Day Skipper Theory
'Live' Instruction via Zoom
Cost £345 includes RYA course pack
Scroll down for dates and times
This course covers the background theory knowledge required before doing a day skipper practical course. It's aimed at beginners but some prior boating experience is helpful. If you've struggled to complete a self-study, distance-learning course, join John on zoom to get that important face to face help when required.
- Study in your own home but 'live' with John, RYA Instructor of the Year
- Regular sessions to keep you motivated
- Work together in small groups just like a classroom course
- Ask questions as they crop up instead of hitting that brick wall!
The course ends with two assessment papers which draw together everything you've learnt during the course. You'll be amazed how much that is! Some private study time is expected between each zoom session. If you practice each of the new skills while they're still fresh in your mind you'll be ready for the next layer of understanding & get the most value from your course.
Please get in touch if you're interested but want more information. All dates are listed below.
Useful Note: if you do the optional RYA online Essential Navigation & Seamanship introductory course first, that RYA course pack includes a plotter and dividers. But for the day skipper course you have to provide your own plotter and dividers.
"What an amazing course and instructor...
John Parlane thank you for sharing your expertise and for your patience." Justine
What Do I Need?
The RYA course pack and certificate of completion is included in the course price. You'll need to provide your own writing equipment, notebook, pair of dividers & Portland course plotter. Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to buy the plotter and divider kit. Once payment is confirmed we'll post the RYA course pack to you.
How Does Zoom Work?
We'll provide full joining instructions with information about how to access the sessions and navigate around John's extra course exercises, notes and helpful videos. If you're unsure about the technology part you can connect with us by zoom before committing to the course. We'll send you a link by email which you simply click to 'join the meeting' at the agreed time. We can then talk you through how video-conferencing works.
Short Introduction
In the meantime we recommend you take advantage of an excellent short course called Essential Navigation and Seamanship. The RYA themselves created this excellent self-study online course. It's a great way to prepare for your day skipper theory course. And, you get a free set of dividers and plotter with this course pack! The first few zoom sessions of the Day Skipper course cover similar material but in more detail. It's entirely up to you whether you take advantage of this excellent head-start or not. Take a look at a short video snippet from the Essential Navigation & Seamanship course.
More About The Course
Day Skipper theory course involves 40 hours of tuition. It covers the basic theory you need to know to navigate safely on short tidal passages by day. It's the required level of theory knowledge to undertake the 5-day, Day Skipper practical course.
What's Special About Bay Sea School?
The course is delivered by RYA 'Instructor of the Year' John. He's no ordinary theory instructor but a Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner. So if experience, quality instruction and depth of knowledge are important to you, don't miss John's next Day Skipper theory course.
Freebies
When you choose Bay Sea School you'll have access to John's unique online study features. There are explanatory videos and slide shows to remind you of what you've learnt each week and you'll have access to extra exercises for more practice if you want. John's also available during the week by phone and email to answer any questions during your course.
Day Skipper course topics include:
Use of both traditional and electronic navigation, position fixing, estimated position, planning a course to steer, tidal streams & tidal heights, weather, navigation buoys, collision regulations, emergency & safety equipment, making a VHF distress call on real radios, flares, life-jackets, life-rafts and much more!
Want a Day Skipper refresher?
"Use it or lose it!" Most people benefit from a refresher, particularly right now after such a long gap from sailing. You can do the course again or join one of our zoom workshops.
Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory
You can move straight on with this more advanced theory course before doing a Day Skipper practical course. Day Skipper theory is a beginner level course so it doesn't cover everything you need to know. The Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory course completes your essential knowledge for tidal cruising. It's another 40 hour course. You use your day skipper theory techniques to plan longer passages by night & day. If you're sailing in UK waters, you'll definitely need this level of knowledge to stay safe! Our Day Skippers frequently ask questions about longer passages and tides that fall between the averages. These are some of the gaps to fill in on the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory course.
Private Day Skipper courses & coaching
These can be arranged throughout the year though are a more costly option than the class. John has more availability in the winter months. Please get in touch for more details.
| Day Skipper Theory Course Dates 2022 | Start Time | Places Left |
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Click here for course joining instructions
What our clients say about a Day Skipper Theory course with us
"I’m so enjoying the course with you, you are a fantastic, knowledge, patient and calm person and I really appreciate the effort to go to make us feel welcome and at ease with you and each other."
"Outstanding!"
"I've enjoyed every minute"
"Quality of instruction was fantastic. Very enjoyable course"
"John was brilliant, very informative and very easy to learn from."
"Excellent. I've learnt a tremendous amount and will hopefully go on to further courses with this instructor"
"What am I going to do now? I'm going to miss going there each week. I've got to wait till April until I can start my actual sailing, Can't wait!"
"Just completed my Day Skipper theory course with John Parlane at Bay Sea School. John and Dierdre are an absolute delight. John is extremely knowledgeable and has great teaching skills, he was very patient. I travelled a hundred miles each Sunday to do my course. Learnt a lot. Laughed a lot and made great friends. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending people to do their theory courses here."
"When I felt overwhelmed or something just wasn't taking, your patience and understanding was over and above ! I cannot recommend or praise you and Deirdre enough and will spread the word as much as I can. It's very unusual to find someone so knowledgeable who also has the gift to get it across in the right way. At Bay Sea School you have this in oodles! A life changing experience for me so thank you." - Dave
