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RYA Day Skipper Combined Theory & Practical Course
RYA Day Skipper Practical Course
RYA Day Skipper
The RYA Day Skipper course is a basic level skippers qualification.
There are two elements: theory and practical. The theory course is 40 hours of study followed by two exams.
The practical course is 5 days of instruction and assessment aboard a cruising yacht.
The theory and practical courses can be combined over 9 days, see below.
Holders of the Day Skipper practical certificate are eligible for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC). That and a VHF
Radio licence are all that you need to charter a yacht 'bareboat' in some of the worlds greatest sailing areas.
Our 9 day package includes a one-day course at no further cost thus giving you the opportunity to gain the requisite certificates in a time and cost effective package.
Format - 9 Day Combined course
The combined (theory & practical) Day Skipper course is structured so that we spend the first
and last two days in the classroom. You don't necessarily have to do nine consecutive days, the first
and last two class room days can be moved to suit your schedule.
Splitting the theory into two, two day blocks at the beginning and end of the course is by far the most
effective way of learning the syllabus, far better than the old four days of theory and then go sailing
approach.
The initial theory sessions equip you with just enough chartwork skills and tidal theory to make best use of the
practical part of the course without drowning you in theory. Effective training is about learning by doing, not
memorising dry facts and then trying to apply them after the event.
We join the boat on Sunday evening and sail all week, finishing the practical on Friday afternoon.
After a week on the water the last two days in class are spent polishing off the theory and taking two papers.
The exams are no problem after what has been an extended opportunity to absorb and apply the syllabus.
Format - Day Skipper practical only
For students with a grasp of the theory just the practical element of the Day Skipper
course may be undertaken. Available either from Sunday evening to Friday or over three full weekends.
Weekends
We have a number of Weekend dates for Day Skipper practical. Taking the course over three full weekends gives you
an extra day on the water.
Testimonial
"Just a few words to thank you again for the very enjoyable Day Skipper theory/practical course I completed recently.
I particularly appreciated your focus on the essentials. The relaxed learning environment did not compromise on the need for good navigation and safety at sea,
while avoiding the "boot camp" feel often experienced in the business world.
Much credit to our skipper, John Roe, for leaving us the space to learn by doing, despite the inevitable mistakes,
while stepping up firmly on the odd occasion when there was no room for error.
"
Martin C.
Dates and fees below, or click
calendar, or call 08456 80 90 69 - 7 Days a week
Be sure to view our:
Package deals & discounts page for ways to get more training for your money.
Note: Our fee's include oilskins, moorings, fuel and all incidental expenses
except meals ashore and water taxi's.
Day Skipper 9 Day Combined theory and practical course
Saturday to the following Sunday. £775 October - March, £875 April - September.
Dates
September 11 - September 19
September 25 - October 3
October 9 - October 17
October 23 - October 31
November 6 - November 14
November 20 - November 28
December 4 - December 12
Day Skipper practical only, Weekdays
Sunday eve to the following Friday. £475 October - March, £550 April - September.
Dates
September 12 - September 17
September 26 - October 1
October 10 - October 15
October 24 - November 12
November 21 - November 26
December 5 - December 10
Day Skipper Weekends - Three full weekends = 6 days sailing!
Practical only - 3 Weekends - £550 October - March, £600 April - September.
Combined Theory & Practical - 5 Weekends - £775 October - March, £925 April - September.
Dates
September 18/19, 25/26, October 2/3
October 16/17, 23/24, 30/31
November 6/7, 13/14, 27/28
Day Skipper Resources
Day Skipper Theory
Meteorology
IRPCS
Phonetic Alphabet
Testimonial
"Paul. Just a short note to thank you for last weeks course which I enjoyed immensely. Both in the class room and on the water Fab was great fun
and managed to combine what for me was a holiday whilst at the same time ensuring the very serious subject of learning to navigate and sail
safely was never treated flippantly.
I should be grateful if you would thank Fab for helping to expand my limited leisure sailing knowledge.
"
Michael D.
The Day Skipper Practical Course
The Day Skipper course is taught aboard a cruising yacht 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.
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Day Skipper Sail - Tidal Syllabus
Preparation for sea
The student 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 chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
Taking and plotting visual fixes
Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
Use of waypoints
Working up DR and EP
Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
Working out a course to steer to allow for tidal stream and leeway
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
Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage
Meteorology
Knows sources of forecast information
Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid
Rule of the road
Has a working knowledge 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
Engines
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system
Victualling
Understands how to victual a yacht
Emergency situations
Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard
Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft
Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and can send a distress message
Understands how to secure a tow
Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue
Yacht handling under power
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various
conditions of wind and tide
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 the strength of the crew.
Testimonial
"Emily and I want to thank you, Fab and Trevor for a wonderful course. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and learnt so much. It was exciting, fun and very worthwhile.
We were even lucky with the weather too!
"
Martyn & Emily D.
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RYA Dayskipper Practical - Notes from an RYA Examiner
The RYA Day Skipper practical course is a real opportunity to put your shorebased navigation training into practice and begin to take charge of a yacht at sea. It assumes that you have basic navigation skills from the Day Skipper theory course and some basic sailing ability. Talk to Mustang if you are not sure which course would suit you best.
This is a five day course living aboard a sailing yacht, the syllabus for Day Skipper Practical is detailed in RYA publication G15, Sail Cruising & Yachtmaster Scheme. The Practical course begins with an introduction to the vessel and its gear, especially the safety aspects, then the fun begins! During the course you will begin applying your navigation skills to keep the boat safe, guided by your Instructor as necessary. You will also get plenty of valuable hands-on time at the controls, developing your skills at manoeuvring the yacht and berthing in a range of different places. For some this is the first real chance to moor up themselves despite sailing on friends’ boats before. You’ll have to think about organising the crew too as you take turns at different roles on board.
The Day Skipper practical course takes advantage of sailing in the varied waters of the Solent by including as wide a range of experiences as possible. Some areas are busy with ships and boats, others are quiet inlets. Some harbours are well marked with buoys and markers whereas others will make you concentrate harder to enter safely. You will need to check tides carefully at times! For some students the best parts of the Day Skipper practical course are the contrasts between marinas in busy commercial harbours and the quiet anchorages in scenic parts of the coast.
You can expect to do some sailing in the dark too, a delight looking for shooting stars on clear nights- and looking out for other ships at all times. Here your efforts to study on the Day Skipper theory course will really pay off as you identify the type of vessel, how big it is and which way it is going from its lights. At night and in daylight pilotage is a major topic, ensuring that the yacht is in a safe position throughout, using a range of simple and more advanced techniques.
In addition to safe use of navigation aids such as GPS, Chartwork takes a real place in the course. The hand bearing compass gets plenty of use to confirm positions, monitor the vessel track and ensure that the yacht stays on the planned pilotage track. The depth sounder is worth a mention too- the nearest hazard is often straight down!
Much of the course will be spent under sail, learning how to get the best from the wind. Rather than just speed, the Day Skipper practical course also concentrates on control under sail. This usually means some sailing in small spaces, up to an anchorage or onto a mooring buoy. This gives true satisfaction when it goes like the plan!
Part of the Day Skipper practical course covers emergency routines, with practice sessions and teach-ins through the week. Here you can practice with drills for engine failure, man-overboard or other incidents and be more confident in the use of safety equipment should it ever be necessary.
At the end of your RYA Day Skipper practical course you may feel that you need more practice, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing how to manage a yacht safely on a trip and keen to take part again. Some students go on to charter straight away, others like to gain experience on “mileage builders” or further courses before safely taking family and friends away on a sailing trip. You will feel that the Day Skipper practical course was time well spent. |
Testimonial
"Having completed the day skipper's course with my son and also benefited from the diesel engine course
via two of my sons, I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of myself and the boys for a thoroughly instructive
and enjoyable time.
Cooped up on a boat with people one has never met can potentially be a recipe for disaster,
however, our experience was quite the opposite - great company, excellent tuition, not to mention sumptuous
meals - and an experience I would have no hesitation in recommending to friends."
Roddy B.
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