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RYA Theory courses given by The Iberian Sea School can be from one student to a maximum of four. Most theory courses take place in the Iberian Sea School's air-conditioned classroom at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura as shown in the photographs above, lunch is included in the fee for the course and we have it in a restaurant about 50 metres from the classroom.
There is a Raymarine C70 chart plotter in the classroom which clients can use for learning how to use a GPS chart plotter.
Course Completion Certificates will be issued on successful completion of these courses and of the examination during the second half of the last day of each course.
Essential Navigation and Seamanship - Duration 2 Days
This course provides an introduction to the basic skills that are required before taking a small boat to sea or taking an active part in running a boat. It is suitable for beginners. There is no examination or assessment but to complete the course students must have taken a full and active part in the course and have an understanding of the principles taught during the course.
Day Skipper / Watchleader - Duration 5 days
This is an elementary course in basic seamanship,
which includes knots, navigation and meteorology. It is suitable for beginners.
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore - Duration 7 days
A more advanced course in navigation and meteorology, suitable for students who have already completed the Day Skipper theory or who have a background of sailing, motor cruising or offshore racing experience with some expertise in navigation. This course is definitely not for beginners.
5 day Day Skipper theory courses in 2012 are: June 18th to 22nd, July 2nd to 6th, July 9th to 13th, July 16th to 20th, July 23rd to 27th, August 6th to 10th. August 13th to 17th, August 20th to 24th, August 27th to 31st, Sept 3rd to 7th, Sept 10th to 14th, Sept 17th to 21st, Sept 24th to 28th, Oct 1st to 5th, Oct 8th to 12th, Oct 15th to 19th, Oct 22nd to 26th, Oct 29th to Nov 2nd, Nov 5th to 9th, Nov 12th to 16th, Nov 19th to 23rd, Nov 26th to 30th, Dec 3rd to 7th, Dec 10th to 14th, Dec 17th to 21st.
7 day Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster theory courses for 2012 are: July 2nd to 8th, July 9th to 15th, July 16th to 22th, July 23rd to 29th, August 6th to 12th, August 13th to 19th, August 20th to 26th, August 27th to Sept 2nd, Sept 3rd to 9th, Sept 17th to 23rd, Sept 24th to 30th, Oct 1st to 7th, Oct 8th to 14th, Oct 15th to 21st, Oct 22nd to 28th, Oct 29th to Nov 4th, Nov 5th to 11th, Nov 12th to 18th, Nov 19th to 25th, Nov 26th to Dec 2nd, Dec 3rd to 9th, Dec 10th to 16th, Dec 17th to 23rd.
I have a maximum of four people on theory courses - when courses are fully booked they will be deleted from the list above.
Providing I am available the 7 day Coastal / Yachtmaster theory courses shown above can be converted into a 9 day combined Day Skipper / Coastal / Yachtmaster theory course by adding the two days prior to the dates shown for 7 day courses.
If none of the above dates are suitable please email at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or telephone me on 00 351 965 800702 with the dates when you would like to do a theory course. If possible give me at least two months notice and I may be able to change my programme to fit you in.
For up to date information on availability of courses and prices please either telephone me on 00351 965800702 or email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Martin.
Day Skipper Shorebased Course Syllabus
A comprehensive introduction to chartwork, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship. You will find the course invaluable if you want to learn how to start making decisions on board.
Nautical terms: Parts of a boat & hull – General nautical terminology. - Ropework: Knowledge of the properties of synthetic ropes in common use.
- Anchorwork: Characteristics of different types of anchor – Considerations to be taken into account when anchoring.
- Safety: Knowledge of the safety equipment to be carried, its stowage and use. (See RYA Boat Safety Handbook, C8) – Fire precautions & fire fighting – Use of personal safety equipment, harnesses & life jackets – Ability to send a distress signal via VHF radiotelephone – Basic knowledge of rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
- International regulations for preventing collisions at sea: Steering & sailing rules (5, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 12 to 19) – General rules (all other rules).
- Definition of position course & speed: Latitude & longitude – Knowledge of standard navigational terms – True bearings & courses – The knot.
- Navigational charts & publications: Information shown on charts - Chart symbols & representation of Direction & distance – Navigational publications in common use – Chart correction.
- Navigation drawing instruments: Use of parallel rulers, dividers and proprietary plotting instruments.
- Compass: Application of variation – awareness of deviation & its causes – use of hand-bearing compass.
- Chartwork: Dead reckoning & estimated position including an awareness of leeway – techniques of visual fixing.
- Tides & tidal streams: Tidal definitions, levels & datum – Tide tables – Use of Admiralty method of determining tidal height at a standard port & awareness of corrections for secondary ports.
- Visual aids to navigation: Lighthouses & beacons, light characteristics.
- Meteorology: Sources of broadcast meteorological information – Knowledge of terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort scale and their significance to small craft – Basic knowledge of highs, lows & fronts.
- Passage planning: Preparation of navigational plan for short coastal passages – Meteorological considerations in planning short coastal passages – Use of waypoints on passages – Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source – keeping a navigational record.
- Navigation in restricted visibility: Precautions to be taken in, and limitations imposed by, fog.
- Pilotage: Use of transits, leading lines & clearing lines – IALA system of buoyage for Region A – Use of sailing directions –
- Marine environment: Responsibility for avoiding pollution & protecting the marine environment.
RYA Coastal Skipper/ Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Syllabus
- Position: Dead reckoning and estimated position – Satellite derived position – Use of waypoints to fix position – Radar fixes – Techniques of visual fixing – Fixing using a mixture of position lines – Relative accuracy of different methods of position fixing – Areas of uncertainty.
- The Magnetic Compass: Allowance for variation – Change of variation with time & position – Cause of deviation – Swing for deviation (but not correction) – Allowance for deviation – Different types of compass.
- Tides: Causes of Spring & Neap tides – Sources of tide tables – Tide levels & datum – Standard & secondary ports – Tidal anomalies (Solent etc).
- Tidal Streams: Sources of tidal information – Tidal stream information in sailing directions & Yachtsmen’s Almanacs – Allowance for tidal streams in computing a course to steer – Tide rips, overfalls & races – Tidal observation buoys, beacons etc.
- Buoyage: IALA system buoyage in Region A – Limitations of buoys as navigation aids.
- Lights: Characteristics – Ranges (visual – luminous & nominal) – Rising & dipping distances – Light lists.
- Pilotage: Harbour regulations & control signals – Methods of pre-planning – Clearing lines – Use of soundings – Transits & leading lines.
- GPS and Chart Plotters: Principals of operation & limitations of use – Raster and Vector charts – Datum – Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source & keeping a separate record of position – Importance of paper charts.
- Echo Sounders: Principals of operation & limitations of use.
- Logs (speed & distance measuring): Principals of operation and limitations of use.
- Deck Log: Importance of log as vessels official document – Layout of log, hourly & occasional entries.
- Meteorology: Basic terms, the Beaufort scale – Air masses – Cloud types - Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems – Sources of weather forecasts – ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information – Land & sea breezes – Sea fog – Use of a barometer as a forecasting aid.
- Rule of the road: A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except annexes 1 & 3.
- Safety at Sea: Personal safety, use of lifejackets, safety harnesses & lifelines – Fire prevention & fire fighting – Distress signals – Coastguard & boat safety Scheme – Preparation for heavy weather – Liferafts & helicopter rescue – Understanding of capabilities of vessel & basic knowledge of stability.
- Navigation in restricted visibility: Precautions to be taken in fog – Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog – Navigation strategy in poor visibility.
- Passage planning: Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning & making, and use at sea – Customs regulations as they apply to vessels – Routine for navigating in coastal waters – strategy for course laying – Use of waypoints & routes – Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy – Sources of local & national regulations.
- Marine environment: Responsibility to minimise pollution & protect the marine environment.
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