RYA Day Skipper Theory

Upskill your maritime theory knowledge on one of our Day Skipper Theory courses – covering a wide range of topics including: chartwork, navigation, buoyage, safety, tides, meteorology, skippers briefs, IRPCS (lights, shapes and sounds), electronic navigation, passage planning, pilotage and of course basic seamanship.

This is a 6 day course run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor

This course is the building block for those looking to advance to the RYA Day Skipper Practical or Intermediate Powerboat Course.

Day Skipper theory is a comprehensive introduction to cruising for less experienced skippers.This course equips you with enough knowledge to undertake short coastal passages by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising.

Courses take into account developments in technology and the electronic navigation aids now available on most cruising boats.

The Day Skipper theory course students are taught the basics of coastal and inshore navigation and pilotage including chartwork, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, a knowledge of tides and the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea. The first time you safely navigate to a new destination will give you an immense feeling of satisfaction. As well as navigation the RYA Day Skipper theory course will give students an understanding of different yacht types and the equipment they carry as well as safety procedures such as distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, life jackets and liferafts.

The syllabus covers:

  • Nautical terms
  • Ropework
  • Anchorwork
  • Safety
  • Collision Regulations
  • Definition of position, course and speed
  • Navigational charts and publications
  • Navigational drawing instruments
  • Compass
  • Chartwork
  • Tides and tidal streams
  • Visual aids to navigation
  • Meteorology
  • Passage planning
  • Navigation in restricted visibility
  • Pilotage
  • Marine environment

The RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course is ideal for:

  • Those looking to improve their basic navigational and theory skills
  • Those looking to advance to the RYA Day Skipper Practical or Intermediate Powerboat Course.
  • Those looking to work commercially in up to Cat 5 waters (under MGN 280) or Cat 6 (Workboat Code)

No prior experience is necessary although some experience on the water is desirable

9am-5:30 pm with approximately 45 mins for lunch

Minimum Duration: 40 hours of instruction plus exams

Course run over a total of 6 days either as:

  • Consecutive 6 day block or,
  • 2 x 3 days sessions over 2-3 weeks or
  • 22 week night school (2 hrs per week) over Autumn/Winter

There is no minimum age for this course however all students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult

  • On the final day of the course you will sit two papers – one focuses on the collision regulations and the other on the navigation aspects of the course. 
  • The course thoroughly addresses everything that comes up in the papers so you can be assured that you will find them pretty straightforward as they are simply a way to sum up all you have learnt at the conclusion of the course.

This course operates with a maximum of 10 students per instructor

Your course pack includes:

  • Course Handbook
  • Course Workbook
  • RYA Training Charts 3 & 4
  • Electronic Navigation Notes

You will require access to a Portland Plotter and Divider set for the duration of your course.

We strongly recommend that you purchase your own navigation equipment – you have the option in the ticket settings when booking to purchase a plotter and divider set with your course. This will be available for you on Day 1 of your course.

We may be able to loan a plotter and divider set for our classroom based courses subject to availability please let us know if you wish to borrow a set for your course.