RYA Navigation Training Almanac

[steveej]

Hi all,

New to sailing and have decided to learn about navigation.

Portland plotter and dividers have arrived in the post and RYA Training Almanac and Charts 3 & 4 on their way.

Question is, is this enough to get me started or do I need to a book with exercises in it? Is the Almanac sufficient i.e. does it have some questions practise in it?

Is there anything else I need to do some home study?

Thanks

 

[l'escargot]

There aren't any practise questions in the almanac. It is intended to be used with RYA courses. You can do courses online: http://www.navathome.com/rya_day_skipper_theory.aspx or you need to get a book of practice questions something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=479289247&pf_rd_i=0713667087 but you need to check whether it uses the RYA material in it's questions before ordering.

 

[Skylark]

The day skipper shorebased course also includes the notes / handbook which is available via the RYA shop and a book of exercises. I may be wrong but I suspect that the exercises (which require the use of the Training Almanac and Charts 3 and 4) are only available as an integral part of the course.

If you don't want to do the RYA course, there are plenty of alternative, teach yourself basic navigation books which will almost certainly include a training chart.

The rya course is more than basic navigation and although I'm biased there's a lot commend the night school approach. This also gives plenty of time for supplementary study at home.

The more you put in, the more you'll get out, imho.

 

[steveej]

Thanks,

Ive already booked up to do the DS shore based theory course.

I'm not sure what materials are provided (or that I get to take away with me at the end), but I want to do some self study before just showing up.

I have the RYA dayskipper handbook which I have been reading through. But what I was looking for is a way to actually practise some of the navigation on the charts, hence Ive gone and bought the Almanac and Charts 3& 4.

Sounds like I should have bought the RYA navigation exercises books, as it includes the exercises as well as the charts.

 

[LadyInBed]

This site:
http://www.sailingissues.com/index.html - click on 'Navigation course'
is quite good for online learning.

 

[rob2]

Glad to see you're enthusiastic to get started, but don't worry too much about getting ahead of the game. Just familiarise yourself with the charts and the features on them and the layout of the Almanac. When you start the course, you'll have the advantage that you can find the section you're looking for and without losing concentration on the actual exercise. There are plenty of other things in the course which you can, in fact will, have to study alone e.g. memorising the signal flags and their meanings and also morse code - maybe even read up a bit on weather, often a somewhat neglected subject. I'd be inclined to do some reading from the library until the course starts and learn those signals (took me ages and quickly forgotten).

Rob.

P.S. forget to mention read and figure out the Colregs - the subject of many arguments, but basically pretty simple.

 

[steveej]

excellent link.

Thanks everyone

 

[alahol2]

There are plenty of other things in the course which you can, in fact will, have to study alone e.g. memorising the signal flags and their meanings and also morse code -

Not a hundred percent sure but I think they have dropped morse code and most of the signal flags from the courses since I did it.

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

I would say, don't try to sweat all of the course content beforehand but familiarise yourself with the layout of the almanac, as above advised. Everything will be explained from first principles and all of the books and charts will be supplied. No need for Morse Code or Signal Flags except flags 'a' 'n' and 'c'. Day Skipper only requires you to know where to find a Weather Forecast and to be able to describe what happens when a depression passes through, but I would advise that you get the RYA Weather Book and read it a few times so as to get a handle on cause and effect and be able to interpret from synoptic charts and your own observations.

 

[alant]

Thanks,

Ive already booked up to do the DS shore based theory course.

I'm not sure what materials are provided (or that I get to take away with me at the end), but I want to do some self study before just showing up.

I have the RYA dayskipper handbook which I have been reading through. But what I was looking for is a way to actually practise some of the navigation on the charts, hence Ive gone and bought the Almanac and Charts 3& 4.

Sounds like I should have bought the RYA navigation exercises books, as it includes the exercises as well as the charts.

You get a Student Pack, which includes a workbook with exercises (not just Nav) + the charts.
The RYA Training Almanac is usually the schools. This can also be used for YM Courses as well as DS.

In my experience, unless you can confirm your chartwork exercises, by having the answers, it can be difficult to spot if/where you might have made an error (you will make some).

Instructors have a separate pack, including chart overlays + all the answers, so have an advantage over students.