RYA Coastal Skipper - Shorebased Course

Level

Certificate
 

Entry Requirements

No formal entry requirements
 

Duration & Mode

Short Course, 40 hours.
By arrangement .

Description

An advanced course in navigation and meteorology for candidates for the Coastal Skipper Certificate.  The syllabus makes some provision for revision of subjects in the elementary course but those who have not acquired the knowledge set out in the elementary course are unlikely to be able to assimilate all the subjects covered in the advanced course in the time available.

DEAD RECKONING AND ESTIMATED POSITION
- definition of DR and EP
- working up DR and EP by plotting on a chart.
 
THE POSITION LINE
- sources of position lines, transits, compass bearings, rising and dipping distances, radio position lines and depth contours.

THE MAGNETIC COMPASS
- allowance for variation.  Change of variation with time and position.
- Siting compass and causes of deviation.
- Allowance for deviation
- Steering and hand bearing compasses
- Swing for deviation (but not correction)

POSITION FIXING
- techniques of visual fixing
- running fixes
- radio fixes
- fixes containing a mixture of position lines
- ranges by dipping stances.

TIDES
- causes of tides – springs and neaps
- tide tables – Admiralty and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs
- tidal levels and data
- times and heights at standard ports
- the rule of twelfths
- corrections for secondary ports
- tidal anomalies (Solent etc)

TIDAL STREAMS
- tidal streams atlas
- tidal diamonds
- tidal stream information in Sailing Directions and Yachtman’s Almanacs
- allowance for tidal streams in determining a course to steer
- tide rips, overfalls and races
- tidal stream observation by buoys, beacons etc.

BUOYAGE
- Thorough IALA system buoyage in Region A and awareness of System B
- Limitations of buoys as navigational aids.

LIGHTS
Characteristics
Ranges – visual, luminous and nominal ranges.
Light lists – Admiralty and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs

PILOTAGE
harbour regulations and control signals
method of pre-planning
clearing lines.

ECHO SOUNDER
principle of operation
rotating neon, dial and pointer, recording
reduction of soundings
“second trace” echoes

RADIO AIDS TO NAVIGATION
radio beacons, ALRS Vol II and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs.
D/F receivers, types of aerials.  Methods of operation. Audio and visual null points.  Reciprocal bearings.
a basic knowledge of Global Positioning System (GPS),

LOGS (SPEED AND DISTANCE MEASURING)
types and principles of operation, comparison of towed, pressure, impeller and sonic.

DECK LOG
importance of log as yacht’s official document
layout of log, hourly and occasional entries.

METEOROLOGY
basic met terms, the Beaufort scale
air masses
cloud types
weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems
weather forecasts and simple met instruments
ability to sketch a weather map from a shipping forecast
land and sea breezes
sea fog – forecasting

ANCHORING
types of anchors and principles of operation
selection of an anchor berth

RULE OF THE ROAD
a sound knowledge of the international Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea.

SAFETY AT SEA
personal safety, use of lifejackets, safety harnesses and lifelines
fire precautions and fire fighting
distress signals
role of the coastguards
preparation for heavy weather.
use of VHF radio for distress and safety communication.

SIGNALS
principles of signalling by flags and morse
ability to recognise and know the meaning of flags A,D,F,J,K,L,O,Q,T,U,V & W and the two-flag hoist NC and the morse letters D,F,J,K,L,O,T,U,V, & W.

NAVIGATION IN RESTRICTED VISIBILITY
precautions to be taken in fog
limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog.

PASSAGE PLANNING AND MAKING
preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and use at sea
customs regulations as they apply to yachts
routine for navigating a yacht in coastal waters.
Strategy for course laying.

Course Code: LERTASKIPP

Progression

Campus

Stornoway
Benbecula
Barra