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Many owners of motor cruisers do not have the time to attend a five day RYA Theory course but wish to ensure that they have the essential skills to navigate safely using modern electronic navigation aids. This course was developed by us to meet the specific needs of these owners.
It is taught over two full days and includes a series of practical assessments.
During the course you will learn how to use both on board chart plotters and computer based navigation systems and we will make extensive use of a Raymarine C Series plotter and Raytech and SeaPro navigation software in the classroom.
We will also cover the Collision Regulations, how to use the internet to find out the height of tide, how to understand the meaning of weather forecasts, safety and basic pilotage & passage planning.
Finally as all electronic equipment has limitations we will ensure that you understand those limitations and have the basic knowledge required to navigate safely home using traditional methods in the event that your chartplotter fails.
At the end of the course you will have the theory knowledge necessary to navigate safely in daylight using chartplotters and GPS.
We are always prepared to modify this course to meet the needs of individual owners. Whilst the course is normally held at our premises in Verwood some students prefer to take the course on their own boats utilising their own electronic equipment.
Course topics include:
- Collision Regulations
- Buoyage & Lights
- Electronic Navigation & Passage Planning
- Chart Plotter overview
- Importance of pre-planning
- Solas V Requirements
- Using waypoints
- Written log
- Planning ports of refuge
- Position checking using all available means
- Limitations of using the track feature on autopilots
- Role of paper charts
- Tides and tidal streams
- Use of Internet & Electronic sources of tidal curves to calculate depth of water
- Introduction to Traditional Navigation
- Pilotage Plan
- Sources and interpretation of weather forecasts
- Navigation in fog
- Action to be taken in heavy weather
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Please note that this course is NOT an RYA approved course but was developed by MERCATOR MARITIME to meet client demand for a short course with the emphasis on navigation using modern chart plotters. Students are encouraged to go on from this course and take the RYA Dayskipper or Coastal Skipper Practical Courses as navigation is best learned in a practical environment.
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