Fowey Maritime Centre RYA Courses Day Skipper and Watch Leader Practical Course Syllabus - Tidal

Day Skipper and Watch Leader Practical Course Syllabus - Tidal

The Day Skipper Course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7 to 13m LOA), to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar. The Watch Leader Course is conducted on board a large yacht or sail training vessel, to teach navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to take charge of a watch on deck, at sea or in harbour. The Watch Leader syllabus can be conducted in tidal or non-tidal waters.

Section A
All candidates

Preparation for sea

• Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below

Deck work

• Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions
• Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth

Navigation

• Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
• Taking and plotting visual fixes
• Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
• Use of waypoints
• Working up DR and EP
• Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
• Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
• Knowledge of IALA buoyage
• Maintenance of navigational records
• Use of echo sounder and lead line

Pilotage

• Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour
• Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
• Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage

Meteorology

• Knows sources of forecast information
• Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

Rule of the road

• Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Maintenance and repair work

• Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
• Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

Engines

• Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system

Victualling

• Understands how to victual a yacht

Emergency situations

• Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard
• Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft
• Can operate a radio telephone in an emergency and send a distress message
• Understands how to secure a tow
• Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

Section B
Sail Training Candidates only - Watch Leader

General organisation

• Understands the organisation and is fully competent to take charge of a watch at sea and in harbour

Section C
Yachting Candidates only - Day Skipper

Yacht handling under power

• Can bring a boat safely to and from and alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide

Yacht handling under sail

• Can bring a yacht safely to and from a mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide
• Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing

Passage making

• Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew