Independent online preparation
Day Skipper theory practice that makes you do the thinking
Build confidence before or alongside a recognised theory course with short lessons, worked chartwork, retrieval practice and realistic decision exercises—not a passive video playlist.
- 12
- modules
- 65
- lessons
- ~29
- study hours
- 3
- mock papers
What you will practise
The curriculum covers the core theory areas a Day Skipper learner needs: boat handling knowledge, chartwork, position fixing, tides, course to steer, pilotage, electronic navigation, weather, collision regulations, safety and passage planning.
Module 1
Seamanship & Boat Knowledge
The language of the sea and the anatomy of a sailing yacht: hull, rig, sails, ropework, boat handling, anchoring and the engine checks every skipper performs.
6 lessons
Module 2
Chartwork Fundamentals
Reading nautical charts with confidence: position, direction, distance and depth, the compass, and the plotting techniques that underpin all navigation.
6 lessons
Module 3
Position Fixing
Where are we? Dead reckoning, estimated positions and visual fixes: the deduction skills that keep working when the electronics don't.
5 lessons
Module 4
Tides & Tidal Calculations
Why the sea rises and falls, how to work out the height of tide anywhere and anytime, and how moving water affects your course over the ground.
6 lessons
Module 5
Course to Steer
The classic vector triangle: offsetting tidal stream and leeway so the course you steer produces the track you want over the ground.
4 lessons
Module 6
Coastal Navigation & Pilotage
Buoyage, lights and the close-quarters craft of taking a boat safely into and out of harbour with a plan you can follow under pressure.
5 lessons
Module 7
Electronic Navigation
GNSS, chart plotters, AIS and radar: using modern electronics well, understanding their limits, and integrating them with traditional methods.
5 lessons
Module 8
Weather & Meteorology
Pressure systems, fronts, wind, fog and forecasts: reading the sky and the synoptic chart to make sound go/no-go decisions.
6 lessons
Module 9
Collision Regulations
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea: who gives way, what the lights and shapes mean, and what the sound signals are telling you.
6 lessons
Module 10
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Personal safety gear, the boat's safety equipment, man overboard recovery, VHF distress procedures and handling emergencies at sea.
6 lessons
Module 11
Passage Planning
Appraisal, planning, execution and monitoring: turning everything you've learned into a complete, legal and practical plan for a coastal passage.
5 lessons
Module 12
Practical Course Preparation
What to expect on a Day Skipper practical course: the skills you'll demonstrate, what to pack, the vocabulary you'll use, and how to keep building afterwards.
5 lessons
Designed as preparation, not certification
SkipperPrep is independent of the Royal Yachting Association and is not a recognised RYA training centre. It is a practice platform to use before or alongside formal instruction—not a substitute for a certificated shorebased course, practical training or experience at sea.