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Day skipper 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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