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RYA Day Skipper shorebased distance learning course
- About the course
- This is the Royal Yachting Association’s entry level theory course for those that might in the future consider an advanced level course. Please note that “entry level” doesn’t necessarily mean simple and conscientious completion of all the exercises is an essential contributor to successful completion of this course. If you don't already hold the RYA Day Skipper shorebased satisfactory course completion certificate then Centaur Sailing Limited recommends this as the course for you unless you are an angler, diver, or RIB user and you think that the "Basic Navigation & Safety" course might be sufficient for your requirements.
- To get the most from this course, which is conducted by e-mail, students are advised to allow approximately 64 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises and assessments leading to the award of the RYA course certificate. A detailed, module by module, course outline is given in the section below.
- Please note that this is a substantial course. In the same way that John Goode's Southern Sailing doesn't subscribe to "fast-track" methods, students seeking just to acquire a certificate, with less regard to the acquisition of firmly founded skills and knowledge, are likely to find that a Centaur Sailing Limited course is unsuitable for their needs.
- The RYA continually revises this course to ensure it meets the current needs of leisure sailors and Centaur Sailing Limited ensures that it's materials are up-to-date with the latest RYA syllabus. As a result we ask that students complete their correspondence course & assessments within 12 months from the date of enrolment. Currently the course completion statistics show the quickest student having taken just 1 week with the average time being 24 weeks for a student to achieve their certificate.
- Follow this link to see the latest list of typographic errors identified in the course materials.
- Follow this link to see student comments about this course.
- Follow this link to see a free sample of Centaur Sailing Limited's Day Skipper course materials.
- Our slogan "High quality tuition at reasonable cost" really says it all, we strive to offer the best quality tuition that it's possible to get. At the same time we are well aware that our course fees are the most reasonable to be found, so we don't offer or negotiate discounts. However, if a couple were emabarking on a course together, one way to save money would be for one to enrol on a "Full-support" course and the other on a "No support" course. If the person with the "Full-support" course then acts as a mouthpiece for both, then not only does the second person get indirect support but if the two people compare and agree their answers then they can both benefit from the marking given to the "Full-support" student.
- Included in the course fee
(orders where the e-mail address is kept secret or only an initial instead of a first name is given will not be accepted) - Centaur Sailing Limited CD-ROM containing over 1,700 pages of course notes, worked examples and exercises suitable for Windows or Mac. There are two types of questions in the course notes, "student marked" with model answers intended for marking by the student and "instructor marked" without model answers which are intended for marking by your instructor.
- Paper versions of RYA Training Charts 3 and 4 (Northern Hemisphere).
- Electronic versions of RYA Training Charts 3 and 4 (Northern Hemisphere) contained in the Admiralty / RYA Electronic Chart Plotter (Training Version) for Windows XP (not Mac).
- If you are confident about your navigation and seamanship abilities and your ability to learn without the support of an instructor, you can save £100 on the cost of your course by opting for the "no-support" course. Students on a "no-support" course work alone without the benefit of instructor support until all the course modules have been completed and the next step is to take the mock assessments. Please note that answers to "instructor marked questions" are not given to students on a "no-support" course.
- Please also note that we will only accept orders to be sent to an address with a UK postcode.
- RYA Training Almanac (Northern Hemisphere). A fictitious almanac designed specifically for RYA shorebased courses. Just like a real almanac, it includes tide tables, pilotage notes and other important sources of information used throughout this course which cannot be completed without a copy of the RYA Training Almanac (Northern Hemisphere version for Centaur Sailing Limited courses). Please note that this item supercedes the publication known as 'Practice Navigation Tables'.
- Admiralty Chart 5011. A reference book for the symbols and abbreviations used on Admiralty Charts. Centaur Sailing Limited recommends that every skipper and/or navigator keeps a personal copy of Chart 5011 with their own favourite plotter and compass (see below). This course cannot be completed without a copy of the Admiralty Chart 5011. Please note that this item is now in a third edition and supercedes previous editions or publications that don't show an edition number at all.
- Professional Navigation Course Plotter. We at Centaur Sailing Limited have tried quite a number of the different designs of marine course plotter. Each has disadvantages of some sort. Even the ubiquitous Breton type of plotter (a.k.a. “Portland Plotter”), causes frequent complaint from students that the rotating protractor “sticks” and then “jumps” too far when trying to select a bearing; making it hard, if not impossible, to achieve the precision desired when developing plotting skills. We have designed our own plotter, with no moving parts to cause problems, and now have it specially manufactured. The goal was to bring together the advantages seen in other designs, at the same time minimising their disadvantages, i.e. to provide a really “user-friendly” plotter which offers the best possible accuracy for marine navigation. Please note that this course cannot be completed without a course plotter.
- A personal (Windows or Mac) computer.
- E-mail facilities, preferably via a broadband internet connection to support e-mailing of documents that will contain graphics, i.e. large documents.
- A printer. Access to a scanner is also very useful.
- A compass with a wide enough span to draw both large and small arcs on an Admiralty chart. Please note that this course cannot be completed without the ability to draw erasable arcs, i.e. in pencil, on a chart.
- 2B pencil, pencil sharpener and soft eraser for work on paper charts.
Day Skipper Course Outline
- Module DS00 "Briefing"
35 pages of briefing notes - Enclosed with your course materials you will receive a letter welcoming you to your course, providing a checklist of contents and giving guidance on how to get started on your course, i.e. how to get into this briefing module.
- A list of all the documents on your CD-ROM including the course modules listed below and other resources included on the CD-ROM.
- A list of the items you'll need to get for the course. This information mirrors that given in course options and materials.
- Advice on how the "self-marked" and "instructor-marked" questions should be approached.
- Advice about the "mock" and "real" end of course assessments.
- Advice regarding printing the substantial course notes.
- A briefing on the theory and practical courses in the RYA Cruising Scheme, how they relate to each other and how they connect with the examinations for an MCA/RYA "Certificate of Competence".
- Module DS01 "Seamanship"
112 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 4 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - For those interested in motor vessels: recognise parts of a boat using the correct nautical terms for each part.
- For those interested in sailing vessels:
- Recognise parts of a boat and simply explain their purpose using the correct nautical terms for each part.
- Explain simply how a sail works.
- Describe the various “points of sail” referring to sail plan, how the sail is working and the degree of heel for each point of sail.
- Describe to a chandler the rope properties required for a particular task.
- Tie and explain the uses for: reef knot, sheet bend, double sheet bend, figure of eight knot, clove hitch, rolling hitch, round turn and 2 half hitches and bowline.
- Describe the technique and ropework required to moor alongside: a pontoon, another yacht, a wall.
- Explain how to select an anchorage, which anchor to use according to differing types of seabed, anchor type advantages & disadvantages and how much scope of chain/warp to deploy.
- Module DS02 "Chart Familiarisation"
176 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 5 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Explain what information is available on an Admiralty chart and in an almanac.
- Use Admiralty Chart 5011 to look up the meaning of symbols and abbreviations used on Admiralty charts.
- Plot a position on an Admiralty chart by latitude and longitude coordinates using a Breton type of plotter.
- Explain what is meant by a “Nautical Mile” and how to calculate distance on an Admiralty chart using a pencil-holding compass.
- Explain what is meant by the term “Knot”.
- Draw any bearing line on an Admiralty chart using a Breton type of plotter.
- Use the Admiralty RYA Electronic Chart Plotter to confirm manually plotted positions, bearings and distances on the paper RYA Training Charts.
- Module DS03 "Lights & Buoyage"
96 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 2 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Describe the difference(s) between buoyage in IALA Region A and IALA Region B.
- Explain simply why it is necessary to include direction of buoyage indicators on Admiralty charts.
- Recognise lateral buoyage and safe water marks by day and by night, and decide what action is necessary to avoid any hazards indicated by them.
- Recognise cardinal buoyage by day and by night, and decide what action is necessary to avoid any hazards indicated by them.
- Recognise isolated danger marks, preferred channel marks and special purpose marks by day and by night, and decide what action is necessary to avoid any hazards indicated by them.
- Explain what is meant by the terms used for lights: fixed, occulting, isophase, flashing, group flashing and group occulting.
- Describe the characteristics of a light from the abbreviations shown for it on an Admiralty chart. 14:10 02/08/2006
- Use both the paper RYA Training Charts and the Admiralty RYA Electronic Chart Plotter to find buoys and lights.
- Module DS04 "Compass & Position Fixing"
155 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 5 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Explain the term “Variation” and calculate accurately the value for it in a particular position.
- Explain simply the term “Deviation” and be aware of how to calculate the value for it on a particular heading.
- Apply variation accurately to convert true bearings into magnetic bearings and magnetic bearings into true bearings.
- Plot a position on both a paper and an electronic chart from: a visual 3 point fix, a bearing and contour fix, a transit and bearing fix, or by passing a charted object.
- Plot a GPS sourced position on a paper and electronic chart from: latitude/longitude co–ordinates, range and bearing from a waypoint, a waypoint web, cross-track error ladder.
- Explain simply the limitations associated with, and care required, when using GPS.
- Module DS05 "Tidal Heights"
156 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 6 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Explain simply how tides are caused and, in detail, the resulting tidal levels.
- Decide if there is sufficient clearance for your boat to safely pass over shallows and/or hazards by calculating whether there is sufficient height of tide with reference to the appropriate Standard Port.
- Decide at what time it is safe to pass over such shallows and/or hazards.
- Explain simply how Secondary Ports impact on such tidal height calculations.
- Module DS06 "Tidal Streams"
91 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 4 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Calculate accurately the “hour(s) of tide” required for a particular passage.
- Determine the “Set” and “Rate” of a tidal stream, at a particular position on the chart for any hour of tide:
- based on a coarse calculation using the range for the tide as “Springs”, “Mid-Range” or “Neaps”.
- whether the source of tidal information is tidal diamonds from a chart or from a tidal stream atlas.
- Explain why not changing all times to match those used on tide tables can cause problems.
- Module DS07 "Estimated Position"
155 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 7 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. This time estimate includes a substantial amount of plotting practice which is essential to the development of good/skilled practice but is time consuming. - Work up a rough position using Dead Reckoning on both paper and electronic charts.
- Explain simply how to assess leeway and how it is applied to the course steered.
- Plot an Estimated Position on both a paper chart and an electronic chart by applying the effect of tide to a Dead Reckoning position.
- Explain simply how to deal with plotting Estimated Positions on a passage of 2 or more hours duration.
- Determine where the vessel actually travelled in relation to the chart, i.e. the sea-bed, and calculate its bearing.
- Calculate the distance travelled and thereby the speed of travel over the ground rather than through the water i.e. with tidal effect included.
- Module DS08 "Course to Steer"
107 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 6 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. This time estimate includes a substantial amount of plotting practice which is essential to the development of good/skilled practice but is time consuming. - Calculate how to counteract tidal effects on a short inshore passage by working up a Course to Steer using both a paper chart and an electronic chart.
- Estimate the approximate amount of time required for a passage.
- Explain simply how to work up a Course to Steer for a passage of 2 or more hours of tide.
- Module DS09 "Pilotage"
107 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 4 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Prepare a pilotage plan for safe harbour entry/exit allowing you to be on deck to skipper the vessel, and all the crew to be on deck as well assisting in the safe pilotage of the vessel i.e. no one below at the chart table.
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a “graphical” compared to a text-based, i.e. a written list, type of pilotage plan.
- Explain how to use transits, sectored lights, head bearings, back bearings, clearing bearings and turning bearings to remain in safe water when in close proximity to hazards.
- Module DS10 "Passage Planning"
101 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 2 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises in this course module. - Prepare an inshore passage plan that satisfies the requirements of SOLAS 2002 regulation 34.
- Create GPS “Waypoints” and build them into a “Route” using the Admiralty RYA Electronic Chart Plotter.
- Print out a basic Passage Plan based on the Route just built using the Admiralty RYA Electronic Chart Plotter.
- Use "overlays" in the Admiralty RYA Electronic Chart Plotter to create self–imposed exclusion zones around hazards to be avoided.
- Module DS11 "Collision Regulations"
242 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 6 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Explain the basic rules about watchkeeping, safe speed and determining risk of collision.
- Explain simply the priorities between different types of vessels.
- Identify a basic range of vessels by “day shapes” shown during the day and by their lights shown in darkness/poor visibility.
- Identify vessels and basic manoeuvres by their sound signals.
- Explain simply how to decide, based on the identification from shapes/lights and knowledge of own vessel, which is the “give way” vessel and which is the “stand on” vessel and what action each should take to avoid a collision.
- Module DS12 "Meteorology"
101 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 4 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Simply explain the Beaufort Scale and conditions associated with each “Force” & decide whether to put to sea solely based on a Weather Forecast.
- Describe the wind strength & direction at any point on a synoptic chart.
- Describe the expected weather conditions at any point around the frontal systems of an atlantic depression.
- Describe the implications of wind on sea state and how tide and land can be utilised for a more comfortable passage.
- Explain the sources for weather information and the terms used in them.
- Module DS13 "Ropework, Mooring & Anchoring"
Now combined with "Nautical Terms" in course module DS01. - Module DS14 "Safety & Environment"
81 pages of notes, worked examples and exercises.
To get the most from this course module, students are advised to allow approximately 3 hours for the study and completion of all the exercises. - Describe the clothing and equipment necessary for personal safety aboard leisure craft and their tenders/dinghies.
- Describe the main safety equipment likely to be found aboard leisure craft and outline their purpose.
- Explain how immediate assistance may be called in the case of grave AND imminent danger to life.
- Describe how leisure craft can help to protect the environment.
- Module DS76 "Mock Chartwork Assessment Paper"
Students are advised to allow 1½ hours for the completion of this mock assessment paper which may be taken at home. - Module DS77 "Mock General Assessment Paper"
Students are advised to allow 1½ hours for the completion of this mock assessment paper which may be taken at home. - Module DS86 "Chartwork Assessment Paper"
Students are advised to allow 1½ hours for the completion of this assessment paper which may be taken at home. - Module DS87 "General Assessment Paper"
Students are advised to allow 1½ hours for the completion of this assessment paper which may be taken at home.
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Registered Office 78 Devonshire Gardens, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 6FP.