Course preview · RYA G18
Day Skipper Theory
Shorebased navigation, chartwork, and meteorology for coastal skippers.
- Modules
- 15
- Lessons
- 45
- Materials
- 82
- Syllabus outcomes
- 16
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RYA syllabus
01 Nautical Terms1 topic · 1 outcome
Parts & rigging1
- 1.1Uses correct nautical terminology for boat, rig and equipment
02 Ropework1 topic · 1 outcome
Knots and their uses1
- 2.1Knows the eight essential knots and their applications
03 Anchorwork1 topic · 1 outcome
Ground tackle1
- 3.1Selects anchorage, calculates scope and evaluates holding
04 Safety1 topic · 2 outcomes
Onboard safety2
- 4.1Knows personal safety equipment, MOB prevention and recovery
- 4.2Uses fire prevention, distress signals and liferaft
05 International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea1 topic · 2 outcomes
IRPCS2
- 5.1Applies steering & sailing rules
- 5.2Recognises lights, shapes and sound signals
06 Navigation3 topics · 4 outcomes
Charts, symbols & publications1
- 6.1Interprets Admiralty charts, symbols and publications
Position, course & distance2
- 6.2Plots position, course to steer and distance run using DR/EP
- 6.3Applies variation, deviation and leeway
Tides1
- 6.4Calculates tidal heights (standard & secondary ports) and tidal streams
07 Buoyage1 topic · 1 outcome
IALA System A1
- 7.1Identifies IALA A marks by day and night
08 Meteorology1 topic · 1 outcome
Forecasts & weather systems1
- 8.1Interprets shipping and inshore forecasts; understands basic weather patterns
09 Passage Planning1 topic · 1 outcome
Short coastal passages1
- 9.1Plans a short coastal passage including all safety and contingency factors
10 Pilotage1 topic · 1 outcome
Harbour approaches1
- 10.1Prepares a pilotage plan for entering/leaving harbour
11 Electronic Navigation Aids1 topic · 1 outcome
GPS, plotter & AIS1
- 11.1Uses GPS, chart plotter and AIS with awareness of limitations
Course outline & materials
Titles only — materials open once you're enrolled on the course.
01 Nautical terms & the boat3 lessons · 6 items
Parts of the yacht, standing and running rigging, and the language used on board.
- URLVideo: Parts of the boat & sailing terminology🔒
- URLReference: RYA knowledge & advice🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Theory — Course Notes🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Theory — Course Exercises🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Exercises 2010/11🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Assessment Papers 2010/11🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
No materials listed
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
02 Ropework & knots3 lessons · 2 items
The six working knots, cleating, and safe handling of loaded lines.
- URLVideo: Cleat hitch and working knots🔒
- URLReference: RYA knowledge & advice🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
No materials listed
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
03 Anchoring & mooring3 lessons · 3 items
Choosing a berth, scope, holding, and coming alongside under control.
- URLReference: Admiralty EasyTide (tide times)🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEAnchoring (slides)🔒
- FILEAnchors and mooring (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
04 Safety equipment & personal safety3 lessons · 8 items
Lifejackets, harnesses, liferaft, flares, and the skipper's safety briefing.
- URLVideo: Lifejacket and boating safety🔒
- URLReference: RYA water safety guidance🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Course 2026 — interactive deck🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEIntro to safety (slides)🔒
- FILESafety Slides (slides)🔒
- FILESafety and survival (slides)🔒
- FILEDistress signals (slides)🔒
- FILESOLAS V Requirements (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
05 Engine checks & basic maintenance3 lessons · 2 items
Daily checks, the raw-water circuit, fuel, and simple faultfinding.
- URLVideo: Marine diesel — fuel and water checks🔒
- URLReference: Maritime & Coastguard Agency🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
No materials listed
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
06 Collision regulations (IRPCS)3 lessons · 5 items
Steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, and sound signals.
- URLVideo: COLREGs Rule 12 — sailing vessels🔒
- URLReference: RYA regulations hub🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEIRPCS (slides)🔒
- FILERules of the road (slides)🔒
- FILEIrpcs - collsion regulation - ror - rule of the road at sea - msn_1781-2 - lates-1🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
07 Charts & chart symbols3 lessons · 6 items
Paper and electronic charts, datums, scales and the symbols in NP5011.
- URLVideo: Charts and chart symbols🔒
- URLReference: UKHO Admiralty charts🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Course 2026 — interactive deck🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILENavigation charts and tools (slides)🔒
- FILEChartwork slides (slides)🔒
- FILEChartwork (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
08 The magnetic compass, variation & deviation3 lessons · 5 items
True, magnetic and compass headings, and how to convert between them.
- URLVideo: Compass error — variation and deviation🔒
- URLReference: UKHO Admiralty charts🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILECompass (slides)🔒
- FILECompass and nav (slides)🔒
- FILEDeviation & Variation (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
09 Position fixing & chartwork3 lessons · 5 items
DR, EP, three-point fixes, transits, and using GPS intelligently.
- URLVideo: Plotting a three-point fix🔒
- URLReference: UKHO Admiralty charts🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEPositioning (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
- FILEPlotting a CTS 1 (slides)🔒
- FILEPlotting a CTS 2 (slides)🔒
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
10 Tides & tidal heights3 lessons · 6 items
Springs and neaps, tidal curves, secondary ports and clearance calculations.
- URLVideo: Tidal heights at secondary ports🔒
- URLReference: Admiralty EasyTide (tide times)🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Course 2026 — interactive deck🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILETides-Causes of (slides)🔒
- FILETides slides (slides)🔒
- FILEHATpresentation (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
11 Tidal streams & course to steer3 lessons · 4 items
Tidal diamonds, stream atlases, and the course-to-steer vector triangle.
- URLVideo: Course to steer in 10 minutes🔒
- URLReference: Admiralty EasyTide (tide times)🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILETide on nav ep cts (slides)🔒
- FILERya tides slides (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
12 Buoyage & visual aids to navigation3 lessons · 8 items
IALA Region A lateral and cardinal marks, and light characteristics.
- URLVideo: Cardinal marks and buoyage🔒
- URLReference: IALA — international buoyage authority🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEBuoyage (slides)🔒
- FILEIALA Buoyage (slides)🔒
- FILECardinal Marks (slides)🔒
- FILECardinal Marks-Real (slides)🔒
- FILEBuoys and lights (slides)🔒
- FILESector Lights (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
13 Meteorology & weather forecasts3 lessons · 9 items
Synoptic charts, depressions and fronts, sea breezes, and forecast sources.
- URLVideo: The Shipping Forecast explained🔒
- URLReference: Met Office Shipping Forecast🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEMeteorology Slides (slides)🔒
- FILESea & Land Breeze (slides)🔒
- FILESources of weather info (slides)🔒
- FILEWeather-wise-part1🔒
- FILEWeather-wise-part2🔒
- FILEWeather-wise-part3🔒
- FILEMet_Maps (1)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
14 Passage planning & pilotage3 lessons · 8 items
Building a plan from almanac and chart, and pilotage into an unfamiliar harbour.
- URLVideo: Passage planning🔒
- URLReference: Maritime & Coastguard Agency🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Course 2026 — interactive deck🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILEPilotage (slides)🔒
- FILEPilotage Passage Planning (slides)🔒
- FILEPilotage Passage Planningmt (slides)🔒
- FILEPassage planning menorca🔒
Worked example30 min
- FILEExample Pilotage Plan🔒
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed
15 Emergency situations & the marine environment3 lessons · 5 items
MOB, distress, fire, flooding, VHF procedure and looking after the sea.
- URLVideo: Using VHF to call for help🔒
- URLReference: RYA water safety guidance🔒
- FILEDay Skipper Course 2026 — interactive deck🔒
Theory & key concepts40 min
- FILESea Survival-RYA (slides)🔒
- FILEUse of dinghy (slides)🔒
Worked example30 min
No materials listed
Self-check exercise20 min
No materials listed