DAY SKIPPER TIDAL SYLLABUS

The Day skipper course is conducted on board a cruising yacht (7 to 15m 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.

 1. 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

2. 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 with mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth

3. 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

4. Pilotage

• Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour

• Use of echo sounder and lead line

• Understands the use of leading and clearing lines

• Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage

5. Meteorology

• Knows sources of forecast information

• Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

6. Rule of the road

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

7. Maintenance and repair work

• Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks

• Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

8. Engines

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

9. Victualling

• Understands how to victual a yacht

10. 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 radiotelephone in an emergency and send a distress message

• Understands how to secure a tow

• Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

11. Yacht handling under power

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

12. Yacht handling under sail

• Can bring a boat 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

13. 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

14. Night Cruising

• Has experienced sail cruising at night including entering and leaving harbour. Understands the special considerations for pilotage  plans, keeping lookout and identifying marks at night