RYA Day Skipper Practical Course
Andy's Description:
You need a minimum practical experience of 5 days at sea, 4 night hours and 100 miles plus the RYA Day Skipper theory certificate or equivalent. On satisfactory completion you will have the necessary practical boat handling, pilotage and passage planning skills to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day.
RYA Stated Aim
The Day Skipper course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7-13m LOA). To teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar.
| Subject |
Knowledge Gained |
| 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 to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth.
|
| Navigation |
Is proficient in chart work and routine navigational duties on passage including:
- Taking and plotting fixes
- Working up a 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 buoyage
- 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.
|
| Meterology |
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 the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
|
| Maintenance and repair work |
Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks. Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes.
|
| Victualling |
Understands how to victual a yacht. |
| Emergency Situations |
Is able to take correct action as helmsman for recovery of a man overboard. Fully understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft. Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and send a distress message. Understands how to secure a tow. Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
|
| Engines |
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and bleed fuel system.
|
| Yacht handing under power |
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
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| 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 Making |
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.
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