All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.
Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
Essential Navigation & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning, secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.
We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.
Nautical Terms & TerminologyUnderstanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
Why do we have tides?Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
What causes our weather?A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper & RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
Buoyage FlashcardsFlashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
The Salty Sea BlogFrom salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.Downloads related to the Fixing Position and Navigation Awareness module in the RYA Day Skipper course.
Learn to confirm your position using depth contours, transits, and visual cues. These resources support your navigation skills and help you stay oriented—even without a GPS.
The deviation card found on the back page of the RYA Training Almanac. It is used solely to support RYA theory courses and is a fictitious deviation card. This is used in the Deviation session of the Knowing where you are!
PDF · 1 file · 124.81 KB
Updated 21 October 2026 · 355 downloads
Available with the required course access.
PDF · 1 file · 298.51 KB
Updated 4 July 2025 · 295 downloads
Table of HDOP ranges and their associated meanings. When establishing the accuracy of our GNSS (GPS) fix, we need to understand the Dilution of Precision (DOP), sometimes referred to as Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP). This is provided as a number of 1 or greater.
PDF · 1 file · 39.16 KB
Updated 4 July 2025 · 976 downloads
How to calculate variation using the information found on a Compass Rose of a chart. Charts have the necessary information to calculate variation appropriate for their coverage area.
PDF · 1 file · 100.25 KB
Updated 10 May 2025 · 584 downloads
This handy mnemonic helps us remember which way to apply adjustments for bearings. Magnetic (compass) to True, True to Compass, Easterly Variation or Westerly Variation.
PDF · 1 file · 29.77 KB · Version 1.1
Updated 4 July 2025 · 579 downloads
This handy mnemonic helps us remember which way to apply adjustments for bearings. Magnetic (compass) to True, True to Compass, Easterly Variation or Westerly Variation.
PDF · 1 file · 83.72 KB · Version 1.0
Updated 4 July 2025 · 517 downloads
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