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.The person in command of a vessel and ultimately responsible for its safe operation. The master has authority over navigation, crew, passengers, cargo and compliance with applicable law, while delegating duties to qualified personnel. The title is a legal and operational role and is not limited to any particular size of vessel.
The historical compulsory recruitment of people into naval service by state authority. It is particularly associated with the British Royal Navy’s press gangs during periods of war, although practices varied by time and jurisdiction. The term describes coerced service rather than ordinary voluntary enlistment.
A high-pitched whistle used to sound traditional naval and shipboard orders or ceremonies. Different combinations of pitch, duration and trill form recognised calls for attention, piping the side and other evolutions. Its meaning depends on established procedure and should not be confused with an emergency whistle signal.
Located or bearing behind a vessel’s beam. The expression covers directions between the beam and the stern and is relative to the vessel rather than a fixed compass direction. It is used in lookout reports, collision assessment and descriptions of wind or object position.
The prow is the forward-most part of a ship’s hull, also called the fore or stem. Shaped to cut through water, it plays a key role in speed, stability, and manoeuvrability. Once decorated with figureheads for luck and protection, the prow is now designed mainly for performance and function.
General Nautical Terminology,Weather (Meteorology)
A rare descriptive term for fine rippling or small wavelets on an otherwise relatively smooth water surface. It may be used informally for the first texture produced by a light breeze or minor disturbance, but it is not a standard WMO sea-state or Beaufort-scale classification. Because the term is uncommon and inconsistently documented, forecasts and…
One of two shortened two-hour watches traditionally scheduled from 16:00–18:00 and 18:00–20:00. Splitting the normal four-hour period creates an odd number of watches in the day, allowing personnel in a traditional watch system to rotate rather than keeping the same hours every day. The periods are often called the first and last dog watches. Modern…
Historically, a port-health document stating that no infectious disease was known to exist at a vessel’s port of departure. A clean bill could support the granting of pratique at the next port, while a foul or suspected bill could lead to quarantine or inspection. Requirements and terminology varied between jurisdictions and periods. Modern health clearance…
An expression meaning very drunk, unsteady or out of control. In sailing, a sheet is a line controlling a sail rather than the sail itself. A vessel with several sheets loose or flying would have sails uncontrolled and could yaw or stagger in a way likened to an intoxicated person. The exact historical numbering is…
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...
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