The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course provides an introduction to the basic skills required before taking a small boat to sea or taking an active part in running a boat.

Course Overview

A basic introduction to navigation and seamanship for users of small craft sailing on inshore waters close to land. Ideal for users of RIB's, small day boats, anglers and divers or yacht crews wanting to know more.

The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course aims to introduce the basic concepts of inshore navigation and safety in an easy to understand and enjoyable format. This course is ideal for those operating smaller craft close to shore or are currently crewing but want to increase their skills and become more useful. It also serves as a great foundation for the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course.

Course Overview

During the course you will be introduced to the basics of navigation including tidal awareness, charts, almanacs and the use of electronic navigation aids such as GPS. You will be taught about harbour entry and departure pilotage including knowledge of buoyage and a basic understanding of the Collision Regulations so you know who has right of way! Time will also be spent looking at sources of weather information and what impact this could have on your passage. Towards the end of the course you will put all this information together to plan an actual passage. You will also learn more about what safety equipment you should carry and how it is used.

Duration

• 2 days
• Saturday & Sunday 0930 - 1700

Previous Exerience Required

• None

Price

Person

£250

 Included

• All course materials including RYA Essential Navigation & Safety course notes book BSN07 and Plotter
• Morning and afternoon tea & lunch.
• Pen, Pencil & note paper

Not included

• Accommodation and evening meals

Bookings & Info

For more information & bookings please contact Stephanie:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Syllabus

Charts, publications and terms

• Basic terms
• Chart overview
• Introduction to chart datum and depths

Buoyage

• Lateral buoys
• Cardinal buoys
• Where to find information

Navigation

• Plotting a position
• Measuring distance and bearing
• Position fix
• Heading

Safety

• Personal and boat safety equipment
• Safety procedures and briefing
• Communications
• Engine checks
• Rescue procedures

Anchoring

• Where to anchor
• How to anchor

Tides

• Tidal streams
• Tidal heights

Electronic navigation

• GPS terms
• GPS use
• Using waypoints

Rules of the road

• Risk of collision
• Who gives way

Weather forecasts

• Sources of forecast
• Terms used in forecasts

Pilotage

• Harbour information
• Transits
• Pilotage plan

Passage planning

• SOLAS V requirements
• Pre planning
• Chart choice

Although we cover everything in the 2 days you may wish to do some precourse reading and we can recommend the following book:

Buy RYA An Introduction to Navigation at the RYA Shop