RYA SHOREBASED, (Nav, VHF, First Aid)

VHF SRC Marine Radio Course

The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.

Course topics include: The basics of radio operation, the correct frequencies (channels) to be used, distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures, making ship to shore communication, Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) Search and Rescue (SART)

Prior to the course we will send out a book for you to complete pre-course reading. This will enable you to get the maximum from the course and you should expect to spend three hours on this work. Although indoors for the course you will spend a significant amount of time on our training radios practicing radio calls. Our instructors are keen to ensure you get the information relevant to your water activities whilst still covering the mandatory syllabus. We pride ourselves on conducting the assessment in a friendly and relaxed manner whilst still maintaining the standards required.

We run this course at least once a month in Poole.  Dates are on our website or contact us for an extra course date if you have a group of four or more people to be trained.

RYA Essential Navigation & Theory

The RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship Course can be taken online or in the classroom.   Please visit our section on online courses page for details of the online course.

The course is suitable for all boaters, both sail & motor, and whether for leisure, fishing or diving.  It is the first theory course in the RYA program.  Its a great complementary course for your Level 2 Powerboat, Start Yachting or the Helmsman practical courses.   The course pack includes an exercise book, a plotter and dividers and access to a training electronic chart plotter.  There is no final ‘exam’ but instead the course is based on continuous assessment.

RYA Dayskipper Theory

The RYA Dayskipper Theory (shorebased) Course is a great course to increase your navigation and safety knowledge.  It is a perfect step on from the Essential Navigation & Seamanship Course and prepares you for more Advanced Powerboat Courses or the Dayskipper Practical course on Motor Cruisers.  The course is run in the classroom and we usually run this over 6 days but occasionally we run courses over 3 weekends.  The aim of the course is to equip you with sufficient knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day and to give you the confidence to move onto practical courses.   The course also includes an introduction to lights in preparation for a night exercise in more advanced practical courses.

The course is suitable for those who are looking to move onto more advanced powerboat courses, those who wish to take the Dayskipper Practical course, those who are looking to work commercially whether instructing or on coded boats and also for those who wish to study for their own development.  It is suitable for both sailors and motor boaters.  Our instructor uses a range of boats and is a Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore for both Power & Sail.  He works as a commercial skipper as well as instructing and sails for both leisure and work including on a youth sail training boat so has relevant examples he can bring into the course.

Course topics include: the basics of seamanship, the essentials of coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting and meteorology, tides,  collision regulations, construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat, emergency and safety procedures including distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts.

RYA Yachtmaster Theory

The RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course otherwise known as Yachtmaster Theory is the next step after the Dayskipper Theory, refining the skills learnt and focussing on advanced navigation and meteorology.  The course alongside the practical gives you the skills towards undertaking longer passages offshore.  The course is run in the classroom and we usually run this over 6 days.

The course is suitable for those who are looking to undertake the Advanced Powerboat Course or the Yachtmaster offshore practical courses and exams. It is suitable for both sailors and motor boaters.  Our instructor uses a range of boats and is a Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore for both Power & Sail.  He works as a commercial skipper as well as instructing and sails for both leisure and work including on a youth sail training boat so has relevant examples he can bring into the course.

Course topics include:  position fixing, course shaping and plotting, tidal knowledge, use of almanacs and admiralty publications, electronic position finding equipment, taking and interpreting forecasts, plotting weather systems, weather predictions using a barometer and by observation, collision regulations, customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

RYA Sea Survival

The RYA Sea Survival Course includes a mix of theory and practical which takes place in a local swimming pool.

The course is suitable for all boaters, both commercial and leisure and sail or motor.  For those working afloat it is an important component of the training route to obtain a commercial endorsement. For leisure boaters venturing along coastlines and across open water it a important safety briefing.  It is a great opportunity to inflate and climb into life-rafts.  You will be in the water in full waterproofs and see how your lifejacket supports you.

RYA Diesel Engine

The RYA Diesel Engine course is an introductory course aimed at preventing breakdowns and solving basic problems at sea. Suitable for leisure boaters and those working on the water.   It is a one day course based in our training room.  We have training engines and parts to examine and work on.

RYA First Aid

The RYA First Aid course is suitable for leisure boaters, those participating in racing or safety boating and also for those working on the water as watersports instructors or commercial skippers. Its a one day classroom course with a focus on the particular issues or difficulties that may be faced on the water where help may be at a distance.

The course covers the standard First Aid topics but also includes CPR, recovery position, cold water shock, hypothermia, advice by VHF radio and rescue by helicopter.  Particular emphasis is given on how to administer first aid in confined spaces and challenging conditions.

RYA Radar

The RYA Radar course is suitable for leisure boaters and those working on the water.  For those looking to take Yachtmaster exams or who have a radar on board this is essential training.  If you have radar on board then it is a requirement under the IRPCS (International Regulation for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea) that you know how to use it.  Its a one day course and you will look at how radar sets work, how to use the different adjustments and the implications, radar reflectors, plotting and how to use the radar for navigation and collision avoidance.  During the course you will use radar simulators to put the theory into practice.

This is a course we arrange on demand so please contact us to discuss.

Further Information:

Who can take the theory courses ?

These courses are aimed at adults.  We are however keen to encourage youngsters so if they are keen to learn please contact us to discuss the best approach for their studying.

Where are the courses run ?

They are usually run from our training rooms in Poole but if you prefer one to one teaching or have a small group we are happy to run the course at your premises.  Please contact us for details.

When are the courses run and how is availability?

We publish course dates on our website but we are able to add extra courses and often have people who will wait until a group is put together that they can join.  If you don’t see a course date to suit please contact us and we’ll let you know our plans for the next course.  We operate all year and as most of the courses are taught by one of the partners in the business we can run courses at any time.

Who is the Instructor ?

Our Chief Instructor, Dom Coleman teaches the Dayskipper & Yachtmaster Theory whilst both Sarah and Dom teach the VHF course.  We use both motorboats and sail so are keen to ensure the courses are inclusive to all and examples are relevant to your boating.  We both work as  commercial skippers so have practical experience to bring illustrative examples from.  We have taught these courses on a private one to one basis as well as to groups of 12 so are very adaptable.  Our First Aid Courses will be taught by an Instructor known to us, experienced in their field. The online Dayskipper & Yachtmaster Theory Courses are provided by our partners at SkippersOnline

What is the course cost ?

All prices are given on our prices webpage here – Prices