Essential Navigation and Seamanship | RYA Seamanship Courses
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RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship

Theory Course

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RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship
Theory Course

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  • Flexibility - work anytime, anywhere, at your own speed.
  • Suitable for all - new crews through to budding skippers.
  • Simplicity - easy to use, interactive and full of great graphics.
  • Learn it, try it, test it - practice what you’ve learnt before taking the test!
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TheThe RYA’s Foundation of Seamanship

The RYA Essential Navigation Theory Course provides aspiring boaters and sailors with a basic introduction to navigation and safety. This course is hosted via the RYA Interactive website.

Is this course right for you?

This course is an ideal for anyone who is new to boating; sailors, powerboaters, sea anglers, divers and boatmasters. It is also useful for experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

Not convinced?

Over 2,500 reviews on TrustPilot

Over 1000 five star reviews

‘What sets the course apart is the responsiveness of the support team should you have any questions.’ ‘All in all a super convenient and very efficient way to pass the RYA theory examinations.’

RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore
Course SYLLABUS

Charts, publications and terms:

  • Basic terms
  • Chart overview
  • Introduction to chart datum and depths

Buoyage:

  • Lateral buoys
  • Cardinal buoys
  • Where to find information.

Navigation:

  • Plotting a position
  • Measuring distance and bearing
  • Position fix
  • Heading

Safety:

  • Personal and boat safety equipment
  • Safety procedures and briefing
  • Communications
  • Engine checks
  • Rescue procedur

Anchoring:

  • Where to anchor
  • How to anchor

Tides:

  • Tidal streams
  • Tidal heights

Electronic navigation:

  • GPS terms
  • GPS use
  • Using waypoints

Rules of the road:

  • Risk of collision
  • Who gives way

Weather forecasts:

  • Sources of forecast
  • Terms used in forecasts

Pilotage:

  • Harbour information
  • Transits
  • Pilotage plan

Passage planning:

  • SOLAS V requirements
  • Pre-planning, and choosing the right charts
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CHOOSE YOUR COURSE

All courses are completed online, study at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.

RYA Day
Skipper

No Experience Necessary Learn Basic Navigation & Seamanship

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RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster

Day Skipper Theory Needed Enhance Your Knowledge of Navigation & Passage Planning

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RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

No Qualification Necessary Complete Day Skipper and Coastal YM in one course.

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Fastrack to RYA Coastal YM

No Qualification Necessary Complete Day Skipper and Coastal YM in one course.

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