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 lowest internal spaces of a vessel’s hull, where water and other liquids naturally collect. Bilge spaces lie below the normal working or accommodation areas and may be divided into separate compartments. Small amounts of water can enter through spray, rain, shaft seals, pipework or condensation, while fuel or oil may also find its way…
A spar attached to or associated with a mast that controls the foot and position of a sail. On a conventional mainsail the boom extends aft from the mast, supports or tensions the sail’s foot and transfers loads from the mainsheet, vang or kicking strap, outhaul and reefing systems. It pivots across the vessel as…
A mooring line leading from the bow area of a vessel to a shore fitting or other secure point. It helps control the bow’s position and is used with stern, breast and spring lines as required. The direction in which it leads determines whether it mainly restrains movement away from the berth, along the berth…
A spring line led from the bow area of a vessel towards a shore point farther aft. Its fore-and-aft lead primarily checks the vessel’s forward movement along the berth. It works with an opposing spring and other mooring lines to control surge, sway and yaw caused by wind, stream, tide or passing traffic. Names such…
A knot that forms a fixed loop which normally does not tighten when loaded. A correctly dressed bowline is widely used to form an eye around a suitable object or to provide a loop in the end of a line. It is often relatively easy to untie after a steady load, although this depends on…
A spar projecting forward from a vessel’s bow to support rigging or the tack of a forward sail. On traditional rigs it may carry forestays and stays for jibs, increasing the foretriangle or spreading the standing-rigging loads. Modern yachts may use a fixed or retractable bowsprit primarily for an asymmetric spinnaker or other reaching sail…
A sudden, largely uncontrolled turn that leaves a vessel sharply across its intended course. A sailing yacht may broach when overpowered while reaching or running, causing rapid heel and loss of rudder effectiveness as it turns towards the wind. A power-driven vessel can broach when overtaken or slewed by a following sea, particularly while descending…
A point of sail with the true wind coming from aft of the beam but not directly astern. It lies between a beam reach and a run. Exact angle ranges vary between teaching schemes and vessel types, while the apparent wind experienced aboard normally lies farther forward than the true-wind direction and changes with boat…
A vertical partition that divides a vessel’s interior into separate compartments. Bulkheads help organise the vessel’s internal space and may also contribute to the strength of the hull. Depending on their construction and purpose, they may be structural, watertight, fire-resisting or simply partitions around accommodation and machinery spaces. It is therefore inaccurate to assume that…
A plug used to close a drain, opening or small unwanted hole in a vessel. Purpose-made bungs or drain plugs are fitted to openings such as dinghy drains and must be in place before launching whenever the design requires them. Their material and shape vary according to the opening they are intended to seal. Tapered…
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.
