Curriculum
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RYA Competent Crew Notes
16 lessonsThe entry-level RYA qualification for crew members on sailing vessels. Covers seamanship basics, safety, sailing fundamentals, and life aboard.
Safety Equipment & Procedures
Introduction to Sailing
Living Aboard
Navigation Basics
Communication
Weather Awareness
Emergency Procedures
COLREGS Introduction
Environmental Awareness
RYA Day Skipper Notes
18 lessonsQualifies you to skipper a cruising yacht on short coastal passages by day. Covers chartwork, pilotage, passage planning, and basic leadership.
Chartwork and Navigation
COLREGS
Passage Planning
Sail Trim and Boat Handling
Engine Checks & Maintenance
VHF Radio Operation
Seamanship and Safety
RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Coastal Notes
15 lessonsAdvanced coastal passage making by day and night. Bridges the gap between Day Skipper and offshore sailing.
Advanced Navigation
Advanced Meteorology
Radar & Electronic Navigation
Heavy Weather & Emergencies
Crew Management & Watch Systems
Seamanship and Boat Handling
Collision Regulations and Pilotage
Communications and First Aid
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Notes
17 lessonsCompetent to skipper a cruising vessel on passages up to 150 miles from harbour, by day or night, in a wide range of weather conditions.
Offshore Passage Planning
Advanced Navigation
Ocean Meteorology
Heavy Weather Tactics
Watch Keeping & Fatigue
Crew Leadership
Safety, Emergencies and Rescue
Collision Avoidance
Security and Records
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Notes
14 lessonsCompetent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. Includes celestial navigation and worldwide meteorology.
Celestial Navigation
Ocean Passage Planning
Global Meteorology
Ocean Currents
Long-Range Communications
Self-Sufficiency
Crew & Medical Care
International Regulations
Qualifying Passage
Beyond the ladder
After Yachtmaster Ocean
Ocean is the top of the RYA ladder. These extra notes cover what comes next: teaching and examining for the RYA, and the MCA professional certificates up to Master of Yachts 3000gt. They are not a step in the beginner-to-expert sequence and sail their own branch on the globe.
RYA Instructor & MCA Professional Notes
10 lessonsBeyond Yachtmaster Ocean: the two routes onward. Teaching and examining for the RYA (Cruising Instructor, Yachtmaster Instructor, Shorebased Instructor, Examiner) and the MCA professional ladder (commercial endorsement, Master 200, OOW and Master of Yachts 500gt and 3000gt). An extra course, not a rung on the ladder.