Day Skipper Practical Syllabus

The Day Skipper course teaches pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the required standard 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 when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or 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 to 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
• Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
• Use of transits and surroundings 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 Preventing 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
• Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing

• 12. 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

• 13. Night cruising

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

• 14. Seasickness

• Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness

• 15. Helmsmanship and sailing

• Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
• Can steer a compass course, under sail and power

• 16. General duties

• Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel
  
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