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.Signals and communication in the marine world are like a game of charades with the ocean as your stage. Picture a crew furiously waving flags screaming, “We’re out of snacks!” while another ship squints, trying to decode whether that’s a distress call or just terrible semaphore skills. Horns blast at decibels high enough to wake Poseidon, with meanings ranging from “I’m turning left” to “Move it or lose it!” And let’s not forget Morse code—nothing says “urgent message” like blinking a flashlight at a seagull for hours. Meanwhile, the VHF radio crackles with static and a dozen accents yelling about the weather, leaving everyone more confused than enlightened. It’s a symphony of organised chaos where somehow, miraculously, no one crashes into an iceberg. Usually.
The international radiotelephony spelling word for the letter Q. It is used to spell call signs, identifiers and words clearly over voice radio. Its prescribed spoken form is represented as ‘KEH BECK’. The word’s spelling-alphabet use is separate from the single International Code of Signals flag Q, which has a health and free-pratique meaning. Context…
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…
A passive structure intended to increase the strength of radar energy returned from a vessel or object. Corner reflectors and other geometries redirect incident radar energy towards its source and are fitted particularly to small craft or low-reflectivity structures. Performance depends on frequency band, orientation, elevation, heel, mounting height and obstruction by rig or equipment….
The international radiotelephony urgency signal indicating a very urgent message concerning the safety of a vessel, aircraft, vehicle or person. The words are spoken three times and pronounced like the French word ‘panne’, followed by the called station or all stations, the caller’s identification and the urgency message under the applicable radio procedure. A digital…
The international radiotelephony spelling word for the letter P. It is used to spell call signs, identifiers and words clearly over voice radio. Its prescribed spoken form is represented as ‘PAH PAH’. The International Code of Signals assigns separate meanings to the single flag P, historically called the Blue Peter, depending on context. Those signal…
A portable 406 MHz distress beacon registered to a person and intended to alert search-and-rescue authorities through the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. When activated, a PLB transmits a coded identity and many models include GNSS position; a low-power 121.5 MHz homing signal may help rescuers locate it nearby. It differs from an EPIRB, which is normally…
The standard spoken code word for the letter M in the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet. It is pronounced “MIKE” and is used to spell names, call signs and other information clearly over marine radio. The same word is used in the NATO phonetic alphabet. Mike is also associated with International Code of Signals flag M,…
Proceeding under engine while a sailing vessel also has one or more sails set. Motor sailing can increase speed, reduce rolling or help maintain a chosen course in light or adverse wind. Sail trim and engine power must be coordinated because the apparent wind and loads can change as the vessel accelerates or alters course….
Lights displayed by a vessel to indicate its presence, aspect, type, size or operational status to other vessels. Common navigation lights include red and green sidelights, a white sternlight, white masthead lights and all-round lights. The required colour, arc, number, vertical and horizontal arrangement, and range of visibility depend on the vessel’s length, propulsion, activity…
An international automated radio service that broadcasts maritime safety information to ships in coastal and sea areas. NAVTEX transmits navigational and meteorological warnings, forecasts, search-and-rescue information and other urgent messages by narrow-band direct printing. Receivers identify transmitting stations and message categories and can suppress many unwanted repeats while retaining mandatory safety categories. International NAVTEX commonly…
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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