Written by Endeavour Sailing on 27 January 2016.

RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Syllabus

The RYA Day Skipper Sailing Course is taught on board a sail cruising yacht of 7-15 metres length of waterline (LWL).

You will learn to apply the pilotage, navigation and seamanship skills you have, which needs to be at the level of the RYA Day Skipper Sailing Theory, and boat handling skills up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in waters with which you are familiar.

Knowledge

Day Skipper Theory
5 days at sea
100 sea miles – actively taking part in sailing a yacht
4 night hours

The course can be taken with us

5 days in duration taken consecutively

Day Skipper Practical Course Syllabus

1. Preparation for sea

Knowledge of

Basic stability and buoyancy for small vessels

Can

Prepare a cruising vessel for sea, including engine checks, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below
Selection of sails

2. Deck work

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
Reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions

3. Navigation

Is proficient in chart work and routine navigational duties on passage including:

Knowledge of

The uses and limitations of AIS

Understands

Working up Dead Reckoning (DR) and Estimated Position (EP)
Use of a lead line or similar
How to work out a course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift

Can

Take and plot visual fixes
Use electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
Use secondary means of position fixing
Estimate tidal streams and tidal heights
Use of waypoints and routes
Use knowledge of IALA Buoyage
Maintain navigational records
Use an echo sounder

4. Pilotage

Can

Prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour
Use leading and clearing lines
Use transits and soundings as aids to pilotage

5. Meteorology

Understands

How to interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

Can

Source forecast information

6. Rule of the Road

Can

Demonstrate suitable awareness of other water users both at sea and in close-quarter manoeuvring
Demonstrate a practical understanding of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

7. Maintenance and repair work

Knowledge of

The properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

Understands

Maintenance tasks and is able to carry them out

8. Engines

Has a working knowledge of the prevention of common engine faults and is competent in the following areas:

Understands

The need for periodic maintenance checks on engines and electrical installations
Requirements for tool kits, spares and lubricants
The location of filters and bleed points for fuel
The tension of drive belts and how to adjust or replace them.

Can

Carry out checks before starting, while running and after stopping
Clean water filters and knows the location of impellors
Estimate fuel consumption at various speeds and knows the effects of fouling
Basic troubleshooting

9. Victualling

Understands

How to victual a cruising yacht appropriately for the planned passage

10. Emergency situations

Understands

How to issue distress signals by all available means, including distress flares and a VHF radio in an emergency
How to use a life raft
How to secure a tow
Rescue procedures including helicopter rescue
The effects of cold water shock on a casualty in the water
The aftercare requirements of a casualty who has been in the water

Can

Carry out the correct action as skipper for the recovery of a man overboard

11. Handling under Power

Knowledge of

Effects of waves on boat handling and crew comfort

Understands

Differing styles of hull and propulsion systems
How to moor and leave a bow/stern to mooring (practical experience where possible)
How to identify and take into account wind and current conditions when planning and executing manoeuvres (practical experience where possible)

Can

Carry out the following manoeuvres under power :
- Steer a straight course
- Turn in a confined space
- Anchor at a pre-determined position
- Berth alongside
- Leave an alongside berth
- Pick up a mooring buoy

12. Yacht handling under sail

Understands

The characteristics of different types of keels
How to identify and take into account wind and current conditions when planning and executing manoeuvres and choosing appropriate sail plan (practical experience where possible)

Can

Bring a boat safely to and from a mooring buoy
Anchor
Steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing

13. Passage making

Knowledge of

Marina Locks

Understands

The practical benefits and limitations of a chart plotter or GNSS

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