Day Skipper Theory Course
£295.00
A comprehensive course, recommended for inexperienced skippers and anyone considering doing the Day Skipper practical course.
(Take a look at our Online Course Provider Comparison Guide)
RYA Day Skipper Theory is the online course that teaches you to plan safe day passages in UK coastal waters. In about 40 hours you cover charts, buoyage, pilotage, tidal heights and streams, weather, passage planning, and COLREGs. You practise with real examples, then sit two 90-minute papers to earn the RYA certificate. Take this course if you want to skipper your own boat, prepare for the Day Skipper Practical, or charter with confidence. Study at your pace with clear lessons and prompt tutor help.
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Just Some of the things our students love
The course is broken into modules designed to introduce and develop the skills & knowledge required. Each one contains bite-sized sessions allowing you to jump in and out of the module as and when time permits.
Tap on any module to find out more about its content, or to see the full course syllabus click here.
The RYA defines the Day Skipper / Watch leader syllabus. It includes a comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and seamanship for those ready to take the next step in their skippering journey and start making decisions onboard.
The list below indicates the depth of knowledge required and the minimum time which is to be spent on each subject area.
A: Full knowledge
A depth of knowledge which is fundamental to safe navigation and good seamanship. The student will be able to apply the knowledge in a practical situation and also appreciates why the knowledge is so important.
B: Working knowledge
Understands what knowledge to apply, when and how to apply it for a particular undertaking. Recognises what their level of knowledge is relative to the given situation. The student is aware that their knowledge is broad but not necessarily deep.
C: Outline knowledge
An awareness of the subject area but only a superficial understanding of its application in practice. The student recognises that further knowledge of the topic will be required in some practical situations and knows enough to find appropriate sources of information for learning.
- Nautical terms (2hrs)
Parts of a boat and hull – B
General nautical terminology – B - Ropework (½hr)
Knowledge of the properties of synthetic rope – B - Anchorwork (1hr)
Characteristics of different types of anchor – B
Factors to take into account when anchoring – B - Safety (3hrs)
Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see G103 RYA Safety Handbook) – B
Fire precautions and firefighting – B
Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and life jackets – B
Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radio – B
Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue – B
Stability – C - International regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea (3hrs)
Steering & sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 – 19) – A
General rules (all other rules) – B - Definition of position, course and speed (1hr)
Latitude and longitude – B
Knowledge of standard navigational terms – B
True bearings and courses – B
The knot – C - Navigational drawing instruments (1hr)
Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance – B
Navigation publications in common use – C
Chart correction – C - Navigation drawing instruments (1hr)
Use of parallel rulers, dividers and propriety plotting instrument – B - Compass (2hrs)
Application of variation – B
Awareness of deviation – C
Use of hand-bearing compass – B - Chartwork and navigation (6½ hrs)
Dead reckoning and estimated position – B
Awareness of leeway – C
Techniques of visual fixing – B
Use of GNSS and chart plotters for position fixing – B
Use of waypoints to fix position – A
Course to steer – B - Tides and tidal streams (4hrs)
Tidal definitions, levels and datums – B
Tide tables – B
Use of Admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port – B
Awareness of corrections for secondary ports – C
Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases – B - Visual aids to navigation (1hr)
Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics – B - Meteorology (2hrs)
Sources of broadcasting meteorological information – B
Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft – B
Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts – C - Passage planning (4hrs)
Preparation of navigation plan for short coastal passages – C
Meteorological considerations in planning a short coastal passage – C
Use of and visual confirmation of position by an independent source – B
Importance of confirmation of position by and independent source – A
Keeping a navigational record – A - Navigation in restricted visibility (1hr)
Precautions to be taking in, and limitations imposed by, fog – B - Pilotage (4hrs)
Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines – B
IALA system of buoyage (Regions A & B) – B
Use of sailing directions – B
Pilotage plans and harbour entry – B - Marine environment (1hr)
Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment – B
Our courses have been designed to work on any device, allowing you to study when and where you want. You will use charts and tools when working on some modules, so space to work will be required. Both tablets and desktop devices allow you to view the content full-screen, removing those pesky distractions and allowing you to focus on the session.
Mobile
Perfect for checking your progress or doing some revision on the move.
Tablet
Great for working on navigation modules alongside your charts and navigation tools.
Desktop
We’ve got you covered–Mac or PC–, beautifully.
Everything you need—and more—is included. From first lesson to final assessment, you’re fully equipped without hidden extras.
When you book, you get immediate, lifetime access to our content, plus a course pack dispatched the same day if ordered before 3pm. It includes everything you need to complete the lessons.
We’re confident you’ll love the course. For peace of mind, we offer a 14-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
14-day money-back satisfaction guarantee
If you’re not completely satisfied with the course, return your course pack to us, and we’ll issue a no-questions-asked refund.
We support your whole journey — this course is one stage of reaching your destination. Whatever your motivation, we’ll help you get there.
Supporting downloads
Access 50+ supporting downloads to reinforce key topics and techniques.
Your course pack (dispatched the same day if ordered before 3pm) contains everything you need to complete the course.
Day Skipper theory course pack contents:
Order by 3pm for same-day dispatch
Orders received before 3pm UK time are dispatched the same day. If ordering from the UK, your course pack should arrive the following day.
We’re here to support you — during the course and beyond. Choose how you’d like to get help, and we’ll meet you there.
Course support
Instructor support is available 8am–8pm, 7 days a week, via your preferred channel — email, WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS or phone. Prefer a call? We’ll schedule one.
Everything is logged in your briefing room, so you can revisit answers, ask follow-ups, and keep all conversations in one place.
Once enrolled, you receive 12 months of instructor support. After 12 months, you keep full access to the content and can extend support if needed.
Everything is logged in your briefing room, so you can go back, ask for more details and track all your conversations with an instructor.
Once enrolled, you get 12 months of support from our instructors. You get a briefing room where you can ask questions. If you’d rather, you can schedule a call at your convenience or message us. Whatever channel you choose, everything is stored in your briefing room so you can refer back to the answers.
After twelve months, you will still have access to all the great content and can extend your instructor support should you need more time to complete the course.
Assessment debrief
After your assessment, you’ll receive a live debrief on Zoom. We’ll walk through your answers, share constructive feedback, and prepare you for the next step — typically Day Skipper Practical.
Post-course support
Beyond your briefing room, you’ll have access to our support groups and forums — a great place to meet like-minded learners.
We can also connect you with local RYA training centres and help organise your practical course.
We’ve taught the RYA Yachtmaster scheme in classrooms for over ten years, earning consistent 5-star reviews. We’ve poured that experience into our online course — it’s as close to the classroom as you can get online.
To pass, you have to finish the course!
It’s easy to say online provides ‘flexibility’ and ‘you can do it in your own time’, but it’s harder to construct engaging course content to overcome specific digital learning challenges and keep students motivated. Through thorough testing, using our classroom students as guinea pigs*, we have structured a course to support how you learn online, building confidence in each topic, tool and skill at every stage.
* No students were harmed in the testing of our content!
Content designed to provide support at every stage
We questioned why the other providers put so much emphasis on their instructor support. Our view is simple: the better the content, the less support a student should need. We are here to support you at every step of your journey but have fed ten years and hundreds of students’ worth of understanding into building content that teaches, supports, reaffirms and checks the knowledge of a topic, tool or technique. And, above all, fun!
Everything you need is included – no hidden ‘extras’
We are the only provider that has no hidden extras. Everything you need to complete and pass the course is included.
Day Skipper theory is an RYA shore-based qualification and the required level of navigational & sailing theory for anyone intending to take the Day Skipper Practical course. It provides an excellent foundation and platform for learning how to put out to sea safely.
The course includes everything you need to earn the Day Skipper theory certificate successfully. The only thing you need to provide is your time.
Course pack
You’ll receive a course pack (dispatched the same day if ordered before 3 p.m. on weekdays) that contains everything you need to complete the course.
Instructor support
You’ll get 12 months of unlimited support from RYA-qualified instructors 365 days a year, all managed using your briefing room.
Course content
You’ll have immediate, lifetime access to over 50 hours of engaging, interactive teaching content, including practice exercises that provide debriefings and support.
Social group
You’ll have immediate access to the Day Skipper social group, where you can meet and connect with like-minded people at the same stage of their journey as you.
Downloadable & support content
You’ll have access to our downloadable & support content. We have over 50 supplementary downloads to help you learn the topics and techniques.
See the ‘What’s included?’ tab on the Day Skipper theory enrolment page for more details.
The Day Skipper theory course involves a minimum of 40 hours of teaching and two assessment papers, each lasting 1½ hours.
You can complete the online course at your own pace. Everything is stored, so you can take a break and return anytime. There isn’t a time limit, and you get 12 months of instructor support spread over any timeframe you like.
However long it takes you to complete the course, you will retain access to the content, which will allow you to revise before your practical course.
Lifetime access!
You have access to the course content for life!
12 months of instructor support on your terms
Once enrolled, you get 12 months of instructor support, but you are in control of when this starts and can pause it should you need a break.
Any way you like!
Our instructor support is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, using any channel you choose. From Email to WhatsApp to Messenger, you can get help on whatever channel works for you. We’ll even schedule a call if that’s how you want to chat with us.
Everything is logged in your briefing room, so you can go back, ask for more details and track all your conversations with an instructor.
The Day Skipper theory certificate is valid for life. However, like many things, brushing up and learning new skills is continuous. Anyone who thinks they’ve completed their learning is probably not best suited to skipper a boat!
Yes, we do! If you want to sign up with more than one person, you get a 10% discount on the total enrollment cost.
Each student requires a login, so to get the multi-person discount, add the course to your basket, then add the additional person by selecting the ‘Additional Enrollment’ option. This will automatically discount the total course price in your basket and generate a voucher code for the extra person (or people) to enrol themselves.
No! Any progress in Sailing Essentials is migrated to your Day Skipper progress, so you won’t have to do it again.
Most students ask for help when doing the navigation modules, so your 12-month instructor support time only starts once you start the ‘How to read the map!’ module of the Day Skipper theory course.
Only if you want a commercial endorsement or your employer requires it. Our standard online assessments are included and marked by an instructor. Invigilated exams are available at our assessment centre or via partner centres. Fees vary by partner. Please contact us before enrolling to discuss the best option.
83 reviews for Day Skipper Theory Course
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As a newbie to the sailing world I thought this was a great course. Clear and concise information, and very quick responses to any queries. Marcus is very approachable and has a nice teaching style which instills confidence. Highly recommended!
Hi Janette — thank you so much for this lovely review. I’m really pleased the course was clear and that our replies were helpful — that’s exactly what we aim for. It’s great to hear the teaching style gave you confidence as a newbie. Good luck with your practical course and most importantly, enjoy! If you ever have questions as you get out on the water, please do drop us a line.
Easy to follow and access the courses, great to be able to go at your own pace and revisit topics whenever. Thanks so much !
Well designed and easy to follow online course. I managed to complete it on my train commute. The training made the exam very manageable.
Really helpful videos and exercises that take you step by step through what is needed. It was great being able to go through the online course at my own pace and the feedback, both in the exercises and from the instructure, was clear and helpful.
Fantastic day skipper theory course – concepts explained clearly with brilliant graphics, interactive, useful downloads, all whilst being able to complete the course at your own pace. Marcus was very helpful and responsive throughout. I’d highly recommend!
Thanks so much for the fantastic review! We’re chuffed the graphics, interactives and cockpit-ready downloads helped the concepts click, and that the self-paced format worked for you.
You’ve got lifetime access, so feel free to dip back into tides, pilotage and lights in the run-up to your practical. If you’d like a quick refresher or want us to sanity-check a pilotage plan, just give us a shout — We’re always happy to help.
Best of luck with your Day Skipper Practical with Southampton University Sailing Club in November — you’ll smash it. Do let us know how it goes!
Fair winds,
Marcus & the My Sailing Course team