RYA Day Skipper Motor Practical
The RYA Day Skipper Motor Practical course is designed for a motorboat vessel between 25-60ft, the aim is to not only teach you how to use your boat, but also how to enjoy it!
Run over 4 days, this course will allow you to concentrate on pilotage, navigation, boat handling and seamanship as well as modern electronic aids such as GPS and radar. Your Instructor will also be with you to ensure your safety and to guide and encourage you through each manoeuvre.
At the end of the RYA Day Skipper Practical course you will be confident to skipper a motor cruiser on short passages in local waters in daylight. There is an introduction to “night cruising” so you should expect at least one late night/early morning.
Can you do the Day Skipper practical without the theory?
A Day Skipper theory course certificate isn’t required to take the practical course, but you do need to have the same level of knowledge as someone who has completed the theory portion.
- 2 days practical experience on a motorboat
- Assumed level of theory to Day Skipper level (completion of Day Skipper theory highly recommended).
- If you have your own boat and it is suitable for a Day Skipper course this is the recommended option. The course can be tailored to you and your local cruising area. You’ll also get to know your boat better while practicing all the manoeuvres with the safety net of an instructor.
- You will need to bring along a few people to act as crew for the duration of the course. This might be friends or family with some experience, or they night want to gain some experience and do an RYA qualification them selves at the same time.
- Before attending the practical course, you should have a basic knowledge of navigation and theory. You’re encouraged to complete the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course or have knowledge to that level.
RYA Day Skipper Motor Practical Syllabus
- Knowledge of basic stability and buoyancy for small vessels
- Is able to prepare a cruising vessel for sea, including engine checks, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below.
- Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth.
- Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
- Knowledge of the uses and limitations of AIS
- Understands working up Dead Reckoning (DR) and Estimated Position (EP)
- Use of a lead line, or similar
- How to work out a course to steerto allow for set, drift and leeway
- Taking and plotting visual fixes.
- Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
- Use secondary means of position fixing
- Use of waypoints and routes
- Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
- Knowledge of IALA buoyage
- Maintenance of navigational records
- Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from,
- Understands the use of leading and clearing lines.
- Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage.
- Knows sources of forecast information.
- Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid.
- Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS)
- Demonstarte suitable awareness of other water users both at sea and in close-quarter manoeuvring
- Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks.
- Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes.
- Understands the need for periodic maintenance checks on engines and electrical installations.
- Understands the requirements for tool kits, spares and lubricants and coolant.
- Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impellor and bleed the fuel system.
- Can carry out checks before starting, during running and after stopping engine.
- Tension of drive belts and how to adjust or replace them.
- Estimate fuel consumption at various speeds and the effects of fouling.
- Understands how to victual a vessel appropriately for the planned passage.
- Is able to take the correct action as skipper for the recovery of man overboard.
- Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft.
- How to issue distress signals by all available means, including distress flares and a VHF radio, in an emergency.
- Understands how to secure a tow.
- Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
- The effects of cold-water shock on a casualty in the water.
- The aftercare requirements of a casualty who has been in the water.
- Knowledge of the effects of waves on boat handling and crew comfort
- Understands differing styles of hull and propulsion systems
- How to moor and leave a bow/stern-to mooring
- Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
- Can steer a straight course
- Turn in a confined space
- Anchor in a pre-determined position
- Use power and trim tabs correctly
- 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.
- Knowledge of marina locks
- Understands the practical benefits and limitations of a chart plotter or GNSS
- Has experienced cruising at night, including leaving and entering harbour
- Understands the special considerations for pilotage plans, keeping a lookout and identifying marks by night
RYA Day Skipper Motor Practical Course Info
RYA Certificates are world wide recognised. This certificate is to skipper a motor cruiser in waters with which the student is familiar, by day. Suitable for chartering.
Our instructor student ratio is 1:4 , this ensures a safe and fun learning environment
2 days practical experience, Navigation to Day Skipper shorebased standard.
Preparation for sea, boat handling, navigation, pilotage, passage making, meteorology, rules of the road, engines, emergency situations, night cruising
Certificates will be issued to students who have understood the modules of the syllabus and demonstrated good, safe practical skills.
Student must be 16 years +
Course is run over 4 days.
