The RYA day skipper practical is for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

Previous Experience Required - 5 days sea time, 100 miles and 4 night hours. Navigation to Dayskipper  shorebased or equivalent and basic sailing ability (competent crew), minimum age for the award of the certificate is 16.

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COURSE CONTENT

Preparation for sea

• Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks
• Selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below.

Deckwork

• Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions.
• Can prepare an anchor and mooring warps
• Can 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;
• Working up DR and EP;
• Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing;
• Use of waypoints;
• Knowledge of IALA buoyage;
• Estimating tidal heights and streams;
• Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift;
• 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.

Rules of the road

• Has a working knowledge of the I.R.P.C.S.

Maintenance and repair work

• Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks.
• Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic ropes.

Engines

• Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and how 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 radio telephone and 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 strength of the crew.

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As a prerequisite, dayskipper theory must be started with a minimum of 75% completed before undertaking this course.

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