Day Skipper - Non Tidal
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 non-tidal waters with which the student is familiar.

• 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
• 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
• 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 EP
  - Knowledge of buoyage
  - Maintenance of navigational records
  - Use of echo sounder and lead line
• 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
• Meteorology
  - Knows sources of forecast information
  - Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid
• Rule of the road
  - Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
• Maintenance and repair work
  - Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
  - Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes
• Engines
  - Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system
• Victualling
  - Understands how to victual a yacht
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• Seasickness
  - Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness
• 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
• General duties
  - Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel