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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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