Navigation courses can be taken in a classroom or online. RYA courses offered include Essential Navigation and Seamanship, Dayskipper, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean.
RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship
A great introduction to navigation and safety awareness
This course offers a great introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new or inexperienced skippers and crew, and those wanting to refresh their skills. In fact it's for anyone interested in sailing, motor boating, sea angling or diving, and works well in complementing our on-the-water training, such as the Powerboat Level 2, Start Yachting and Helmsman courses.
Course topics include:
- Charts and Publications
- Safety
- Engine checks
- Buoyage
- Tidal awareness
- Visual and electronic navigation
- Pilotage
- Rules of the road
- Anchoring
- Weather forecasts
- Passage planning
In the classroom, the course is taught over 16 hours with exercises to complete along the way. It can be covered as a series of short sessions or over two full days. You can see a preview here.
Online the course will take around six hours, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like.
RYA Day Skipper
A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.
This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising. A chart plotter has also been developed specifically for use on training courses, giving you a realistic insight into electronic navigation.
Course topics include:
- the basics of seamanship
- the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage
- chartwork
- electronic charts
- position fixing
- plotting a course to steer
- weather forecasting and meteorology
- tides
- collision regulations
- construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat
- emergency and safety procedures including distress calls,use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts
In the classroom, the course is taught over 40 hours with two exam papers. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, or as an intensive week-long course. You can see a free trial here.
Online, the distance learning option is delivered by Navathome, an RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training. By completing the booking process you are agreeing to their terms and conditions found here.
RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore
Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.
This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal and Yachtmaster™ Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.
As with the Day Skipper shorebased course, the RYA’s specially designed chart plotter software will be used during the course to give you a realistic taste of modern electronic navigation.
Course topics include:
- position fixing
- course shaping and plotting
- tidal knowledge
- use of almanacs and admiralty publications
- electronic position finding equipment
- taking and interpreting forecasts
- plotting weather systems
- weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
- collision regulations
- customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad
In the classroom, the course is taught over 40 hours with three exam papers. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, or as an intensive week-long course. You can see a free trial here.
Online, the distance learning option is delivered by Navathome, an RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training. By completing the booking process you are agreeing to their terms and conditions found here.
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, using a sextant, ocean passage making, worldwide meteorology and electronic navigation aids.
This course is for those aspiring to blue water cruising and is ideal for holders of the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate who are preparing for their first ocean passage.
Topics covered include:
- The earth and the celestial sphere
- Practical guide to use and care of sextant at sea
- Meridian altitudes
- Sun, star and other sights
- Ocean passage planning
In the classroom, the course is taught over 40 hours with one exam paper. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, or as an intensive week-long course. You can see a free trial here.
Online, the distance learning option is delivered by Navathome, an RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training. By completing the booking process you are agreeing to their terms and conditions found here.