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.A reefing system in which one control line draws down both the tack and clew areas of a mainsail. The line is routed through blocks or the boom so a reef can be taken with fewer separate operations. Low friction, correct sequence and secure final tension are essential; halyard and topping support still require coordinated…
A restraint designed to secure equipment, cargo or movable structure against vessel motions at sea. It may use welds, bolts, lashings, stoppers or engineered supports sized for expected accelerations and loads. Fastenings require inspection after loading and during the voyage and must not obstruct emergency access or safe operation.
The positioning of an engine, gearbox, bearings and propeller shaft so their rotational axes agree within specified tolerances. Poor alignment causes vibration, heat, bearing and seal wear and transmission loads. Checks must allow for hull deflection, flexible mounts, coupling type and the vessel’s afloat condition.
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.
A loss of rudder lift caused when the water flow separates at an excessive angle of attack. Beyond the effective rudder angle, adding more helm may increase drag without producing more turning force. Speed, propeller wash, hull interaction and ventilation affect the angle at which stall occurs.
The distribution of aerodynamic force between a vessel’s sails and its relationship to the hull and underwater foils. Good balance produces manageable helm and efficient tracking. Reefing, changing headsails, mast tune and sail trim move the centre of effort and can increase or reduce weather or lee helm.
The progressive change in a sail’s angle from its lower part to its head. Some twist is needed because apparent wind normally changes with height and because the upper sail must exhaust flow cleanly. Sheet lead, vang, traveller and mast or rig controls adjust twist according to point of sail and conditions.
A flexible sealing membrane fitted around a saildrive leg where it passes through the hull. The structural installation normally includes an internal watertight seal and often an external fairing membrane with different functions. Inspection and replacement intervals must follow the drive manufacturer’s requirements because deterioration can permit serious water ingress.
A headsail whose clew extends abaft the mast when set in its normal position. Genoas are typical overlapping headsails and use the overlap to provide additional sail area. They require clear sheeting leads and more handling through a tack than non-overlapping jibs.
The halyard that raises and supports the outer or peak end of a gaff. It works with the throat halyard to set the gaff’s height and angle. Coordinated hauling and easing prevents the gaff twisting, binding or imposing uneven loads on the sail and mast.
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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