Day Skipper Theory
A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.
This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising.
We are continually updating our courses to take into account developments in technology and the electronic navigation aids now available on most cruising boats. Hands on navigation exercises are integral to this course including the use of the Portland plotter and dividers. This will enable you to understand the theory required to become a Day Skipper and it's uses during passages.
We have northern and southern hemisphere versions of our training materials. So, no matter where you are in the world, our course can be tailored to you.
The course is taught over 40 hours with two assessment papers. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, as an intensive week-long course, or by distance learning in the comfort of your own home or office.
Course topics include:
- the basics of seamanship
- the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage
- chartwork
- electronic charts
- position fixing
- plotting a course to steer
- weather forecasting and meteorology
- tides
- collision regulations
- construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat
- emergency and safety procedures including distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts
Courses are run at our purpose built classroom a few hundred yards from the pretty harbour in the centre of the bustling fishing port of Brixham, Torbay, Devon. Or we now offer them via distance learning, click here to have a look at the taster page, you can then do the assesment papers with us when you come to do your practical course with us.
We have a maximum Student to Instructor ratio of 6:1 ensuring high interaction between Student and Instructor. All our classroom based courses include free refreshments course notes and relevant RYA Publications and Charts. Chart plotter, dividers and Almanac available for loan or purchase if required.
Courses are run over 5 consecutive days, 3 consecutive weekends or evening classes* or via distance learning through our partners navathome.com.
Please contact us for dates or to arrange a date to suit yourselves, local accommodation can be arranged on request.
*Evening Classes are available – 2 hours one night a week for 20 weeks.
