Syllabus - Day Skipper Theory Course
1. Nautical Terms
- Parts of a boat and hull
- General nautical terminology
2. Ropework
- Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use
3. Anchorwork
- Characteristics of different types of anchor
- Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring
4. Safety
- Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use
- Fire precautions and fire fighting
- Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses and lifejackets
- Ability to send a distress signal by VHF radiotelephone
- Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue
5. International regulations for preventing collisions at sea
- Steering and sailing rules
- General rules
6. Definition of position, course and speed
- Latitude and longitude
- Knowledge of standard navigational terms
- True bearings and courses
- The knot
7. Navigational charts and publications
- Information shown on charts, chart symbols and representation of direction and distance
- Navigational publications in common use
- Chart correction
8. Navigational drawing instruments
- Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments
9. Compass
- Application of variation
- Awareness of deviation and its causes
- Use of hand-bearing compass
10. Chartwork
- Dead reckoning and estimated position including an awareness of leeway
- Techniques of visual fixing
- Satellite-derived positions
- Use of waypoints to fix position
- Course to steer
11. Tides and tidal streams
- Tidal definitions, levels and datum
- Tide tables
- Use of Admiralty method of determining tidal height at standard port and awareness of corrections for secondary ports
- Use of tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases for chartwork
12. Visual aids to navigation
- Lighthouses and beacons, light characteristics
13. Meteorology
- Sources of broadcast meteorological information
- Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale and their significance
- Basic knowledge of highs, lows and fronts
14. Passage planning
- Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages
- Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages
- Use of waypoints on passage
- Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source
- Keeping a navigational record
15. Navigation in restricted visibility
- Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by fog
16. Pilotage
- Use of transits, leading lines and clearing lines
- IALA system of buoyage for Region A
- Use of sailing directions
- Pilotage plans and harbour entry
17. Marine Environment
- Responsibility for avoiding pollutions and protecting the marine environment
