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.The after part of a vessel’s port side, or the relative direction abaft the port beam. As a structural location it lies towards the stern on the left when facing forward. As a lookout report, an object on the port quarter lies in the sector between approximately abeam and astern to port. The directional reference…
The tack on which the wind is coming from the vessel’s port side. On a conventional fore-and-aft rig the mainsail and boom are normally to starboard, but sail position is evidence rather than the defining rule and unusual or backed sails can mislead. Tack is determined by the side from which the wind is received….
A small, usually circular window fitted in a vessel’s side or superstructure. A porthole admits daylight and, if it is an opening type, ventilation. Marine construction more formally distinguishes side scuttles and windows, but “porthole” is the familiar general term. Opening portholes have a hinged or removable closure with seals and dogs or another fastening…
A line or tackle rigged to restrain a boom from crossing the vessel unintentionally. A properly arranged preventer leads from a suitable point on the boom to a strong point or controlled line system forward and aft. It is used when sailing with the wind abaft the beam to reduce the likelihood and violence of…
A sideways tendency of a vessel’s stern caused by transverse forces from a rotating propeller. Also called transverse thrust or prop walk, it is often most noticeable when applying astern power at low speed before useful water flow reaches the rudder. Direction and strength depend on propeller rotation, shaft angle, aperture, hull and rudder geometry,…
A rigid guardrail structure around part of a vessel’s bow. The pulpit normally connects with the side guardrails or lifelines and helps reduce the risk of people falling overboard while working forward. It may also support navigation lights, an anchor roller or other fittings if designed for those loads. Tube joints, bases, backing plates, fasteners…
A rigid guardrail structure around part of a vessel’s stern. The pushpit normally connects with side guardrails or lifelines and may incorporate gates. It can support lights, antennas, a lifebuoy, solar panels or other equipment only where its design and attachments are suitable for the resulting static and dynamic loads. Bases, backing, welds, fasteners, gates…
A signal or device that uses a controlled energetic chemical reaction to produce light, smoke, sound or heat. Marine pyrotechnics include rocket parachute flares, hand flares, smoke signals and line-throwing cartridges. Their colour, duration, altitude and pattern carry recognised meanings or serve particular alerting and locating functions; not every pyrotechnic is a distress signal. They…
A plain yellow International Code of Signals flag whose single-letter meaning is ‘My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique’. Free pratique is the health authority’s permission for a vessel to have contact with the port after arrival formalities. The flag is traditionally displayed on entering a foreign port until the required clearance is…
A radio-detection system that measures the range and direction of objects by transmitting energy and processing returned echoes. Marine radar can detect coast, vessels, buoys, rain and other reflecting targets and supports position checking, collision assessment and navigation in restricted visibility. Pulse, broadband and solid-state systems use differing waveforms, frequencies and processing but share the…
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.
Welcome to My Sailing Course. Where's this adventure going to take you?
Ahoy there, Visiting Sailor! Ask us anything—whether you need help choosing a course, have a sailing question, or want to speak to the crew.
Scan with your phone to open the My Sailing Course WhatsApp service. You can review or edit the prepared message before sending it.
Your conversation stays with My Sailing Course so our Support team can respond securely.
Enter at least two characters to explore.
Welcome back aboard. Sign in with the email address connected to your My Sailing Course account.
Your account details are encrypted in transit and your password is never displayed or stored by this form. By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Join free to save your favourites, unlock bonus learning resources and keep everything nautical close at hand.
Join the My Sailing Course community with one secure account for your courses, profile and support.
We've successfully created your account. Hold station for a few moments and you will be returned to the page.
Already have an account? Sign in
Enter your account email and we will send you a secure reset link.
This reset link is invalid or has expired.
Your new password is saved securely. We are confirming it across My Sailing Course before you sign in.
Please keep this window open. It will change to the sign-in form as soon as every service confirms the update.
