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 Code of Signals numeral pennant representing the digit 5. It is hoisted with alphabet flags, other numeral pennants or substitutes to form an ordered signal group. The complete group determines whether 5 is a quantity, bearing, date, time or part of a coded message. The pennant should be read in its position from…
An International Code of Signals numeral pennant representing the digit 4. It is hoisted with alphabet flags, other numeral pennants or substitutes to form an ordered signal group. The complete group determines whether 4 is a quantity, bearing, date, time or part of a coded message. The pennant should be read in its position from…
An International Code of Signals numeral pennant representing the digit 3. It is hoisted with alphabet flags, other numeral pennants or substitutes to form an ordered signal group. The complete group determines whether 3 is a quantity, bearing, date, time or part of a coded message. The pennant should be read in its position from…
An International Code of Signals numeral pennant representing the digit 2. It is hoisted with alphabet flags, other numeral pennants or substitutes to form an ordered signal group. The complete group determines whether 2 is a quantity, bearing, date, time or part of a coded message. The pennant should be read in its position from…
The United States armed service responsible for maritime safety, security and stewardship, with military and law-enforcement functions. Its missions include search and rescue, aids to navigation, vessel safety, marine environmental protection, port and waterway security, law enforcement, defence readiness and ice operations. It normally operates within the Department of Homeland Security and may serve under…
The senior deck officer immediately below the master on a merchant vessel. Also called the chief officer or first mate, this officer normally manages the deck department and has major responsibilities for cargo operations, stability, maintenance, safety equipment, drills and crew organisation. Duties vary with vessel type, flag, company and manning arrangements. The chief mate…
A certificated member of a ship’s deck department who performs navigational watches and deck-management duties. Depending on rank, a deck officer may plan and monitor passages, keep bridge watches, supervise cargo, stability, mooring, safety equipment, maintenance and personnel, and carry out duties delegated by the master or chief mate. Certification, rank and permitted duties are…
The IMO convention setting international minimum standards for seafarer training, certification and watchkeeping. Known as STCW, the convention was adopted in 1978 and has been amended substantially, including the 1995 amendments and the 2010 Manila Amendments. It is supported by the STCW Code, whose Part A contains mandatory standards and Part B provides recommended guidance….
A structure formed by interlacing or looping rope, cord or similar flexible material so it holds under an intended load. Knots may form a fixed or adjustable loop, join two lines, attach a line to an object, create a stopper or shorten a rope. In strict terminology, bends join lines and hitches attach a line…
A backstay that can be tensioned or released during sailing to support the mast and control rig loads. Running backstays are normally fitted as a port-and-starboard pair from the after part of the vessel to an upper mast attachment. The windward runner is tensioned while the leeward one is eased so the boom and sail…
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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