All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.
Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
Essential Navigation & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning, secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.
We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.
Nautical Terms & TerminologyUnderstanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
Why do we have tides?Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
What causes our weather?A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper & RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
Buoyage FlashcardsFlashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
The Salty Sea BlogFrom salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
Varadero, Cuba
International Marina Gaviota Varadero offers visiting yachts and superyachts a range of high quality facilities and services when visiting Cuba. It is ideally located in the capital of tourism in Varadero, Cuba, just off… Read More
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Ahoy there, Visiting Sailor! Ask us anything—whether you need help choosing a course, have a sailing question, or want to speak to the crew.
In short, no! Appropriate RYA First Aid training must include face-to-face training and assessment of practical skills.
Most students do not. You only need invigilation if you want a commercial endorsement or your employer requires it. The standard online assessments are included and marked by an instructor.
For more details about exam invigilation, read our full article here: RYA theory exam invigilation, explained
Yes. We can invigilate at our own assessment centre or arrange a session with a partner centre. Availability varies by location. Let us know and we’ll arrange it for you.
You will sit two papers, 90 minutes each. Bring photo ID. You may use a 2B pencil, eraser, Portland plotter, dividers, a non-programmable calculator, the RYA Training Almanac, RYA Charts 3 and 4, and scrap paper.
Fees apply for invigilated exams and vary by partner or venue. We will confirm the price before you book.
Please contact us before you enrol so we can confirm the best option, dates, and costs for you.
Yes. You can start the course now and book an invigilated exam later if you need one for commercial endorsement.
Yes, we do! If you want to sign up with more than one person, you get a 10% discount on the total enrollment cost.
Each student requires a login, so to get the multi-person discount, add the course to your basket, then add the additional person by selecting the ‘Additional Enrollment’ option. This will automatically discount the total course price in your basket and generate a voucher code for the extra person (or people) to enrol themselves.
After completing the online RYA Marine Radio SRC course, choose an available assessment slot with us or another RYA Recognised Training Centre. We offer scheduled assessment days and can arrange an individual appointment when the published dates are not suitable.
You must be at least 16 on the day of the exam and bring acceptable evidence of course completion or another qualifying radio certificate. You will also need the paperwork requested by the RYA, including a passport-sized photograph.
The RYA exam fee is currently £76 and is separate from any assessment-centre booking charge. Pay the RYA fee before the assessment and bring the resulting application paperwork with you. The official RYA SRC course and exam page has the latest eligibility, payment and document requirements.
Our instructor support is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, using any channel you choose. From Email to WhatsApp to Messenger, you can get help on whatever channel works for you. We’ll even schedule a call if that’s how you want to chat with us.
We love talking with people! Call us on +44 23 8000 0270
Send us an email, we are here to help you 7-days a week. [email protected]
Send us a text; we are here to help you 7 days a week. +44 23 8000 0270
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Book a video call to chat through your options.Everything is logged in your briefing room, so you can go back, ask for more details and track all your conversations with an instructor.
If you are unsatisfied with the course and want a refund, you must initiate a return process. Your course pack needs to be returned to us, complete and intact. We cannot offer a full refund for items returned damaged or missing, and replacement charges may be deducted from the course price to reflect this.
To start a return and refund process, go to your account and tap on ‘refund’. You will be issued a refund number and returns label that covers the cost of sending the course pack back to us.
Once your course pack is received, we will refund the card you placed the order with. It can take 5 & 7 days for the refund to appear on your statement. This is in the hands of the card issuer, and we cannot control this. We cannot process refunds to other cards or by other means for security reasons.
The SRC exam must be completed in person at an RYA Recognised Training Centre. An independent examiner assesses both your practical use of a marine VHF radio and your knowledge in a written theory paper; the exam cannot be completed entirely online.
You must be at least 16 on the examination day and provide acceptable evidence of completing an RYA SRC course, an RYA Restricted VHF certificate, or a suitable aviation radio operator certificate. Online-course students should bring their course-completion evidence, the required application paperwork and a passport-sized photograph.
The current RYA exam fee is £76. It is paid to the RYA and is separate from any fee charged by the training centre for hosting or facilitating the assessment. Check the official RYA SRC exam page before booking because fees and administrative requirements can change.
The Day Skipper theory certificate is valid for life. However, like many things, brushing up and learning new skills is continuous. Anyone who thinks they’ve completed their learning is probably not best suited to skipper a boat!
The Day Skipper theory course involves a minimum of 40 hours of teaching and two assessment papers, each lasting 1½ hours.
You can complete the online course at your own pace. Everything is stored, so you can take a break and return anytime. There isn’t a time limit, and you get 12 months of instructor support spread over any timeframe you like.
However long it takes you to complete the course, you will retain access to the content, which will allow you to revise before your practical course.
The RYA First Aid Course is one day and covers all the usual first aid subjects, but it is from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on motor cruisers, sailing yachts, powerboats, RIBs or canoes.
No! Any progress in Sailing Essentials is migrated to your Day Skipper progress, so you won’t have to do it again.
Most students ask for help when doing the navigation modules, so your 12-month instructor support time only starts once you start the ‘How to read the map!’ module of the Day Skipper theory course.
If you are in the UK, delivery is free. If you live further afield, see the ‘Where do you ship to?‘ FAQ for pricing.
You have access to the course content for life!
Once enrolled, you get 12 months of instructor support, but you are in control of when this starts and can pause it should you need a break.
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Course vouchers and gift cards issued by My Sailing Course can be used to pay in full or in part for eligible courses, services or products in our online store. The main conditions are:
Read the full Course Voucher & Gift Card Terms & Conditions before purchasing or redeeming a voucher.
The course includes everything you need to earn the Day Skipper theory certificate successfully. The only thing you need to provide is your time.
You’ll receive a course pack (dispatched the same day if ordered before 3 p.m. on weekdays) that contains everything you need to complete the course.
You’ll get 12 months of unlimited support from RYA-qualified instructors 365 days a year, all managed using your briefing room.
You’ll have immediate, lifetime access to over 50 hours of engaging, interactive teaching content, including practice exercises that provide debriefings and support.
You’ll have immediate access to the Day Skipper social group, where you can meet and connect with like-minded people at the same stage of their journey as you.
You’ll have access to our downloadable & support content. We have over 50 supplementary downloads to help you learn the topics and techniques.
See the ‘What’s included?’ tab on the Day Skipper theory enrolment page for more details.
Our scheduled SRC assessment appointments are booked in three-hour slots, with no more than three candidates in each slot. The appointment normally follows this order:
The RYA confirms that the SRC exam contains both a written theory paper and a practical assessment. See the official SRC exam information for current eligibility and payment requirements.
We hope you won’t, but we have a 14-day satisfaction guarantee on our courses. You can ask for a refund if you decide it’s not for you.
You’ll need to return your unused course pack to us, but using our self-serve returns system is easy.
After passing, you’ll receive a valid RYA First Aid Certificate for three years.
Additionally, RYA First Aid satisfies the prerequisites for qualified small craft skippers operating within 60 nautical miles of a safe haven, including Boatmasters, as well as the requirements for the Senior First Aid certificate required of offshore racers subject to ISAF’s first aid training regulations (OSR 4.08.4).
Sailing Essentials is our free introductory course. Its bite-sized modules cover seamanship and nautical terminology, safety equipment and procedures, basic meteorology, collision regulations and protecting the marine environment.
The material introduces subjects that also form part of the RYA Day Skipper Theory syllabus. You can work through it at your own pace on a phone, tablet or computer, although a larger screen is helpful when studying detailed material.
If you later enrol on our Day Skipper Theory course, your completed Sailing Essentials sessions are carried into your Day Skipper progress, so you do not need to repeat them.
The Day Skipper Theory course includes the learning, equipment and support needed to work through the syllabus and complete the standard assessments.
Orders placed before 3pm are scheduled for same-day dispatch. The RYA describes Day Skipper Theory as 40 hours plus exam time. See the official RYA course information.
Your Essential Navigation and Seamanship enrolment includes the online course, the materials needed for the exercises and support from My Sailing Course.
Orders placed before 3pm are scheduled for same-day dispatch. The RYA also confirms that the official course pack includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook and exercises. See the official RYA course information.
Day Skipper theory is an RYA shore-based qualification and the required level of navigational & sailing theory for anyone intending to take the Day Skipper Practical course. It provides an excellent foundation and platform for learning how to put out to sea safely.
The RYA First Aid course is a one-day, classroom-based course designed for people who go afloat. No previous experience or minimum age is required.
See the official RYA First Aid course information for the current syllabus and qualification details.
The RYA Marine Radio Short Range Certificate course prepares you to operate fixed or handheld marine VHF and Digital Selective Calling equipment correctly. The course takes around 10 hours plus exam time and can be studied online or in a classroom, but the final exam takes place in person at an RYA Recognised Training Centre.
The SRC is the minimum qualification required to operate marine VHF radio equipment on a voluntarily fitted UK-flagged vessel. See the official RYA course and exam information.
Our online Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course is not yet available to enrol on. You can register your interest with us and we will let you know when it is released.
The RYA course develops navigation knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical examinations. It involves 40 hours of learning plus exam time, and assumes knowledge to Day Skipper Shorebased level. Topics include advanced position fixing, course shaping and plotting, tidal knowledge, almanacs and publications, electronic position finding and weather interpretation. See the official RYA course description for the current requirements.
Our scheduled SRC assessments take place in central Guildford, at the lower end of Guildford High Street. The venue is approximately a five-minute walk from Guildford railway station, with parking and tea and coffee available.
You can also take the exam at another RYA Recognised Training Centre if that is more convenient. The RYA requires the practical assessment to take place at a recognised centre; it cannot be completed entirely online. Use the RYA course finder to check other centres and confirm their dates directly with them.
We’re happy for anyone to study with us and will support you wherever you are.
You can start the online course immediately wherever you are based, as many lessons don’t require the course pack.
RYA Day Skipper Theory is designed for prospective skippers and inexperienced crew who want the knowledge needed to make safe decisions aboard a small vessel in familiar waters. It is also valuable preparation for an RYA Day Skipper practical course. Some practical experience is helpful, but it is not required and the RYA sets no minimum age.
The course involves about 40 hours of learning plus assessment time. It covers seamanship, coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic navigation, position fixing, course-to-steer calculations, weather and meteorology, tides, passage planning and collision regulations.
Our online course uses short, interactive sessions and includes the two theory assessment papers. See the official RYA Day Skipper Theory course page for the current syllabus.
The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course is an introduction to navigation and safety awareness for new or inexperienced skippers and crew, as well as people returning to boating who want to refresh their knowledge. It is relevant to sailing, motor boating, sea angling and diving, and complements practical training such as Powerboat Level 2 or Competent Crew.
The online course takes approximately 8–10 hours. There is no required previous experience or minimum age. Subjects include charts and publications, safety, engine checks, buoyage, tides, visual and electronic navigation, pilotage, collision regulations, anchoring, weather forecasts and passage planning.
You can study at your own pace, with interactive exercises to practise what you learn. See the official RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course page for the current syllabus.
We’ve taught the RYA Yachtmaster scheme in classrooms for over ten years, earning consistent 5-star reviews. We’ve poured that experience into our online course — it’s as close to the classroom as you can get online.
It’s easy to say online provides ‘flexibility’ and ‘you can do it in your own time’, but it’s harder to construct engaging course content to overcome specific digital learning challenges and keep students motivated. Through thorough testing, using our classroom students as guinea pigs*, we have structured a course to support how you learn online, building confidence in each topic, tool and skill at every stage.
* No students were harmed in the testing of our content!
We questioned why the other providers put so much emphasis on their instructor support. Our view is simple: the better the content, the less support a student should need. We are here to support you at every step of your journey but have fed ten years and hundreds of students’ worth of understanding into building content that teaches, supports, reaffirms and checks the knowledge of a topic, tool or technique. And, above all, fun!
We are the only provider that has no hidden extras. Everything you need to complete and pass the course is included.
You are no longer nine minutes from an ambulance or a professional paramedic at sea.
The course allows you to learn what to do if an accident occurs on a small vessel or in the maritime environment and how to stabilise the situation before calling for help from the SAR Services with this comprehensive training course. Anybody who spends time on the water will benefit greatly from this RYA First Aid course. A validated First Aid certification is also a pre-requisite for individuals taking Yachtmaster and Coastal and Yachtmaster offshore exams or wishing to obtain their instructor qualifications of commercial endorsements.
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