RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

With the support of your instructor, you take charge of Eve for short passages

RYA Day Skipper
Skippering a boat is fun, and this RYA day skipper course is about taking your first steps towards taking charge, with the safety net of an instructor on board. Everyone will be given a chance to navigate and take control of "Eve" on short coastal passages. You will also have plenty of practice at coordinating manoeuvres under sail and power, and learning how to cope with emergencies. Learn big boat watch leader skills on deck, and navigational techniques below with GPS and radar and a large chart table. Successful completion of the RYA day skipper course means you should feel confident enough to tackle short day passages as skipper in tidal waters. Our instructors will be happy to discuss what your next step might be, whether it is sailing on Eve as voluntary crew.

" Eve is such a beautiful boat, and I learnt loads thanks to your very patient teaching."e Jane Robinson

 

RYA Day Skipper Syllabus (Practical Course)
(Words from the RYA)

Aim: The rya day skipper course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7-13m LOA) to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar. The watch leader course is conducted on board a large yacht or sail training vessel, to teach navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to a standard required to take charge of a watch on deck at sea or in harbour.

A -ALL CANDIDATES

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 up to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor, and slipping from a buoy or alongside berth.

Navigation
Is proficient in chart work 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 bouyage
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 and use a barometer as a forecasting aid.

Rules of the Road
Has a working knowledge of the application of international Regulations for the Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Maintenance and repair work
Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks. Knows the properties and uses of common and synthetic fibre ropes.

Engines
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and bleed fuel system.

Victualling
Understands how to victual a yacht.

Emergency Situation
Is able to correct action as skipper for recovery of a man overboard. 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.

B –SAIL TRAINING CANDIDATES ONLY

General organisation
Understands the organisation and is fully competent to take charge of a watch at sea and in harbour.

C YACHTING CANDIDATES ONLY (DAY SKIPPER)

Yacht handling under power
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.

Yacht handling under sail
Can bring a boat 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 Planning
Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and strength of the crew.