Day Skipper Theory - what books should I get?

[breezer5012]

Paul and I have just booked onto a Day Skipper practical course starting on 15th October. I'm getting to grips with the theory well, but am self teaching myself rather than paying for a shore based course. Any recommendations for books I should read to ensure I've got the knowledge required for the practical course? Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[SkipperMarv]

Hi there

Get the seamans guide to the rules of the road to learn the colregs etc, for chartwork get the RYA Navigation theory book and the Navigation Practice book with the training charts, it has all sorts of questions and a dummy almanac as well as the answers.

There are also the flip cards for buoyage (region a), sound and light signals, ship light and shapes that you can use to test each other as well as self learn.

Lastley there are a couple or Dayskipper Practical books, the RYA one is quite good.

Hopefully this helps, oh, if you are RYA members you can order all of these online and get 10% off the prices.

Good luck

Jim

 

[Skyva_2]

I have a spare copy of the RYA Day Shore based Skipper Course Notes if you would like it.

The RYA books mentioned above are excellent; you might find the Seaman's Guide to Rules of the Road a bit heavy for Day Skipper, tho' it's superb for Yachtmaster level.

Reed's Skippers Handbook has it all in a very handy little book for quick reference.

 

[gandy]

I recommend "The Complete Yachtmaster" by Tom Cunliffe. Its very readable. and you can just skip the two chapters (out of 31) specifically about sail. Although it says "Yachtmaster" not "Day Skipper" it does cover most aspects almost from scratch.

 

[Sneds]

Pass your ICC is also very imformative.

 

[Poignard]

If you can find them [unfortunately out of print now], a series of booklets by John Goode and superbly illustrated by Dick Everitt. Published by PBO.

"Handling Under Power"
"Handling Under Sail"
"Navigation Made Simple"

Best practical books I've seen.

 

[breezer5012]

Thanks guys - really helpful recommendations and some offers of books to boot! Now all I have to do is learn it all, and manage to handle a Sealine 42 Statesman for 4 days off Cornwall in October. Our boat is a Sealine S23. How difficult can an extra 17ft and an extra engine be?! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Sneds]

Guess you'll find out in October /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Who are you doing the course with? We quite fancy doing the DS practical.

 

[RogerRat]

[ QUOTE ]
How difficult can an extra 17ft and an extra engine be?! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This could have been a new thread in it's own right.

Books to recommend:

'Positive Mental Attitude.'

'Estimating distances.'

'100 Things to do in the marina.'





'What Went Wrong?'

"My husband told me this was 17 feet!"

"I didn't know it was running."

"Not that one, the other one!"

Enjoy your course. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MedDreamer]

For the theory side, and for quick reference in future I think this small book takes some beating. It is my boating bible and IMHO much better than any of the RYA books

Skippers Pocketbook

 

[Wiggo]

Agreed. Very good little reference book.

 

[D3B]

I believe there is a new course sylabus for D/S....if not out yet due very soon.

make sure any practice stuff you get is relevant to the new areas being used on the new course.
used to be falmouth and parts of CI but i believe it is now a compliation of different areas (as some silly people used to think you could use the practice chart for real navigation)

Perhaps Powerskipper or Solitaire may like to comment.

 

[hshaky]

non at all .....get on to an official Day Skipper night school course. If you can get one though as this wonderfull Government last year directed all available monies to teach ex layabouts and ethnic language courses.

Contact RYA site

 

[breezer5012]

Doing the course with Cornish Cruising from Falmouth Marina. Got a discount price for booking at SIBS and we wanted to do the course fairly local (we live in Plymouth) so we can gain confidence in our own area and go places we've not been before. Really looking forward to discovering the Fal and Helford. The course starts on the 15th October so will let you know how we get on. I've been offered a trial run on a twin engined boat prior to the course so will at least have some experience of it before the course starts. My biggest fear at the moment is making an idiot of myself trying to do close maneouvers (sp?!!) but I guess the course is there to teach me. Thanks again for all the advice and PMs guys - you've been really helpful. Back to the books for me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif