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Day Skipper Practical

• Day Skipper Practical courses are held in the Solent.
• Day Skipper theory is held at Ringmer, nr Lewes in central Sussex.

Day Skipper 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. We join the boat on Sunday evening and sail all week, finishing the practical on Friday afternoon. The last two days are spent polishing off the theory, much of which you will have been putting into practice all week. 

This is a proven format for getting the whole Day Skipper syllabus done with only five days off work.

The Day Skipper practical alone may be undertaken, students join the vessel in the Solent on Sunday evening, finishing on Friday afternoon.                    

Dates for Day Skipper 9 Day Combined course:                                

September 20 - 28

October 25 - November 2 

November 15 - 23

December 13 - 21 

Dates for Day Skipper practical only: The first day is the Sunday, we join the boat early evening.

September 21 - 26

October 26 - 31

November 16 - 21

December 14 - 19

Day Skipper course fee:

9 Day course £745 low season - October to March

9 Day course £795 high Season - April to September 

5 Day practical £395 low season - October to March

5 Day practical £475 high season - April to September 

Be sure to view our: Package deals & discounts page for ways to save money. 

For more information call 01323 873 880 - 7 Days a week

Note: unlike many schools our fee's include oilskins, moorings, fuel and all incidental expenses except meals ashore.  

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Day Skipper Theory

Day Skipper practical

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.

Day Skipper - 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 informtion
• 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

For more information call: 01323 873 880 - 7 days a week