One Day theory workshops

Run by an RYA Instructor, this workshop is suitable for novices, Competent Crew & Skippers who want to become more proficient in Ropework and safe around winches and ropes under tension. It also provides an invaluable chance to see how ropes assist in mooring using a model pontoon and boats. Learn the correct terms for each rope and how to use winches and cleats correctly and safely. Together with how to tidy the decks once underway and how to prepare the boat for coming alongside again. Essential for skippers to assist in safer mooring and for crew to understand what they are being asked to do and their role in berthing.

Day consists of:

• Types, qualities, uses and care of Rope.
• Some theory about the properties, where to use different rope, how to coil and store.
• When is a rope not a rope?
• A rope is only a rope when it does nothing. We’ll take a look around a boat at the different terms given to ropes when they have a specific job to do.
• Must Know Knots. Knots you must know, when and where to use them around a boat.
• It will be a relaxed format, with plenty of time to practice tying important knots commonly required to be used on boats.
• Using ropes cleats & winches, coming alongside and leaving a pontoon or quay.
• A general input on how to secure ropes to Cleats and Winches, with associated dangers and how to manage them.
• Mooring techniques.
• Some theory on using lines to assist coming alongside and leaving a berth. Then using a model pontoon seeing how these lines can be used.
• Mediterranean Mooring.
• Mooring to a buoy.
• Anchoring. Why, Where and How.
• Why, Where and How to anchor, and what to do when you have.
• Splice a rope.
• Lastly, put an eye splice in three stranded rope to take away.

Nowhere will you get such a theoretical insight into the types of rope used onboard. Looking after your warps and Halyards is not only good seamanship, if you look after your ropes, they will look after you. Turning a rope onto a cleat, tieing on a fender and picking up mooring buoys are all jobs for crew, so why not practice them here. A model pontoon and model boat is rigged up with cleats for you to try several mooring techniques safe in the knowledge that you won’t damage anything or be shouted at by other boat users. Learn the art of Mediterranean mooring before your next charter. Then put an eye splice in a three stranded rope to take away and impress your friends.

Run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor, the masterclass is for Day Skippers and Coastal Yachtmasters and anyone who wants to gain more knowledge of the Weather we experience at Sea and at home. You will gain an indepth understanding of why we get the weather we do and be able to predict what will happen Imminently, Soon or Later, thus aiding planning a passage or organising a day trip out. Don’t rely solely on predictions from weather forecasts. Starting with a Global explanation as to why we get the weather we do and what effects this pattern, the day builds up to focusing on the weather around the UK and coastal waters on the South Coast. A discussion and exercise in Blind Navigation is also included.

Day consists of:

• Where does the weather come from.
• A global explanation as to why we get Weather
• Areas of High and Low Pressure
• Fronts
• Depressions
• Anti Cyclones
• Jet Streams
• A Typical Frontal System
• Why we get Fronts
• What weather to expect from them
• How to Draw up a Synoptic Chart from a Weather broadcast
• After listening to a weather forecast, you will produce a synoptic chart
• Use the chart to predict wind direction and speed, as well as cloud and precipitation.
• How weather can effect Passage Planning
• A short passage plan is drawn up from the Synoptic chart
• Fog – Restricted Visibility
• Where does Fog come from
• What a Skipper should be doing when they experience Fog on passage
• IRPCS requirements and revision of Sound signals
• Blind Navigation exercise
• Tactical use of wind
• Convergence and Divergence
• Crossing the English Channel with wind shifts
• Approaching land – typical wind shift
• Land & Sea Breezes
• Katabatic Wind
• What they are
• Where to expect them

Attendees should bring a Plotter, Dividers, pencils, ruler, rubber, note book, calculator and a Drawing compass

Meteorology is no longer covered in any detail on any of the RYA courses so this day provides so much background information to make sense of the current weather and what to expect. Also detailed information on how to stay safe in Restricted visibility and an exercise in Blind Navigation techniques.

Run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor, the workshop is aimed at Day Skippers and Yachtmasters or anyone who may be a little rusty on the theory surrounding being a Skipper on a boat heading out to Sea. Many of the topics covered in the RYA syllabus can be easily forgotten if not practiced regularly. The day covers essential elements to keep you on course and safe on a day out. It must be stressed that this does not replace a RYA theory course, but is intended to enhance knowledge prior to, during and after such formal training.

Day consists of:

• Tidal Heights.
• Where to get the information
• How to calculate the Height of Tide in Standard and Secondary ports
• What can influence the predicted Heights
• Anchoring exercise
• Tidal Streams.
• Where to get the information
• How to calculate the Set and Drift of the Tide where you want to go
• How we can use this information in Passage Planning
• Buoyage
• What do the buoys look like during the Day and at Night.
• How do we know the direction of Buoyage
• Pilotage
• What makes a good Pilot plan
• What do we need to Pilot safely
• A short pilot plan exercise using the Charts, Almanac and Pilot books
• How can Electronic Navigational Aids help us
• Compass work
• How to apply Variation and Deviation
• Chartwork
• Plot a Latitude and Longitude
• Plot a Three point fix
• Calculate a DR and EP from the plot.
• Calculate a Course to Steer
• Rules of the Road IRPCS
• Revision of Sound signals
• Lights and Shapes
• Risk of Collision

Attendees should bring a Plotter, Dividers, pencils, ruler, rubber, note book, calculator and a Drawing compass

Anyone who is interested in Navigation will enjoy this Day. Covering the basics in detail will give delegates more confidence to use the theory in a practical way. No prior certificates are needed, however it would be an advantage to have some knowledge as this is a refresher day and not a course.

Have you often wondered why skippers stay in the Solent, when there is so much out there just a few leagues away. Run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor, this masterclass is ideal for Day Skippers and Coastal Yachtmasters who are planning on taking a Yacht further than the confined waters of the Solent. If you have done this before, could you benefit from more theory on producing a plan that will always work well. Also a valuable day of revision on Tides, buoyage, Pilotage and passage planning. With numerous opportunities for you to practice Coastal Chartwork and other traditional and Electronic navigation techniques.

Day consists of:

• Why go the extra miles?
  • What are the benefits of leaving the Solent.
  • Where is it possible to get to for a long weekend or midweek break?
• Start the Plan
  • Where do we start a plan? At the departure or arrival port?
• Almanac and Chart Information
  • A closer look at what information is contained in these publications and how that can help us plan a passage
  • Short revision on Light characteristics, Buoys and charted symbols
• Tides
  • Calculating Tidal Heights, Tidal Streams and Tidal gates
• Pilotage Plan.
  • Draw up a Pilotage Plan for departure from a Solent port/Marina
  • Pilotage plan for our destination port
• Plan a short Coastal passage
  • Using the information and references from earlier, plan a Coastal passage
  • Consider SOLAS V
  • RYA SafeTRX

Attendees should if available, bring a Plotter, Dividers, pencils etc, and an Almanac if you have one.There is so much out there to explore, so why are you waiting?

Much time is spent during RYA courses allow candidates to know the basic chartwork, IRPCS, weather, Electronic navigation, tides etc, But only practice really helps give you confidence in your decision making. Check out where to get all the information you need to go to an unfamiliar port with confidence. If you are planning a trip soon, why not see how the day can help you develop your own plans. A short Passage Plan “From Berth to Berth” will cover most of the parameters you will require and if practised on all your voyages, should keep you and your crew legal and safe.

Run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor, the masterclass is aimed at Boat owners, Day Skippers and Coastal Yachtmasters who wish to learn more about Electronic navigational aids and how they interact with traditional methods of navigation. We will look at the terms used and how the electronics can be used alongside traditional navigation as they really are greater than the sum of the two halves.

Day consists of:

• What does Electronic Navigation mean exactly?
  • Overview of this term
  • RADAR
  • AIS
  • GPS
  • Chart Plotters
  • Echo Sounder
  • Log readings
  • The Law.
  • So what does the law say.
• Using them together
  • Mashing up traditional and Modern position fixing techniques
•  Closer look at Using Chart Plotters.
  • Terms used with Chart Plotters
  • Waypoints
• Plan a short coastal route
  • Route Building – Plan a route on a live chart plotter
  • Transfer this to a paper chart for comparison and checking.
  • Methods to check you are following a planned Route.
  • Fixing position shortcuts using Waypoints
• Conclusions – Pro’s & Cons.
  • The good the bad and the ugly

Attendees should if available, bring an installed Electronic Chart Plotter on a Mobile App or Laptop. Dividers, ruler, pencil, drawing compass & note book.

In view of the RYA pulling the Electronic Navigation plotter element from the Day Skipper and Yachtmaster courses in 2019, the Masterclass has been developed and may be the only shorebased formal training available to get hands on with a plotter, making this a unique day.

Run by an RYA Shorebased Instructor, the masterclass is ideal for Day Skippers and Coastal Yachtmasters who wish to practice their Chartwork and navigation techniques. Working out tides can be confusing and costly if you get it wrong, so lets practice the theory. Then complete a detailed passage plan. We look at what the SOLAS V regulations require, how to abide by them and tips on how to keep you and your crew safe on a longer passage.

Day consists of:

• Pilotage.
  • What is and What makes a good pilotage plan
• Buoyage
  • Revision on Buoyage and Navigation marks
• Almanac and Chart Information
  • A closer look at what information is contained in these publications and how that can help us plan a passage
• Tides
  • Calculating Tidal Heights and Tidal Streams
• Pilotage Plan.
  • Draw up a Pilotage Plan for departure from a Solent port/Marina
  • Pilotage plan for a Cross Channel destination port
• Plan a Cross Channel voyage using Paper and Electronic Charts
  • Using the information and references from earlier, plan a Cross Channel passage
  • Consider SOLAS V and Border controls
  • RYA SafeTRX
• Weather Considerations
• •  Where to obtain weather reports and how to interpret them
• IRPCS.
  • Consider the Skippers responsibilities to the IRPCS.
  • Revision on Sound signals, Lights & Shapes and crossing commercial Shipping lanes.

Attendees should if available, bring a Plotter, Dividers, pencils etc, and an Almanac if you have one.

Although much time is spent during RYA courses to drill into candidates basic chartwork, IRPCS, weather, Electronic navigation, tides etc, nowhere does it all get pulled together comprehensively in one day. This unique day has been developed to help make a solid model Passage Plan “From Berth to Berth”, which if practised on all your voyages, should keep you and your crew legal and safe. Plus with the pre planning sorted, the passage will be more enjoyable for all.

IRPCS, IALA and IPTS Workshop. 7 Hrs

Be honest:

Have you ever just kept clear in a developing situation because you couldn’t remember if you were the Stand on or Give way vessel?

Have you seen a vessel with lights or day shapes that you didn’t recognise?

Have you heard sound signals and wondered what that meant?

Seen so many flashing or fixed lights that you ignored them because they were confusing?

Run by a former Merchant Navy navigation Officer and RYA Instructor, the workshop is aimed at all Skippers who would like to understand more about the Collision regulations. During the Day Skipper, Yachtmaster theory and practical courses very little time is dedicated to this topic when in fact it is of the utmost important to keep everyone safe at sea. Even Instructors disagree and debate at length on the interpretation of the rules on their forums. If there was an incident, marine investigators would see if those involved have followed the rules or not applied them in a seamanlike fashion, liability could be on your shoulders. Also, who doesn’t need a refresher on all the other lights, Shapes and sounds you are likely to encounter at sea.

Part A

o Application

o Responsibilities

o General Definitions

Part B Steering and Sailing rules

o Conduct of vessels in any condition of visibility

o Conduct of vessels in sight of one another

o Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility

Part C Lights and Shapes

Part D Sound and Light signals

o Distress signals

o IALA Buoyage

o IPTS

o Student knowledge check

Attendees should bring a note book.

Anyone who is interested in Safe Navigation will enjoy this Day. It gives an in depth knowledge and helpful guidance in interpreting the “Rules of the Road”. It will give delegates more confidence in decision making whilst out on the water. Whilst no prior certificates are required, it would be an advantage to have some experience as there will be opportunity to discuss any close quarters situations you have been involved in. Not forgetting the refresher on the buoyage system we rely on and Port signals, I guarantee the day will make your time on the water more enjoyable as you will “See and Hear” much more as a result of your increased awareness and knowledge.