Day Skipper & Watch Leader
Practical Course Syllabus
Tidal

The Day Skipper Course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7 to 13m LOA), to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar.  The Watch Leader Course is conducted on board a large yacht or sail training vessel, to teach navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to take charge of a watch on deck, at sea or in harbour. The Watch Leader syllabus can be conducted in tidal or non-tidal waters.


By the end of the course, the student is expected to have demonstrated their ability in the following areas.

Section A - (All candidates)

 

1.  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.
2.  Deck work
  • Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions.
  • 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.
3.  Navigation - Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
  • Taking and plotting visual fixes.
  • Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing.
  • Use of waypoints.
  • Working up DR and EP.
  • Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams.
  • Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift.
  • Knowledge of IALA buoyage.
  • Maintenance of navigational records.
  • Use of echo sounder and lead line.
4.  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.
5.  Meteorology
  • Knows sources of forecast information.
  • Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid.
6.  Rule of the road
  • Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
7.  Maintenance and repair work
  • Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks.
  • Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes.
8.  Engines
  • Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system.
9.  Victualling.
  • Understands how to victual a yacht.
10.  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 in an emergency and send a distress message.
  • Understands how to secure a tow.
  • Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.

Section B - (Sail Training Candidates only - Watch Leader)

 

11.  General organisation

  • Understands the organisation and is fully competent to take charge of a watch at sea and in harbour.

Section C - (Yachting Candidates only - Day Skipper)

 

12.  Yacht handling under power

  • Can bring a boat safely to and from and alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
13.  Yacht handling under sail
  • Can bring a yacht 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.
14.  Passage making
  • Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew.

info@crouch-sailing-school.co.uk
RYA Sailing School Essex