Day Skipper Theory
'Live' Instruction with John via Zoom
Scroll down for dates and times
This Day Skipper 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. Join John 'live' on zoom to get that important face to face tuition.
- Study in your own home with RYA 'Instructor of the Year'
- One day a week to stay motivated but allowing time to absorb it all at your own pace
- Reduce the risk of cancellation due to all the winter viruses now circulating
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! We recommend some private study time between the weekly tuition days to help you get the most value from your course.
Please get in touch if you're interested but want more information.
Useful Tip
If you do the short RYA online Essential Navigation & Seamanship introductory course first, you get a free plotter and dividers with the RYA course pack. You don't have to do Essential Navigation & Seamanship before Day Skipper, it's just a useful option. Many people find it helpful to get to grips with some of the basics first.
"What an amazing course and instructor...
John Parlane thank you for sharing your expertise and for your patience." Justine
What Do I Need?
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 John 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. 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 John Parlane, RYA 'Instructor of the Year.' 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. If you want some revision, just do the course again. You already have the certificate so the exams at the end aren't required.
Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory
This is the next step after Day Skipper Theory. You can learn more about navigation without doing a Day Skipper practical course first.
Day Skipper theory is a beginner level course covering the basics. Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory completes your essential knowledge for tidal cruising. If you're sailing in UK waters, you'll definitely need this level of knowledge to stay safe!
Tidal calculations are simplified at Day Skipper level. So our Day Skippers sometimes ask questions about how to plan longer passages and tides that fall between the averages. These gaps in knowledge are addressed on the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore theory course.
Private Day Skipper courses & coaching
These can be arranged though are a much more costly option than the class. Please get in touch for more details.
| Day Skipper Theory Course Dates 2023 - presented on Zoom Video Conferencing | Start Time | Places Left |
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6 Sundays: January 29th, February 5th, 12th, 26th, March 5th, & 12th. |
9am - 5pm | 11 |
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
