Essential Navigation & Seamanship

RYA Interactive courses can be taken anytime, anywhere and at your own speed.  All you need is a computer and the internet and your course pack.

The theory course is taught over roughly 16 hours with exercises to complete.  The online course will take around 6 hours, possibly longer, but the beauty of it is that you can work at your own speed, wherever and whenever you like. The course has been available in the classroom for years, but it is now possible to take it online through the RYA Interactive e-learning site.

This course offers a great introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new, inexperienced or rusty skippers and crew.

For a taster of the course click HERE

The course covers:

• Sailing Theory Syllabus
  • 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 plans
  • Nautical Terms
• Passage planning
  • SOLAS V requirements
  • Pre planning
  • Chart choice

Top 10 reasons to take the online course:

1. Flexibility - anytime, anywhere, at your own speed
2. Suitable for all - new crews through to budding skippers
3. Safety Essentials - all the essential knowledge for going afloat
4. Simplicity - easy to use, interactive and full of great graphics
5. Supporting your knowledge - an ideal accompaniment to your practical course
6. Complements other courses - a great starting point before more advanced courses
7. Real skills - use real skills alongside online technology
8. Best advice - written by top RYA instructors, created by award winning designers
9. Learn it, try it, test it - practice what you’ve learnt before taking the test
10. Be part of it - the RYA’s 1st fully interactive online course

The online course :

Unfortunately we are no longer arranging this course, if you are interested in taking it please contact the RYA directly: https://www.rya.org.uk/