||
| 12. | Visual aids to navigation | 1 | |
| Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics | B | ||
| 13. | Meteorology | ||
| Sources of broadcasting meteorological information | B | ||
| Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft | B | ||
| Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts | C | ||
| 14. | Passage planning | 4 | |
| Preparation of navigation plan for short coastal passages | C | ||
| Meteorological considerations in planning a short coastal passage | C | ||
| Use of and visual confirmation of position by an independent source | B | ||
| Importance of confirmation of position by and independent source | A | ||
| Keeping a navigational record | A | ||
| 15. | Navigation in restricted visibility | 1 | |
| Precautions to be taking in, and limitations imposed by, fog | B | ||
| 16. | Pilotage | 4 | |
| Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines | B | ||
| IALA system of buoyage (Regions A & B) | B | ||
| Use of sailing directions | B | ||
| Pilotage plans and harbour entry | B | ||
| 17. | Marine environment | 1 | |
| Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment |
Our courses have been designed to work on any device, allowing you to study when and where you want. You will use charts and tools when working on some modules, so space to work will be required. Both tablets and desktop devices allow you to view the content full-screen, removing those pesky distractions and allowing you to focus on the session.
Mobile
Perfect for checking your progress or doing some revision on the move.
Tablet
Great for working on navigation modules alongside your charts and navigation tools.
Desktop
We’ve got you covered–Mac or PC–, beautifully.
When booking this course, you will get immediate, lifetime access to our fantastic content. You’ll also get a course pack dispatched the same day (if booked before 3pm), which includes everything you need to complete the lessons.
We’re confident you will love the course and our content, but for your peace of mind, we offer a 14-day, no questions asked money-back guarantee.
14-day money-back satisfaction guarantee
If you’re not completely satisfied with the course, return your course pack to us, and we’ll issue a no-questions-asked refund.
We pride ourselves in supporting your journey, recognising that this is only one stage of getting to your destination. Whatever your motivation for taking this course, we’ll be here to help you achieve your goals.
You’ll be sent a course pack (dispatched the same day if ordered before 3pm) that contains everything you need to complete the course.
Day Skipper theory course pack contents:
Order by 3pm for same-day dispatch
Orders received before 3pm UK time are dispatched the same day. If ordering from the UK, your course pack should arrive the following day.
We’re here to support you—wherever your journey takes you. We believe achieving your goals doesn’t stop once you complete the course, nor should our support. We provide several ways to help you achieve your objectives.
Course support
Once enrolled, you get 12 months of support from our instructors. You get a briefing room where you can ask questions. If you’d rather, you can schedule a call at your convenience or message us. Whatever channel you choose, everything is stored in your briefing room so you can refer back to the answers.
After twelve months, you will still have access to all the great content and can extend your instructor support should you need more time to complete the course.
Assessment de-brief
Every student receives a live debrief using zoom following the assessment. You will walk through your answers with an instructor and get constructive feedback. This briefing is the ideal way to ensure you are prepared for the next stage of your journey, usually the Day Skipper Practical Course.
Post course support
In addition to your briefing room, you also get access to our support groups & forums. This is a great place to meet other like-minded people at the same stage of their journey as you.
We can connect you with local RYA training centres and help organise your practical course.
You’ll have access to our downloadable & support content. We have over 50 supplementary downloads to help you learn the topics and techniques.
73 reviews for Day Skipper Theory Course
| 5 star | 98% | |
| 4 star | 1% | |
| 3 star | 0% | |
| 2 star | 0% | |
| 1 star | 0% |
Day Skipper Theory Course
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Sailing Essentials Course
Brilliant course. Very clear step through of all of the components of the day skipper theory. Lots of questions and answers to help test knowledge as you go. All content online but when I did need to get clarification of something response was really fast and helpful.
A detailed, informative and comprehensive course that provided me with all the skills I needed to pass my Day Skipper Theory test in an engaging and fun way.
For me, the course was exactly what I needed. Methodically progressing through the basics, to expert information, supported with some good videos, and then the revision/worked examples. All with quick repsonse times from online experts if I was stuck. Will make me a safer skipper.
The course provided my My Sailing Course has been superb! The step by step tutorials and exercises at the end of each session enable you to put theory into practice. The Assessment at the end brings together all key parts for safe sailing at sea and navigation. The one-to-one debrief at the end with Marcus was fabulous and kept me on course. If anything, don’t underestimate the time it takes to complete the modules. There is a lot of material to digest, so start early!
Fantastic course, really well put together