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RYA Day Skipper ,

Knowing where you are!

Apart from ensuring you are safe, knowing where you are and how to quickly establish your position makes for a much more relaxed time on the water.

Learn how to establish your position using visual and electronic techniques.

Approximately 4 hours

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A vital role of a navigator is knowing where we are. There are many tools and techniques to help perform this duty with varying levels of accuracy and efficiency. This module introduces the different tools available, including both analogue and digital.

One of the primary tools is the compass, and you’ll learn about variation, the difference between magnetic and true north. Additionally, we look at electronic tools such as GNSS (GPS – Global Positioning System) and the chart plotter.

This module is part of the Day Skipper theory course.

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Module Prerequisites

Before you begin position-fixing, you need to understand charts. Knowing your position is only helpful if you can relate it to your surroundings!

Chart Familiarisation

Learn to read, interpret & use paper and electronic charts for navigation.

Skills Covered

This module discusses positioning techniques to help you understand where you are. Once completed, you’ll have several paper & electronic tools in your toolkit & you’ll have the Position Fixing insignia to prove it!

Position Fixing

Learn tools and techniques to position yourself on a chart visually & electronically.

For this module, you will need the following:
  • RYA Training Charts 3 & 4
  • RYA Training Almanac
  • Portland Course Plotter
  • Dividers
  • Pencil
  • Notepad
The Day Skipper course pack includes the RYA Almanac and charts required to complete this module. Enrol for access and your course pack will be dispatched within 24 hours.
Everything needed to complete this module is included in your course pack.
Downloadable resources:
Many of our downloads are available FREE! You don't have to be enrolled in one of our courses; you can study with any sailing school and still get access! Sign up for immediate access.

Module downloads:

Downloadable resources are to support learning, not a pre-requisite for the sessions. You only need to download or print something if it helps your understanding of a topic.

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Adjustments for Deviation

We can use the same mnemonic for Variation when adjusting bearings for deviation. We replace CADET's T(True) with M(Magnetic). The conversation process...

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Calculating Variation

How to calculate variation using the information found on a Compass Rose of a chart.

Charts have the necessary information to calculate variation appropriate...

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Positioning Web

An example positioning web created for Beaufort Bay, a fictitious training area on RYA Training Chart 3. This is used in the Positioning web session of...

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RYA Training Deviation Card

The deviation card found on the back page of the RYA Training Almanac. It is used solely to support RYA theory courses and is a fictitious deviation card....

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Dilution of Precision Scale

Table of HDOP ranges and their associated meanings. When establishing the accuracy of our GNSS (GPS) fix, we need to understand the Dilution of Precision...

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Adjustments for Variation

This handy mnemonic helps us remember which way to apply adjustments for bearings. Magnetic (compass) to True, True to Compass, Easterly Variation or...

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    Module Content

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    Module Includes

    • 5 Topics
    • 13 Sessions
    • 1 Exercise