RYA TUITION – NAVIGATION COURSES

“A comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and the basis of seamanship for Competent Crew. This course in invaluable to learn how to start making decisions on board.”

Day Skipper syllabus (from RYA G15/12 book):

Indication of the depth of knowledge required: A: Full knowledge, B: Working knowledge, C: Outline knowledge

1.      Nautical terms

• Parts of a boat and hull (B)
• General nautical terminology (B)

2.     Ropework

• Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes on common use (B)

3.     Anchorwork

• Characteristics of different types of anchor (B)
• Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring (B)

4.     Safety

• Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (B)
• Fire precautions and fire fighting (B)
• Use of personal safety equipment, harness and lifejackets (B)
• Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radiotelephone (B)
• Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue (B)
• Stability (C)

5.     International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

• Steering and sailing rules (5, 7-10 and 12-19) (A)
• General rules (all other rules) (B)

6.     Definition of position, course and speed

• Latitude and longitude (B)
• Knowledge of standard navigational terms (B)
• True bearings and courses (B)
• The knot (C)

7.     Navigational charts and publications

• Information show on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance (B)
• Navigational publications in common use (C)
• Chart correction (C)

8.     Navigational drawing instruments

• Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments (B)

9.     Compass

• Application of variation (B)
• Awareness of deviation and its causes (C)
• Use of hand-bearing compass (B)

10. Chartwork

• Dead reckoning and estimated position (B) including an awareness of leeway (C)
• Techniques of visual fixing (B)
• Use of GNSS and chart plotters for position fixing (B)
• Use of waypoints to fix position (A)
• Course to steer (B)

11.   Tides and tidal streams

• Tidal definitions, levels and datum (B)
• Tidal tables (B)
• Use of admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port
• Awareness of corrections for secondary ports (C)
• Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases for chartwork (B)

12.  Visual aids to navigation

• Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics (B)

13.  Meteorology

• Sources of broadcast meteorological information (B)
• Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft (B)
• Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts (C)

14. Passage planning

• Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages (C)
• Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages (C)
• Use of and visual confirmation of waypoints on passage (B)
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source (A)
• Keeping a navigational record (A)

15.  Navigation in restricted visibility

• Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by, fog (B)

16. Pilotage

• Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines (B)
• IALA system of buoyage for Region A (B)
• Use of sailing directions (B)
• Pilotage plans and harbour entry (B)

17.  Marine environment

• Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment (B)

“This is an advanced course in navigation and meteorology for candidates for the Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.”

Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster® syllabus (from RYA G15/12 book):

Indication of the depth of knowledge required: A: Full knowledge, B: Working knowledge, C: Outline knowledge

1.      Position

• Dead reckoning and estimated position (B)
• Satellite-derived position (A)
• Use of waypoints to fix position (A)
• Radar fixes (B)
• Techniques of visual fixing (B)
• Fixes using a mixture of position lines (B)
• Relative accuracy of different methods of position fixing (A)
• Areas of uncertainty (C)

2.     The magnetic compass

• Allowance for variation (B)
• Change of variation with time and position (B)
• Causes of deviation (B)
• Compass checks for deviation (but not correction) (C)
• Allowance for deviation (C)
• Different types of compass (C)

3.     Tides

• Causes of tides – Springs and neaps (C)
• Tide tables – sources (C)
• Tidal levels and datum (B)
• Standard and secondary ports (B)
• Tidal anomalies (Solent, etc.) (C)

4.     Tidal streams

• Sources of tidal information (B)
• Tidal stream information in sailing directions and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs (B)
• Allowance for tidal streams in computing a course to steer (A)
• Tide rips, overfalls and races (B)
• Tidal observation buoys, beacons, etc. (B)

5.     Buoyage

• IALA system buoyage in Region A (B)
• Limitations of buoys as navigational aids (C)

6.     Lights

• Characteristics (B)
• Range – visual, luminous and nominal (C)
• Rising and dipping distances (C)
• Light lists (C)

7.     Pilotage

• Harbour regulations and control signals (A)
• Methods of pre-planning (B)
• Clearing lines (A)
• Use of soundings (B)
• Transits and leading lines (B)

8.     GNSS and Chart Plotters

• Principles of operation and limitations of use (A)
• Raster and vector charts (C)
• Datum (C)
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a separate record of position (A)
• Importance of paper charts (B)

9.     Echo sounders

• Principles of operation and limitations of use (C)

10. Logs (speed and distance measuring)

• Principles of operation and limitation of use (C)

11.   Deck log

• The importance of log as yacht’s official document (B)
• Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries (B)

12.  Meteorology

• Basic terms, the Beaufort scale (B)
• Air masses (B)
• Cloud types (B)
• Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems (B)
• Sources of weather forecasts (B)
• Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information (B)
• Land and sea breezes (B)
• Sea fog (C)
• Use of a barometer as a forecasting aid (B)

13.  Rules of the Road

• A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except Annexes 1 and 3 (A)

14. Safety at sea

• Personal safety, use of lifejackets, safety harness and lifelines (B)
• Fire prevention and fire fighting (B)
• Distress signals (B)
• Coastguard and Boat Safety Scheme (C)
• Preparation for heavy weather (B)
• Liferafts and helicopter rescue (B)
• Understanding of capabilities of vessel and basic knowledge of stability (C)

15.  Navigation in restricted visibility

• Precautions to be taken in fog (B)
• Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog (B)
• Navigation strategy in poor visibility

16. Passage planning

• Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and making, and use at sea (B)
• Customs regulations as they apply to yachts (C)
• Routine for navigating in coastal waters (B)
• Strategy for course laying (B)
• Use of and visual confirmation of waypoints and routes (A)
• Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy (B)
• Sources of local and national regulations (B)

17.  Marine environment

• Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment (B)