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.Did you know that half the stuff you say has salty sea legs? When you ‘test the waters,’ you’re practically a sailor. And when things go ‘off the deep end,’ well, you might as well grab a life jacket. ‘Loose cannon’? Nautical. ‘By and large’? Also nautical. Even ‘shipshape’ is—you guessed it—nautical. We’ve been talking like sailors since forever, but most of us don’t even know we’re doing it. It’s time to own your inner seafarer! Let us help you navigate these maritime phrases so you can drop them into conversations with the precision of a seasoned captain. Anchors aweigh, linguists!
An expression meaning generally or when considered as a whole. Its origin is nautical. “By” described sailing close to the wind, while “large” described sailing with the wind free, from a more favourable direction. A vessel said to sail well by and large could perform under both broad types of wind angle. The phrase later…
Confused, uncertain or unable to decide what to do. The modern expression describes a person who has lost their sense of direction in a problem or situation. Its nautical image is of being away from familiar landmarks and without a clear position or course. It does not normally mean that a vessel is literally adrift…
Neat, orderly and properly prepared for safe and efficient use. A shipshape vessel has equipment correctly stowed, lines and working areas clear, and routine arrangements maintained so that the vessel and crew can operate without avoidable disorder. The expression reflects the discipline needed where space is limited and loose gear can quickly become dangerous. The…
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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