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.Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. You’ll wonder why a “sheet” isn’t something you sleep under but a rope that controls a sail. “Bowsprit” sounds like a sneeze, “booby hatch” isn’t a bird’s hideout, and “port” doesn’t come in a glass—it’s just left. If someone yells, “Man overboard!” don’t ask which direction they swam. And heaven help you if you think “scuttlebutt” is gossip—well, actually, you’d be right about that one. By the time you’ve figured out that “head” means toilet and “galley” isn’t an alley with gourds, you’ve already been hit with a wave and lost your hat to the wind they call a “nor’easter.”
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.
The watertight volume above a vessel’s loaded waterline that remains available to oppose further immersion. Adequate freeboard and intact closures preserve this margin as the vessel heels, ships water or carries additional load. Flooding, overloading and downflooding openings reduce reserve buoyancy and can rapidly compromise survivability.
Sufficient unobstructed water space for a vessel to manoeuvre safely. The amount required depends on draught, speed, turning ability, stopping distance, weather and proximity to shoals, traffic and a lee shore. Maintaining sea room preserves options if conditions deteriorate or equipment fails.
The condition of the sea surface at a particular time and place, principally in terms of wave height and character. It reflects wind sea and swell and may be reported using a descriptive scale or measured wave statistics. Sea state affects vessel motion, speed, visibility, deck safety and the feasibility of manoeuvres or recovery operations.
The practical knowledge and abilities required to operate and care for a vessel safely. They include ropework, steering, lookout, anchoring, mooring, sail or machinery handling, weather awareness, maintenance and emergency response. Competence combines correct technique with judgement, communication and adaptation to the vessel and conditions.
The direction and rate at which current carries a vessel over the ground. Set is the direction toward which the water flows and drift is its speed. Together they form a current vector used with the vessel’s through-water motion to predict track or calculate a course to steer.
The loss of stability caused when liquid moves across a partly filled compartment as a vessel heels. The shifting liquid moves the combined centre of gravity toward the low side and reduces effective metacentric height. Tanks should be kept pressed full or empty where practicable, and flooding or water on deck must be controlled promptly.
Electrochemical corrosion that occurs when dissimilar metals are electrically connected in an electrolyte such as seawater. The less noble metal becomes anodic and corrodes preferentially. Material selection, electrical isolation, coatings and correctly designed sacrificial anodes help control the process without replacing inspection and maintenance.
A mathematical reference framework used to define positions on or near the Earth. A datum specifies an ellipsoid and its relationship to the Earth, allowing latitude, longitude and height coordinates to be interpreted consistently. Positions based on different datums can be displaced, so chart, receiver and exchanged coordinates must use compatible references.
The direction in which tension from a rope, cable or tackle acts on a load and its fittings. Changing the lead changes the direction and sometimes the magnitude of forces on fairleads, blocks and attachment points. Crew should remain clear of loaded lines and the areas that could be swept if a component fails.
The act of turning a sailing vessel toward the wind. As the vessel luffs, the apparent wind moves forward and sails may need trimming until they begin to lift or flap. In racing, luffing can also describe a tactical course alteration, subject to the applicable right-of-way rules.
If you belive the Earth is flat, you're about to fall of the end...
If you belive the Earth is flat, you're about to fall of the end...
Our 1% commitment
My Sailing Course contributes 1% of every Stripe payment to help promising carbon removal technologies move from the lab into the field.
Stripe Climate commitments fund the development and purchase of carbon removal. They are not carbon offsets or credits attached to an individual order.
Welcome to My Sailing Course. Where's this adventure going to take you?
Ahoy there, Visiting Sailor! Ask us anything—whether you need help choosing a course, have a sailing question, or want to speak to the crew.
Scan with your phone to open the My Sailing Course WhatsApp service. You can review or edit the prepared message before sending it.
Your conversation stays with My Sailing Course so our Support team can respond securely.
Enter at least two characters to explore.
Welcome back aboard. Sign in with the email address connected to your My Sailing Course account.
Your account details are encrypted in transit and your password is never displayed or stored by this form. By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Join free to save your favourites, unlock bonus learning resources and keep everything nautical close at hand.
Join the My Sailing Course community with one secure account for your courses, profile and support.
We've successfully created your account. Hold station for a few moments and you will be returned to the page.
Already have an account? Sign in
Enter your account email and we will send you a secure reset link.
This reset link is invalid or has expired.
Your new password is saved securely. We are confirming it across My Sailing Course before you sign in.
Please keep this window open. It will change to the sign-in form as soon as every service confirms the update.
