RYA Day Skipper Theory (Online Course)
SKU RYACC-1-1-2
£399
In Stock
Study the theory for RYA Day Skipper from the comfort and convenience of your home, with expert instructors just a click away
Purchase
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Duration:
5 days (Mon - Fri)
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Experience:
15 days aboard, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles logged and 8 night hours and sailing ability to RYA Day Skipper. A knowledge of navigation to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory level.
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Location:
Various - please enquire
Embark on your journey to becoming a yacht skipper with our RYA Day Skipper Theory online course. This course is designed to offer flexibility and convenience of online learning without compromising on the quality of instruction. You can learn all the essential topics such as navigation, safety, seamanship, and meteorology, all from the comfort of your home. Our expert instructors are just a click away, ready to provide personalized guidance and feedback to ensure your learning experience is effective and engaging. This course is your first step towards mastering the art of sailing, giving you the confidence and skills required to safely charter a yacht.
Overview
The RYA Day Skipper practical course is a 5 day training program designed for aspiring skippers with some prior sailing experience. It equips participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to safely and confidently skipper a small yacht in familiar waters during daylight and will allow you to charter a yacht in most locations. Covering key areas such as navigation, pilotage, seamanship, and yacht handling under sail and power, the course emphasizes practical, hands-on learning.
Key Points
- Perfect for beginners – no previous experience required.
- Fun course, with RYA certification at the end.
- Visit beautiful harbours and anchorages.
- Expert tuition to give you the best start.
What's Included
- All meals and snacks onboard
- Oilskins
- Life jackets
- All mooring fees
What's Not Included
- Sleeping bag
- Waterproof boots
- Personal sailing insurance
- Two evening meals ashore
Course Syllabus
A Comprehensive Introduction to Chart Work, Navigation, Meteorology, and the Basics of Seamanship for Competent Crew
You will find this course invaluable if you want to learn to start making decisions onboard. You can read a full overview of RYA Day Skipper here.
1. Nautical Terms
- Parts of a boat and hull
- General nautical terminology
2. Ropework
- Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use
3. Anchorwork
- Characteristics of different types of anchor
- Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring
4. Safety
- Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see RYA Boat Safety Handbook, C8)
- Fire precautions and firefighting
- 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
5. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- Learn and understand the essential rules in the IRPCS. There are the steering and sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12-19)
- General rules (all other rules)
6. Definition of Position, Course, and Speed
- Latitude and longitude
- Knowledge of standard navigational terms
- True bearings and courses
- The knot
7. Navigational Charts and Publications
- Information shown on charts, chart symbols, and representation of direction and distance
- Navigational publications in common use
- Chart correction
8. Navigational Drawing Instruments
- Use of parallel rulers, dividers, and proprietary plotting instruments
9. Compass
- Application of variation
- Awareness of deviation and its causes
- Use of hand-bearing compass
10. 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
11. 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
12. Visual Aids to Navigation
- Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics
13. 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
14. 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 log
15. Navigation in Restricted Visibility
- Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by, fog
16. 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
17. Marine Environment
- Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment
Helpful Information
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What To Expect
You spend the full course living on the yacht, with all meals provided. One of the expert Rubicon 3 instructors will work through the full syllabus with you, covering everything you need to know to be a competent and useful crew member on any future yachts you sail on.
A training holiday
Each day, you will sail to somewhere new, visiting the wonderful harbours and anchorages of the Solent. You will finish each day both on the mainland and on the Isle of Wight, and there’s usually the chance to head into one of the local pubs for a well earned beer and chat about the day’s training.
In the best place to learn to sail
The Solent is easily one of the best sailing grounds in the world, with its huge variety of locations, sheltered water, challenging tides, and lots of vast commercial cargo ships moving by. As we describe in our Solent overview, this really is the only place to learn to sail
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Safety
Safety is absolutely paramount when heading out onto the water. Rubicon 3’s heritage is in ocean sailing and expeditions to the polar regions, and we bring all that expertise to everything we do, including the RYA courses. It can mean a quite different experience to other sailing schools, many of who rarely venture out beyond their local area. You will also be training on top class yachts with the latest safety equipment, fully inspected by the maritime authorities every year.
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Who Else Joins
90% of crew join solo, so these are excellent courses if you are coming alone. There is nearly always a 50:50 mix of men and women, of all ages. It’s a small, fun group of like-minded people, all working toward the same goal.
You can expect three other crew on board, giving a maximum of four. Many other sailing schools will pack five onto a boat (to maximise profits) but this has a really detrimental effect on the training. You will simply not have enough ‘wheel’ time, trimming time and such like. It’s a 25% reduction in training time and the quality of your training is greatly affected
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FAQ
What time does my sailing course start and finish?
Start: 1830hrs on Friday and Sunday
Finish: 1600hrs on Friday and Sunday (approximate time)
Do I need insurance?
Rubicon 3 has full public liability insurance, however we do strongly recommend that you buy additional personal insurance that covers travel, cancellation, damage to clothing or accidents. Topsail and Bishop’s Skinner are both good options.
Where will be sail to?
You will be sailing in the Solent, which is the best training ground available. You may visit some of the well-known harbours on the Isle of Wight such as Cowes or Yarmouth, along with Beaulieu, Lymington, Poole and Portsmouth.
Will we get off the boat?
Most nights you can jump off the boat for a beer ashore. Some nights we may be at anchor.
How many students will there be on the boat?
We take a maximum of 4 students per boat. This maximises your tuition and hands on time, versus many other schools that pack a fifth person on board.
Will I be cooking?
Part of learning to sail is learning how to live aboard a yacht. All chores, including cooking, are shared equally between all students and the instructor. Don’t worry – there’s a set menu and lots of help at hand!
Will I be sharing a cabin?
It may be necessary for you to share a cabin. Couples and friends will normally share. If you are coming on a course on your own there is a possibility you will have to share a cabin but this would only be with someone of the same sex.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
We can accommodate basic dietary requirements such as vegetarians and minor food allergies. If you have any concerns, please check with us before booking.
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Packing Check List
- Do not go and spend lots of money on sailing clothing. Especially when you are first starting out, you really don’t need it. The main consideration is to bring layers, so that you can adjust your temperature accordingly.
- Warm clothes including hat, scarf, gloves and thermal underwear.
- Sleeping bag
- Polarised sunglasses
- Sun block
- Wash kit
- Towel
- Flip flops (great for shower blocks)
- Swimming gear
- Phone charger
- Sailing boots and some deck shoes or non-marking trainers
Everything must be packed into a soft holdall that can be rolled away
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