RYA Day Skipper practical navigation

[East Cardinal]

Anyone done this course recently?
I’d like to know what form the navigation takes onboard a modern yacht for the DS course.
Is it now all electronic or old fashioned chart work.
What does the term “Pilotage” mean for this course? My understanding is navigating in confined waters
with enough information at hand to navigate without reference to the chart.
I did the theory course many years ago and electronic navigation/ chart plotters and gps weren’t
part of the syllabus.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

The course should teach you the syllabus. If you don't know, get the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme and Log Book G158, updated July 2025.

At the end of the course you will have the basic skills to take charge of a familiar boat, in familiar waters during daylight hours but have the information to navigate and enter a port at night. If you can't sail to windward, don't know how to prepare th boat for picking up a mooring or anchoring, can't reef a mainsail, then the course is not for you do the Competent Crew Course.

In summary to your questions: -
1. No it's not all electronic. The RYA have moved to a digital first philosophy but you will still have to know and understand how to plot a fix, course to steer, work up and estimated position and know what dead reckoning is and how to use line of position, all on paper charts. As well as tidal calculations for current, direction and height at primary ports and a bit of secondary ports. However, there will be an emphasis on using digital aids for these as well and these will be used extensively.
2. Pilotage is navigating and out of a harbour. For DS you will prepare a pilotage plan describing how to enter or leave a harbour using all the information to steer safely such as position lines, soundings and transits, heights and times to enter et cetera.
3. AIS, GPS and Plotters are now very much part of the syllabus.

Hope this helps.

Log Book can be bought here Products
RYA Course Description RYA Day Skipper Practical Sailing course

 

[wonkywinch]

Here's an example of pilotage for the Solent to Eastbourne (my YM milebuilder), not just confined to entry/exit. It's basically an extract of all relevant info for a trip on the day to save having to refer to multiple sources when underway.

John Goode has a video called "Navigation made simple - Pilotage" which I have on my computer. You might be able to find it online?

 

[Lucky Duck]

And handy for the drive back as well….

 

[Never Grumble]

Here's an example of pilotage for the Solent to Eastbourne (my YM milebuilder), not just confined to entry/exit. It's basically an extract of all relevant info for a trip on the day to save having to refer to multiple sources when underway.

John Goode has a video called "Navigation made simple - Pilotage" which I have on my computer. You might be able to find it online?

View attachment 206461

I'm sure that means something to you and that is all that matters

 

[wonkywinch]

And handy for the drive back as well….

I found it easier to screenshot a bit of Google maps then print that along the top of an A4 page then add my scribble to it rather than rely on my memory or try to trace an outline of the coast!

 

[East Cardinal]

RunAgroundHard and wonkywinch,
That’s great, just what I wanted to know. I’ll have a look for the video.
Just as background I am doing the DS in order to apply for an ICC to
hire a boat in Greece.
I do have the required knowledge (ex RN Navigator) just not the actual bit of RYA paper.
Again, most helpful replies as the RYA course notes that I’ve seen don’t specify what
methods they use, just that “we teach pilotage and navigation”
Thank you.

 

[Never Grumble]

I do have the required knowledge (ex RN Navigator) just not the actual bit of RYA paper.

Dont reckon you'll have a problem. Seeing the experience of the people I know who have gone and done it of late having an in depth understanding of the principles means you should be fine. Believe you have to be shockingly bad not to be given the ticket at the end, after all there is no end of course exam.

 

[lustyd]

Day Skipper is a completion certificate not an exam so it’s hard to fail if you understand navigation and can operate the boat. It’s a course so the instructor is there to teach you. Melanie Bartlett’s (Tim if looking at second hand copies) Nav book is excellent if you want to brush up on RYA techniques.

I never did anything as detailed as Wonkywinch on any of my courses so it depends on your instructor. I certainly don’t do anything like that now while cruising. These days a brief scroll around Navionics to check the area out is all I do before leaving and pilotage is done using the plotter. Obviously that’s not what the RYA want to hear but it’s what most do these days.

 

[Mark-1]

Just as background I am doing the DS in order to apply for an ICC to
hire a boat in Greece.
I do have the required knowledge (ex RN Navigator) just not the actual bit of RYA paper.

You can take the ICC direct in a day for £210:

ICC Assessment - ICC Sailing Course | Prometheus Sailing - Prometheus Sailing

Syllabus detailed here:

ICC Application

(icc-4b and icc-4c are the two certificates they give you and each lists what is checked.)

You mention DS Theory, if you have that you can use that in lieu of icc-4b so you'd only need one of the two certificates (Icc-4c):

https://assets.rya.org.uk/assetbank-rya-assets/action/directLinkImage?assetId=51728