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RYA Day Skipper Practical Course
A comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation and meteorology. An invaluable insight into learning how to make decisions on board.
The RYA Day Skipper intermediate practical course covers all aspects of skippering a modern cruising yacht, including boat handling, navigation, pilotage and seamanship skills. This certificate represents the minimum necessary qualification should you wish to charter a yacht in the UK or abroard without previous experience.
RYA Day Skipper Practical Syllabus
This Day Skipper Practical Course is intended to teach; pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar. It assumes the student is fully familiar with the Day Skipper Theory syllabus and knowledge; though a Theory Course completion certificate is not an essential course pre-requisite.
Preparation for Sea
Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below
Deck work
Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions
Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth.
Navigation
Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
• Taking and plotting visual fixes
• Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
• Use of waypoints
• Working up DR and EP
• Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
• Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
• Knowledge of IALA buoyage
• Maintenance of navigational records
• Use of echo sounder and lead line
Pilotage
Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour.
Understands the use of leading and clearing lines.
Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage.
Meteorology
Knows sources of forecast information
Can interpret shipping forecasts
Use a barometer as a forecasting aid
Rules of the Road
Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
Maintenance and Repair Work
Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes
Engines
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system
Victualling
Understands how to victual a yacht
Emergency Situations
Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard.
Fully understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft.
Can operate a radio telephone in an emergency and send a distress message.
Understands how to secure a tow.
Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
Yacht handling under Power
Can bring a boat safely to and from and alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
Yacht handling under Sail
Can bring a yacht safely to and from a mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide
Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing
Passage Making
Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew.
Pre-course experience
5 days seas time, 100 miles tidal waters and 4 night hours. Log Book G15 required.
Day Skipper Theory prior knowledge essential but Theory Completion Certificate not essential.
Ability after course
Skipper a small yacht in familiar water by day.
Duration
5 days and 5 nights
Dates
5 day - weekly, by arrangement generally Tuesday pm to Sunday pm
2 plus 3 days & vice versa - weekly consecutive weekends, Friday pm to Sunday pm and Thursday pm to Sunday pm or vice versa.
Please call for individual course start dates
With your Day Skipper Practical Course Completion Certifcate you may apply to RYA for an International Certificate of Competance (ICC). This qualification represents the minimum standard required for Skippering abroad.
What's next?
Day Skipper experience leading to;
RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Theory Course
Yacht Charter
Return to RYA Practical Courses
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