Course preview · PP
RYA Passage Planning (Practical)
Plan real passages end to end: waypoints, tides, weather, pilotage, refuges, GPX routes and a printable DPA report, then defend your plan to the AI examiner.
- Modules
- 10
- Lessons
- 30
- Materials
- 0
- Syllabus outcomes
- 0
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RYA syllabus
Detailed syllabus coming soon — see the course outline below.
Course outline & materials
Titles only — materials open once you're enrolled on the course.
01 What a passage plan is: SOLAS V and the skipper's duty3 lessons · 0 items
Why every passage needs a plan, what SOLAS V Regulation 34 asks of a small-craft skipper, and the shape of a good plan.
Briefing: SOLAS V Regulation 34 in plain English60 min
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Workshop: the four stages of a passage plan60 min
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Practical: plan a short Solent hop on one page60 min
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02 Gathering information: charts, pilots, almanacs and online guides3 lessons · 0 items
Where the information for a plan comes from, and how to judge it: charts, almanacs, pilot books, VisitMyHarbour, Navily and notices to mariners.
Briefing: the navigator's library60 min
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Workshop: using VisitMyHarbour and Navily with the planner60 min
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Practical: build an information sheet for a Channel crossing60 min
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03 Waypoints and routes: legs, distance and course3 lessons · 0 items
Choosing safe waypoints, measuring legs and building a route in the planner and the Chart Room plotter.
Briefing: what makes a good waypoint60 min
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Workshop: building routes in the planner60 min
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Practical: check a route on the Chart Room plotter60 min
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04 Tides for the plan: heights, streams and tidal gates3 lessons · 0 items
Using heights, streams and tidal gates to time departure and arrival, with the planner tide panel and EasyTide.
Briefing: tidal gates fix the timetable60 min
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Workshop: the planner tide panel and EasyTide60 min
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Practical: time a passage through two gates60 min
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05 Weather: forecasts and departure windows3 lessons · 0 items
Reading forecasts for a plan, choosing a departure window and comparing the live forecast with training weather.
Briefing: from pressure chart to departure window60 min
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Workshop: the planner's live and training weather60 min
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Practical: go/no-go decisions for three forecasts60 min
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06 Pilotage plans: entrances, leading lines and clearing bearings3 lessons · 0 items
Making a pilotage plan for each entrance using the Chart Room harbour folio: transits, clearing bearings and a written sequence.
Briefing: navigating by eye60 min
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Workshop: transits and clearing bearings in the harbour folio60 min
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Practical: write a pilotage card for Cowes60 min
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07 Refuges, hazards and contingency3 lessons · 0 items
Building plan B into every passage: refuges, shipping lanes, points of no return and what to do when things go wrong.
Briefing: plan B for every stage60 min
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Workshop: TSS crossings and decision points60 min
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Practical: contingency plan for a missed lock60 min
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08 Following a passage waypoint by waypoint3 lessons · 0 items
Executing and monitoring the plan at sea, using the Passages & Waypoints page as a follow-along log.
Briefing: execution and monitoring60 min
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Workshop: the Passages & Waypoints follow-along page60 min
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Practical: log a passage against the plan60 min
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09 Electronic routes: GPX, chartplotters and apps3 lessons · 0 items
Moving routes between the planner, chartplotters and apps such as Savvy Navvy with GPX, and checking them after transfer.
Briefing: GPX and why it matters60 min
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Workshop: importing a Savvy Navvy route into the planner60 min
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Practical: export to a plotter and check every leg60 min
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10 The full plan: DPA report and the AI examiner3 lessons · 0 items
Putting it all together: build a full plan, print or share it with a shore contact or DPA, and defend it to the examiner.
Briefing: what a complete plan contains60 min
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Workshop: printing and sharing the DPA report60 min
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Practical: defend your plan to the AI examiner60 min
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