RYA Day Skipper Combination theory/practical Offer

Title: RYA Day Skipper Combined Course Offer

Price: £810 p/p

Duration: 10 days (some homework expected)

Catchment area: Brighton, Newhaven, Eastbourne, London, Sussex, Kent, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Croydon, Crawley, Gatwick, Worthing, Littlehampton, Shoreham.

Location: Brighton Marina.

Parking: Weekends - Free, in the visitor car park, directly adjacent to the Neilson Offices or marina.  Weekdays - free in the marina multi storey car park.

Candidates: Boat owners, coastal/offshore workers, Coastal/Yachtmaster candidates, divers, outdoor pursuit instructors, yacht skippers, powerboat drivers.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a Day Skipper licence to drive a boat / sail a yacht?

Strange as it may seem, in the UK, you do not legally need to hold any licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat or sail a yacht.. for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  

In reality... it’s complicated!  It depends in which country you are sailing, with which company/club/country, what type of boat, who you are on board with and whether you are sailing for leisure or commercial reasons.  The Day Skipper qualification (practical and theory) will cover you for most scenarios.  In the mean time try taking a look at our recommended '6_steps_to_sailing.pdf' for sailing

Will my Day Skipper qualification be valid in France?

You will need at least an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) certificate and a VHF operator’s licence whether you are driving a powerboat or sailing a yacht in France. The Day Skipper Practical Certificate is deemed equivalent to ICC but you will need to send an ICC application form to the RYA with a copy of your Day Skipper Practical Certificate to receive a genuine ICC certificate.  Only this is guaranteed to be recognised by French authorities.  Day Skipper or ICC will not cover you however for CEVNI or VHF.  If you are going inland (French canals, lakes etc), you will also need to do a CEVNI test. You can do all of these here at SailnetUK. 

Do I ever need to renew my Day Skipper Certificate?

No, your Day Skipper Certificate if for life.  However, if it has been a while then it would be prudent to do a sailing refresher course or 'brush up’.

Is there a Day Skipper exam at the end of the course?

The theory course includes two Day Skipper Theory Assessment papers. An immediate re-sit is possible if you don’t get through on the first attempt. The practical side is a 5 day instructional course and involves continual assessment.  There is no formal Day Skipper Practical 'Test' as such.  As long as you have paid attention during the course and done the homework, there is no reason you won’t be able to breeze through. 

Where will my Day Skipper licence be valid?

Please remember the Day Skipper Certificate is not a legal requirement anywhere.  Although RYA Day Skipper is generally internationally acceptable and more than adequate to meet local minimum requirements, the RYA now recommends applying for an ICC certificate once you pass the Day Skipper Practical.  The ICC IS a legal requirement in a growing number of countries and will prevent any misunderstandings by 'bureaucratic' port authorities and coast guards.

What is the right Day Skipper Course Combination Course to take, there seems to be so many?

There are two parts to the RYA ‘Day Skipper qualification’.  The THEORY part and the PRACTICAL part.  This is a 10 day comprehensive PRACTICAL AND THEORY course and tends to be referred to in many ways -

Combined Day Skipper Licence, Combination Day Skipper License, Day Skipper Combined , Day Skipper Combined Course, Day Skipper Combination Courses, RYA Day Skipper Combined Course, Day Skipper Combined Training, Day Skipper Combined Training Course, Day Skipper Combination Training Courses, Yacht Skipper's Combined Licence, Yacht skipper's Combined Course, Boat skipper's Combination Licence, Boat Skipper's Combination Course,

...but don’t worry, it's usually the same course!

Why choose SailnetUK’s RYA Day Skipper Theory Course when all courses follow a similar syllabus?

We only use multi disciplined, experienced instructors who use their skills on a day to day basis.  We have one of the highest ratio’s of Senior Keel Boat and CRB checked instructors in the country, are endorsed by the RYA, Trading Standards, and are the only Sailing school to win not just one but TWO Tourism Excellence Awards for our sailing activities.  We also cap our courses to a level that will ensure you get individual attention. 

Is there a fee for issuing a RYA Day Skipper Combined Licence?

No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?

No.  If you book online, there are no ‘claw back’ credit card charges, VAT charges, parking fees or any other charges, which can quickly push up the price of a ‘cheap’ Day Skipper Combination Course.  If you book over the phone however, a 2% credit card charge will still apply.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my RYA Day Skipper Combined Course?

Brighton Marina, with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out and in easy reach from anywhere in London and the South East. Many RYA Training Centre classrooms can be draughty old rooms incompatible with a learning environment.  At SailnetUK we use bright airy rooms in the heart of Brighton Marina. Our boats and the ones we charter, are modern and well maintained, and the sailing area - The Sussex Heritage Coastline takes in England's newest National Park - The South Downs.

Do you do group discounts, special dates, special offers or ‘on location’ training?

For groups of 4 or more, we are happy to discuss your specific needs, whether it be a Day Skipper Combined Course group discount rate, a date to suit you, holding the course at your dive club, boat club, marina, crew house or business.  Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only and cannot be used in combination with other offers.

What does the RYA Day Skipper Combined Course cover?

A comprehensive introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship for Competent Crew. You will find this course invaluable if you want to learn to start making decisions on board.

Nautical terms

Parts of a boat and hull

General nautical terminology

Ropework

Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use

Anchorwork

Characteristics of different types of anchor

Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring

Safety

Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use (see RYA Boat Safety Handbook, C8)

Fire precautions and fire fighting

Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and lifejacketsd. Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radiotelephonee. Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Steering and sailing rules (5,7,8,9,10 and 12-19)

General rules (all other rules)

Definition of position, course and speed

Latitude and longitude

Knowledge of standard navigational terms

True bearings and courses

The knot

Navigational charts and publications

Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance

Navigational publications in common use

Chart correction

Navigational drawing instruments

Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments

Compass

Application of variation

Awareness of deviation and its causes

Use of hand-bearing compass

Chartwork

Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway

Techniques of visual fixing

Satellite-derived positions

Use of waypoints to fix position

Course to steer

Tides and tidal streams

Tidal definitions, levels and datum

Tide tables

Use of Admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port and awareness of corrections for secondary ports

Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases for chartwork

Visual aids to navigation

Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics

Meteorology

Sources of broadcast meteorological information

Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale, and their significance to small craft

Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts

Passage planning

Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages. Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages

Use of waypoints on passages. Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source

Keeping a navigational

Navigation in restricted visibility

Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by fog

Pilotage

Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines

IALA system of buoyage for Region A

Use of sailing directions

Pilotage plans and harbour entry

Marine environment

Responsibility for avoiding pollution and protecting the marine environment