RYA Training Centre logo with a red checkmark integrated into the letters RYA.

RYA Yachtmaster Theory

6 days - £495

An advanced six-day navigation course, this is aimed at those who have already completed the Day Skipper theory course or are of equivalent standard. The course will give students the skills required to successfully navigate a vessel on coastal or offshore passages by day and night.

The syllabus is designed to take your theory knowledge to the standard required for sitting the Advanced CoC, Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills

books and equipment required for RYA Yachtmaster Theory course
  • Position:

    Understand dead reckoning and estimated position

    Understand satellite-derived position

    Use of waypoints

    Radar fixes

    Techniques of visual fixing

    Understand fixes using a mixture of position lines

    Relative accuracy of different methods of position lines

    Understand areas of uncertainty

    The magnetic compass:

    Allowance for variation

    Understand change of variation with time and variation

    Understand causes of deviation

    Swing for deviation (but not correction)

    Allowance for deviation

    Different types of compass

    Tides:

    Causes of tides -spring and neaps

    Tide tables - sources

    Tidal levels and datum

    Standard and secondary ports

    Tidal anomalies

    Tidal Streams:

    Sources of tidal information

    Tidal stream information in sailing directions and yachtmen's alamanacs

    Allowance for tidal stream in computing a course to steer

    Tide rips, overfalls and races etc

    Buoyage:

    IALA system buoyage in Region A

    Limitations of buoys in navigation aids

    Lights:

    Understand characteristics

    Ranges - visual, luminous and nominal

    Rising and dipping distances

    Light lists

    Pilotage:

    Harbour regulations and control signals

    Methods of pre-planning

    Clearing lines

    Use of soundings

    Transits and leading lines

    GPS and Chart Plotters:

    Principles of operation and limitations of use

    Raster and vector charts

    Understand datum

    Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a sperate record of position

    Importance of paper charts

    Echo sounders:

    Principles of operation and limitations of use

    Logs (speed and distance measuring):

    Principles of operation and limitation of use

    Deck Log:

    Importance of log as yachts official document

    Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries

  • A very solid knowledge of Chartwork, IRPCS and Meteorology necessary (and ideally a couple of years of practical boating experience).

  • 6 Days of Training in our Classroom

    Access to our student resource website

    Notepad & Pen

    Tea, Coffee & Refreshments

    Yachtmaster Theory Course Pack

    Training Almanac

    Use of Dividers & Plotters for the course.

Please contact us if you would like to arrange either an offsite course or a private course.

Offsite Courses - conducted on your own premises, providing they are suitable for training. Private Courses - not open to the general public

Given our commitment to keep prices as low as possible, we reserve the right to cancel & reschedule any course where minimum numbers are not reached

EMPLOYERS - Looking to book a course for an employee? Don’t use the booking links below - please click here, and submit the completed form.

We will book in your employee(s) and send you an invoice direct