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.Marine navigation has its own secret language, and let’s face it—half of it sounds like someone making things up after too much grog. You’ve got your ‘dead reckoning,’ which isn’t nearly as ominous as it sounds, and ‘bearing,’ which has nothing to do with polar bears but everything to do with pointing the right way. Don’t even get us started on ‘knots’—why measure speed like you’re tying a shoelace? And then there’s ‘fix (not for your engine) and ‘DR’ (spoiler: it’s not a doctor). If you’re baffled, don’t worry—we’re here to help you decipher this nautical code so you can sound like a pro, not a landlubber who’s lost their compass.
A defined one-way route for vessels within a traffic-separation scheme. Vessels using a lane proceed in its general direction and normally join or leave at a small angle, while crossing vessels cross as nearly as practicable at right angles to traffic flow. The full collision-regulation provisions and charted scheme apply.
A position line moved forward or backward to a common time using the vessel’s estimated motion. It allows a running fix to be formed from observations taken at different times. Accuracy depends on the original observation and on the course, speed, current and leeway assumed during the transfer.
A notice describing a navigational change or condition expected to remain for a limited period. It may cover buoy moves, works, restricted areas or temporary hazards and is not incorporated as a permanent chart feature. It remains in force until its stated end, cancellation or replacement.
A collision-regulation provision governing the conduct of sailing vessels in relation to one another or other vessels. Which vessel keeps clear depends on tack, windward position and other circumstances, but the specific rule set and vessel status must be identified first. Sailing rules do not override the duties of lookout, safe speed or action to…
The section of a planned route between two consecutive waypoints. Each leg has a course, distance and associated limits or hazards. Wheel-over position, cross-track tolerance, depth, clearing criteria and the transition to the next leg should be considered during planning.
A bearing that supports and locates a rudder stock while allowing it to rotate. Vessels may have upper, lower and intermediate bearings carrying radial and axial loads. Wear, lubrication, alignment, seals and structural attachments affect steering accuracy and watertight integrity.
The IHO product specification for Electronic Navigational Chart data within the S-100 framework. It provides a newer data model and portrayal environment than S-57-based ENC products and supports richer machine-readable information. Carriage and operational use depend on approved systems, services and implementation schedules.
The IHO standard historically used to transfer digital hydrographic data, including Electronic Navigational Charts. It defines the object catalogue, attributes and exchange format used by current-generation ENC services. It is being succeeded for future services by S-100-family specifications such as S-101.
A speed at which a vessel can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within an appropriate distance. The collision regulations require continuous consideration of visibility, traffic, manoeuvrability, background lights, wind, sea, current, hazards and draught, with additional radar factors when fitted. Safe speed is therefore situational, not a fixed numerical…
A planned sequence of positions or legs defining an intended passage. A route connects waypoints while accounting for hazards, depths, traffic, weather, regulations and contingencies. It is a plan to be monitored and adjusted, not proof that the water between every displayed waypoint is safe.
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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