RYA Day Skipper Online Tutorials from Udemy

This Day Skipper course is designed to help you pass your RYA Day Skipper chartwork exam with confidence.

You may already be studying with an RYA training centre or doing an RYA online course. These videos are designed as a study aid and will help you to grasp the principle behind all the navigational and chartwork disciplines - and master them.

This course is taught by Duncan Wells, RYA instructor, features writer for Yachting Monthly, Sailing Today and Sail Magazine, author of Stress Free Sailing and creator of the safety aid, MOB Lifesavers.

You will have a lifetime access to these videos not just from you computer but also from your tablet and mobile phone (Android and iOS). And so the videos will help you as you take your Day Skipper shore based theory and as a refresher when you come to do the practical part of the Day Skipper, out on the water.

The discussion feature will allow you to ask questions directly, which can be answered either by other students or by us at Westview Sailing.

We suggest that you start this course well in advance of your exam and that you watch each video until you really understand the concept. Whether it is Estimated Position or Course To Steer, it is just a question of becoming familiar with the process and then exam questions will be a breeze.

We have also just added a section on weather which will give you a good grounding in weather and allow you to predict weather for yourself. Look at the pressure, look at the synoptic chart, look out of the window and marry the three up. Very soon you will be able to tell what will happen just by looking at the synoptic chart.

If you are not satisfied with the course after the purchase please do contact us, if we can not solve the problem we offer a thirty (30)-day, no-questions-asked money back guarantee.

Finally, we wish good luck with your exam and the course.

Fair winds,

Duncan Wells

West View Sailing.

What's inside

Syllabus

The Chart

Rocks Wrecks & Obstructions

They will be able to plot a position on a chart from a latitude and longitude, read off the latitude and longitude of a charted mark and chat bearings and distances from , to and between charted marks

What is Magnetic Deviation? How does it affect your compass? And how to allow for it. Swinging the compass and the deviation curve

Where does weather come from? How to predict it. Highs & Lows, Buys Ballots Law, Fronts. The passage of a depression.

The Synoptic Chart. Weather Apps. GRIB files. Local wind effects. Fog

The Beaufort Scale. The Shipping forecast - and what the terms mean. The Maritime Safety & Information Broadcast on VHF radio.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by an RYA instructor and author of sailing guides, which lends credibility and practical insights to the course material

Offers lifetime access to videos on multiple devices, which allows for flexible learning and on-the-go review during practical training

Includes a section on weather prediction, which is a crucial skill for safe and informed sailing and is often overlooked

Features a discussion forum for direct interaction with instructors and fellow students, which fosters a collaborative learning environment

Suggests starting the course well in advance of the exam, which indicates a comprehensive approach to mastering the material

Recommends further study with a YachtMaster course, which implies that this course is part of a larger curriculum

Reviews summary

Rya day skipper chartwork and navigation aid

According to learners, this course serves as a highly effective positive study aid and refresher for the RYA Day Skipper theory exam, particularly focusing on chartwork and navigation positive principles. Many find the video format clear and easy to follow positive, appreciating the lifetime access neutral which allows them to revisit topics. While it covers the core syllabus, some students note it is best used as a supplement to other materials warning or practical experience rather than a sole resource for complete beginners.

More useful as a supplement or revision tool.

"This is a great refresher, but probably not enough on its own if you are starting from scratch."

"I used this alongside another course and it was very helpful for reinforcing topics."

"Good for revision before the practical, but needs other study for the full theory depth."

"Think of this as a supplementary tool rather than your primary source of learning."

Addresses essential RYA Day Skipper topics.

"Covers all the main chartwork aspects needed for the RYA exam."

"Topics like Tides, Position Fixing, and Course to Steer are well covered."

"The new weather section is a useful addition."

"It hits the key points of the Day Skipper syllabus effectively."

Video lessons are well-produced and effective.

"The video quality is good, and the explanations are concise and to the point."

"I appreciate the video format; it makes learning visual concepts like chartwork much easier."

"Being able to watch and rewatch the videos on different devices is a big plus."

"Well-structured videos that make it easy to pause and practice alongside."

Provides clear explanations of navigation basics.

"Duncan explains complex navigation concepts in a very simple and understandable way."

"The videos on plotting positions and tidal calculations were particularly clear and easy to follow."

"Helped me grasp the principle behind all the navigational and chartwork disciplines..."

"I finally understand Estimated Position and Course To Steer thanks to these videos."

Excellent aid for RYA Day Skipper theory exam.

"This course really helped me consolidate my knowledge for the RYA Day Skipper shorebased exam."

"An excellent supplement to my RYA shorebased course. It helped me to understand areas I found difficult."

"Used this to prepare for my Day Skipper theory exam. Very helpful and clear explanations."

"I felt much more confident tackling the exam questions after watching these tutorials."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in RYA Day Skipper Online Tutorials with these activities:

Review Chart Symbols and Abbreviations

Show steps

Familiarize yourself with common chart symbols and abbreviations to improve chart reading speed and accuracy.

Browse courses on Charts

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Download a chart symbol guide.
Review symbols by category.
Test yourself with flashcards.

Read 'Stress-Free Sailing'

Show steps

Read the instructor's book to gain a deeper understanding of sailing techniques and practical navigation.

View Stress-Free Motorboating: Single and Short... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the chapters relevant to navigation and chartwork.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Practice Plotting Positions

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Reinforce your ability to accurately plot positions on a chart using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Show steps

Obtain a practice chart.
Find latitude and longitude coordinates.
Plot the positions on the chart.
Verify your accuracy.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create a Navigation Cheat Sheet

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Compile a concise cheat sheet of essential formulas, rules, and definitions covered in the course.

Show steps

Review course materials.
Identify key formulas and definitions.
Organize the information logically.
Design a clear and easy-to-read layout.

Review 'RYA Day Skipper Handbook'

Show steps

Use the RYA Day Skipper Handbook as a reference to deepen your understanding of the course material.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the handbook.
Read the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
Complete the practice questions.

Plan a Hypothetical Passage

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Apply your knowledge by planning a hypothetical sailing passage, including chartwork, tidal calculations, and weather forecasting.

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Choose a starting point and destination.
Plot the course on a chart.
Calculate tidal heights and streams.
Analyze weather forecasts.
Create a passage plan.

Explore Online Navigation Tools

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Familiarize yourself with online navigation tools and resources to enhance your passage planning skills.

Show steps

Research online navigation tools.
Watch tutorials on using these tools.
Experiment with different features.

Career center

Learners who complete RYA Day Skipper Online Tutorials will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Charter Captain

A charter captain is responsible for safely navigating a vessel and ensuring the comfort and safety of passengers. This course is valuable for aspiring charter captains, providing a solid understanding of chartwork, navigation, and weather forecasting, all crucial for safe and efficient voyages. With the knowledge of how to plot positions, understand tides, and interpret weather patterns, a charter captain can confidently plan routes and handle various maritime conditions. The course's focus on practical skills, such as using electronic aids to navigation and passage planning, further prepares you for the challenges of being a charter captain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Charter Captain

Fishing Vessel Operator

A fishing vessel operator manages the operations of a fishing vessel, including navigation, fishing techniques, and crew management. This course helps build a foundation for fishing vessel operators, providing essential knowledge in navigation, chartwork, and weather forecasting, crucial for efficient and safe fishing operations. With the ability to accurately plot positions, understand tidal influences, and utilize electronic aids to navigation, a fishing vessel operator is well-prepared to navigate to fishing grounds and return safely to port. The course's emphasis on passage planning and understanding weather patterns further supports success in this demanding role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fishing Vessel Operator

Yacht Delivery Skipper

A yacht delivery skipper is responsible for safely transporting yachts over long distances, often internationally. This course helps build a foundation for aspiring yacht delivery skippers, providing essential knowledge in navigation, chartwork, and weather forecasting. With the ability to accurately plot positions, understand tidal influences, and utilize electronic aids such as GPS and AIS, a yacht delivery skipper will be well-prepared to navigate diverse and challenging sea conditions. The course's emphasis on passage planning and understanding weather patterns further supports success in this demanding role. Weather prediction skills are a must for any yacht delivery skipper.

See salaries and explore the career path for Yacht Delivery Skipper

Ferry Operator

A ferry operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a ferry service, transporting passengers and vehicles across waterways. As a ferry operator, you need a practical skill set that is made available to you in this course. The course helps build a foundation in navigation, chartwork, and weather forecasting, all essential for managing a complex ferry journey. The course's emphasis on passage planning and understanding weather patterns further supports success in this demanding role. Consider the section that discusses aids to navigation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ferry Operator

Search and Rescue Coordinator

A search and rescue coordinator plans and executes search and rescue operations at sea. As a search and rescue coordinator, you will be responsible for quickly and efficiently locating and rescuing individuals in distress. This course gives you a foundation in navigation, chartwork, and weather forecasting, all essential for planning and executing successful search missions. By understanding how to plot accurate positions, interpret tidal data, and predict weather patterns, you can optimize search areas and increase the chances of a positive outcome. The course's focus on electronic aids to navigation further equips you with the tools to navigate effectively in challenging conditions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Search and Rescue Coordinator

Coast Guard Officer

A Coast Guard Officer is responsible for enforcing maritime laws, conducting search and rescue operations, and ensuring the safety and security of waterways. This course helps build a foundation for Coast Guard officers, providing essential knowledge in navigation, chartwork, and weather forecasting, crucial for effective maritime operations. With the knowledge of how to plot positions, understand tides, and interpret weather patterns, a Coast Guard officer is well-prepared to respond to emergencies and maintain maritime safety. The course's focus on practical skills, such as using electronic aids to navigation and passage planning, further supports success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coast Guard Officer

Sailing Instructor

A sailing instructor teaches individuals how to sail, covering topics such as boat handling, navigation, and safety procedures. This course may prove useful for aspiring sailing instructors, providing a structured approach to understanding chartwork, tides, and weather, all essential aspects of sailing. The course's comprehensive coverage of topics like fixing a position, understanding magnetic variation, and interpreting synoptic charts equips instructors with the knowledge to effectively teach these concepts to their students. The discussion feature of the course also creates opportunities to learn from others and ask questions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sailing Instructor

Marine Surveyor

A marine surveyor inspects vessels to assess their condition, determine their value, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. This course may prove useful for marine surveyors, offering a comprehensive understanding of navigation, electronic aids, and weather, all integral to assessing a vessel's operational capabilities. The course helps marine surveyors understand what is needed to plan passages, which in turn helps to evaluate vessel health and safety. The course videos may be helpful reference materials when surveying different kinds of equipment and systems found on boats. The course's material on electronic navigation may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marine Surveyor

Harbor Master

A harbor master manages the operations of a harbor or marina, ensuring safe navigation and efficient use of facilities. A harbor master's core functions include managing vessel traffic and ensuring safe navigation within the harbor. This course may equip the harbor master with the fundamental skills to succeed, thanks to its review of navigation, tides, weather, and electronic aids. The study of plotting positions and understanding aids to navigation, ensures that the harbor master is equipped to maintain a safe and orderly environment.

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Port Authority Manager

A port authority manager oversees the operations and development of a port, ensuring efficient cargo handling, security, and compliance with regulations. This course may be useful for port authority managers, providing a comprehensive understanding of navigation, maritime operations, and safety procedures. Topics such as chartwork, aids to navigation, and weather forecasting may all be useful. The course helps build a foundation for port authority managers, equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions. The electronic aids to navigation section may provide useful context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Port Authority Manager

Maritime Insurance Underwriter

A maritime insurance underwriter assesses risk and determines insurance coverage for vessels and cargo. This course may be helpful for maritime insurance underwriters, providing insights into navigation practices and potential hazards. The course's topics of weather and electronic aids may be relevant to risk assessment. The course's instruction on passage planning may inform underwriting decisions.

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Naval Architect

A naval architect designs and oversees the construction and repair of ships and other marine vessels. While primarily focused on design, this course helps build a foundational understanding of navigation and maritime operations. The naval architect may communicate with clients who are mariners, or who have spent time on sailing vessels. The course's coverage of topics like chartwork, tides, and electronic aids to navigation may ultimately help the architect to design better seacraft. The course's study of weather may be helpful in understanding vessel performance.

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Marine Engineer

A marine engineer designs, develops, and maintains the mechanical and electrical systems on ships and other marine vessels. This course may be useful for marine engineers, providing a practical understanding of navigation and how vessels operate at sea. The course's instruction in passage planning and knowledge of electronic aids to navigation may provide useful context. By gaining insights into the challenges faced by navigators, marine engineers can design more effective and reliable systems.

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Oceanographer

An oceanographer studies the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the ocean. Although primarily focused on scientific research, this course may be of use to oceanographers, providing practical knowledge of navigation that complements their understanding of ocean processes. The course's study of tides and weather equip them with a deeper understanding of the forces that shape marine environments. The course may also serve as a refresher on tides and weather, or give the oceanographer context for their work.

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Marine Biologist

A marine biologist studies marine organisms and their ecosystems. While primarily focused on biological research, this course may prove useful for marine biologists, providing practical knowledge of navigation that may be helpful for fieldwork. The course's instruction on interpreting weather patterns may prove helpful. The navigational skills may be useful when working on a research vessel.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marine Biologist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in RYA Day Skipper Online Tutorials.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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This handbook comprehensive guide to the RYA Day Skipper theory syllabus. It covers all the essential topics, including chartwork, navigation, meteorology, and safety. It serves as an excellent reference tool for reinforcing the concepts learned in the online course. is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Stress-Free Motorboating

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This book, written by the course instructor, Duncan Wells, provides practical tips and techniques for sailing. It complements the course material by offering real-world advice on handling a boat safely and efficiently. It is particularly useful for understanding the practical aspects of navigation and seamanship, which are essential for the RYA Day Skipper certification. adds depth to the course by providing practical insights.

Stress-Free Motorboating: Single and Short-Handed...

Paperback

RYA Day Skipper Online Tutorials

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Rya day skipper chartwork and navigation aid

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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