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.An alternative means or procedure for controlling a vessel’s direction after failure of the normal steering system. Arrangements may include local control at the steering gear, an emergency tiller, independent hydraulic power or improvised methods appropriate to the vessel. They must be understood, maintained, tested and practised before an emergency occurs.
A removable or dedicated tiller used to turn the rudder when the normal steering linkage or system fails. It usually fits directly to the rudder stock or an emergency steering head. Access, usable leverage and safe crew position should be checked in advance because loads can be high and cockpit structures or steering components may…
To alter course away from the wind. Falling off is also called bearing away. Sail trim must normally be eased as the apparent wind moves aft, while an unintended fall-off may indicate imbalance, a wind shift, waves or insufficient steering control.
A line led forward from a boom or spinnaker pole to restrain upward or aft movement. On a spinnaker pole it works with the topping lift and afterguy or brace to control pole height and position. Leads, fittings and release arrangements must suit the loads and permit safe handling during manoeuvres.
A sailing rig in which the forestay attaches below the masthead. The arrangement can improve control of mast bend and mainsail shape and may use swept spreaders or running backstays for support. The fractional designation describes the approximate height of the forestay attachment relative to the mast.
A navigation light showing an unbroken arc of 360 degrees around the horizon. Its colour and combination with other lights identify particular vessel conditions under the collision regulations, such as anchoring or restricted manoeuvrability. The light must meet prescribed visibility, positioning and screening requirements.
The process of embedding an anchor and confirming that it is developing reliable holding power. After the anchor reaches the seabed, cable is paid out while the vessel moves away and load is increased progressively. Bearings, position, cable behaviour and engine load can help confirm the anchor has dug in rather than merely dragging across…
The operation of securing a vessel to the seabed with an anchor and cable. A safe anchorage requires suitable depth, holding ground, shelter, swinging room and clearance from hazards and other vessels. The anchor must be laid and set with appropriate scope, then monitored for dragging and changing conditions.
The horizontal angular sector through which a navigation light is required to be visible. Different lights have prescribed arcs: sidelights, masthead lights, sternlights and all-round lights cover different sectors. Correct positioning and screening prevent misleading overlap and preserve the vessel aspect indicated to observers.
The component of sea-level change predicted from the gravitational effects and motions of the Moon, Sun and Earth. Harmonic predictions describe this regular component for a location. Actual water levels may differ because of atmospheric pressure, wind, waves, river flow and other meteorological or oceanographic effects.
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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