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 International Telecommunication Union conference that reviews and revises the Radio Regulations. WRC decisions allocate spectrum and set international provisions affecting maritime, aeronautical, satellite and other radio services. Conferences are held periodically, and changes are implemented through the resulting treaty acts and national administrations.
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. It establishes minimum international requirements for seafarer competence, certification and watchkeeping, supported by the STCW Code. Flag and port states implement its provisions through national administrations and approved training.
A defined area within which a state or rescue coordination centre coordinates maritime or aeronautical search-and-rescue services. Boundaries allocate coordination responsibility and do not necessarily match territorial waters or national borders. Adjacent services cooperate when an incident crosses a boundary or resources from more than one region are needed.
The organisation responsible for administering a port and exercising powers assigned within its limits. Functions may include navigation directions, traffic control, conservancy, berths, dues, safety and environmental management. Masters must comply with applicable harbour regulations and lawful directions in addition to general maritime law.
The legally or administratively defined boundaries of a port authority’s area. Within them, local by-laws, reporting requirements, speed limits, pilotage and traffic directions may apply. Limits are shown or described in current charts, publications and legislation and may extend beyond the visible harbour.
The international treaty rules governing use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. Maintained through the International Telecommunication Union, they allocate frequencies and set technical and operating provisions, including maritime services. National administrations implement and enforce them through licensing and domestic requirements.
The person or unit designated to coordinate search-and-rescue activities within a specified search area. The coordinator implements the search action plan, organises participating units, maintains communications and reports to the rescue coordination centre or mission coordinator. The role does not remove each vessel master’s responsibility for safety.
A country’s official organisation for observing, forecasting and warning about weather and related environmental conditions. It operates national networks and issues forecasts or warnings under its mandate, often including marine services. Product names and geographic responsibilities vary, so mariners should identify the authoritative service for their waters.
A formal health declaration supplied by a ship to the competent authority at a port. It reports specified illnesses, deaths and other health information relevant to clearance and public-health measures. Requirements, submission method and responsible signatory depend on international health rules and the port state.
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.
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.
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