Essential Navigation & Seamanship (Online) – Program Description

This course offers a great introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new or experienced skippers and crew, and those wanting to refresh their skills. In fact it’s for anyone interested in sailing, motor boating, sea angling or diving, and works well in complementing our on-the-water training.

It’s a highly informative course with lots of opportunities to put new found knowledge into practice. If taking the course online, there are many interactive exercises to help reinforce the information and lots of chances to apply new learning.

There is no time limit for the Course – you may progress at your own pace.  The Course is split into modules for easy online learning.  Each module is split into two or three sections, depending on the complexity, entitled Learn It, Try It, and Test It.

Learn It – Imparts all the information needed and can be viewed as many times as needed for full comprehension.

Try It – Provides an opportunity to practice the complexities of the module before moving on to the testing phase.  Practice times can be decided by the student.  The simpler modules do not have a Test It section.

Test It – Presents the equivalent of an in-class assessment to check knowledge.  It is managed through the RYA site, marked and recorded automatically.  There are two chances to complete it, with the opportunity to re-visit Learn It between attempts, if necessary.  Qualification for the Certificate is based on Test It scores.

The Course Instructor will be on hand if a student requires personal interaction.  Email will be the primary source of communication and there will be a speedy response to questions.  If alternative methods of communication are required (i.e. phone, Skype), it can be arranged.

Supplied Materials

Each  student will receive a course pack which includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook, exercises and an electronic chart plotter CD.

Course Duration

Online the course will take around six hours, but the beauty of it is that you can work through it at your own speed, whenever and wherever you like.

Course Topics

  • Charts and Publications
  • Safety
  • Engine checks
  • Buoyage
  • Tidal awareness
  • Visual and electronic navigation
  • Pilotage
  • Rules of the road
  • Anchoring
  • Weather forecasts
  • Passage planning

Feedback from Course Students

“Very useful and informative. I have the practical experience but learning the theory has increased my confidence.”

“Great course, extremely well presented.”

“An absolutely fantastic course and so glad that I took it – I feel a lot more confident and will be safer.”

“Really enjoyed it. Great videos, great interaction, very educational. Well done.”