RYA Day Skipper Theory

RYA Day Skipper Theory is the shorebased course that teaches you to navigate a yacht or motor cruiser along the coast: reading charts, working out where you are, allowing for tide, understanding the weather and knowing the collision rules. It's the knowledge base most people build before they skipper a boat on familiar waters, and it's open to anyone.

The RYA sets it at 40 hours of learning plus exam time, in a classroom, online or by distance learning. Some practical experience helps but isn't required.

Who it suits

• Crew who want to understand, and help with, the navigation
• Future skippers heading towards Day Skipper Practical
• Motorboaters and sailors alike, since the chartwork is the same
• Anyone planning to charter who wants solid theory behind them

What you'll actually do

Most of the time is spent at a chart table (real or virtual) solving realistic problems: plotting a fix, working out tide heights for an entrance, calculating a course to steer across a tidal stream, planning a short passage. You also cover seamanship, electronic charts, weather and the collision regulations, finishing with the course exam.

Key ideas explained

• Position fixing — the classic fix uses compass bearings of three charted landmarks. Where the lines cross is your position; a small triangle (the "cocked hat") is normal, and a large one means an error. Between fixes you keep a dead reckoning position (from course and distance logged) or a better estimated position (which also allows for tide and leeway). GPS is used every day, but you learn to check it.
• Course to steer vs course over ground — the boat moves through the water, but the water itself is moving. Course over ground is your actual track; course to steer is the heading you must hold so that, once the tidal stream has pushed you sideways, you arrive where you intended. You solve it with a simple triangle of vectors on the chart.
• Tidal heights — tide tables give the times and heights of high and low water. Chart depths are measured from chart datum, so actual depth equals charted depth plus height of tide. The rule of twelfths is a handy estimate: in the six hours from low to high water the tide rises about 1, 2, 3, 3, 2 and 1 twelfths of its range in successive hours.
• Tidal streams — the horizontal flow of the tide. Tidal diamonds on the chart and tidal stream atlases give direction and rate for each hour, stronger at springs than neaps.
• Buoyage and lights — Australia uses IALA Region A, as the UK does: red to port and green to starboard entering harbour, with cardinal marks pointing to safe water. Lights have distinctive colours and flash patterns so you can identify them at night.
• Collision regulations — who gives way to whom, the lights and shapes vessels show, and sound signals. Between two sailing boats, the one on port tack keeps clear of the one on starboard tack.

Where it fits

Other systems cover similar theory within courses such as ASA 103 or Keelboat Start Skippering, which are broadly comparable in intent but not equivalent.

Getting ready

• Get comfortable adding and subtracting times and simple ratios; tide work relies on them
• Practise with a plotter and dividers early, as speed comes from repetition
• Online learners: study little and often, and do every exercise rather than just reading
• Ask the school which charts and tide tables the exercises use, and how the exam is run

Good to know in Australia

• This is a knowledge course, not a boat licence. State licences are separate; check your state's maritime authority.
• Using a marine VHF radio requires a qualification such as the SROCP.