RYA COASTAL SKIPPER/YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE
Entry Requirements
This is an advanced and rigorous course
with examinations. It is therefore required that applicants should have
successfuly completed the RYA Day Skipper shore-based and practical
courses, or have equivalent practical experience of navigation and yacht
skippering, which is likely to amount to several seasons of sailing. If
you do not know the difference between DR and EP, or don't know how to use
tidal stream diamond data, then you are advised to take the Day Skipper
shore-based course before attempting this advanced course.
Description
This
is the Royal Yachting Association and Maritime & Coastguard Agency
approved advanced shore-based course. It is intended to equip candidates
for the Coastal Skipper and Yachmaster Offshore certificates with rigorous
knowledge of the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at
Sea, meteorology, navigation, safety and seamanship. The assessed
exercises in met, chartwork and the IRPCS are an integral part of the
course. Teaching and learning methods include: lectures supported by OHP
and computer visual material, worked examples in class, photocopies, notes
and diagrams, reading of course books and homework exercises (run through
in class when completed), plus use of the Admiralty/RYA Electronic Chart
Plotter software in class and at home.
Homework is an essential
part of the course and at least 2 hours per week is necessary. If you have
not engaged in concentrated learning in recent years, you may need more
time for homework. Given good attendance and completion of all the
homework exercises,by next June you will be well equipped to pass the
practical course and exam for Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Offshore. The
course will also give you a soundly based body of knowledge that enables
you to go on learning for the rest of your seagoing lifetime.
Course
Content
Recommended course books will be covered at the first class
and will be available from BCOT. The course starts with Meteorology, which
is taught from zero assumed knowledge and should, after several weeks and
real-time practice, give you the confidence to make your own predictions
from Met Office maps and other data, and to make responsible passage
planning decisons based on all available data.
Navigation and
chartwork are covered in depth, with exercises on both "trad nav" chart
and pencil work and use of electronic chart plotter software, which you
will have on CD so you can run it on a home computer.
Tidal height
and stream computations are also covered thoroughly and will cease to be a
mystery. The IRPCS are taught rigorously and you should be confident and
proud of your knowledge when you have sailed through the assessed exercise.
Where
a course is aimed towards an assessment/examination, it is expected that
all students will enter for the qualification.
Method of Assessment
·
Continuous assessment and 3 written assessment papers.
Progression
·
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course/Yachtmaster Offshor Practical
examination.
Materials
RYA Handbook, final assessment papers and Certificate -
included in the registration fee.
Precis handout notes are available in
the form of a small book included in the RYA pack.
Practice Navigation
Tables as used on the Day Skipper course
Notebook & Pen, 2B pencils &
eraser
Portland navigational plotter & 8 inch chart dividers (not
needed before Christmas).
