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RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship

Beginner level  ·  Classroom or online  ·  Contact us for pricing

Every voyage — even a short one — goes better with a little preparation. Understanding where you are, what the tide is doing, and what the chart is telling you transforms your time on the water from instinctive guesswork into informed seamanship.

The RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship course is the ideal starting point for anyone new to boating, or for more experienced water users who want to fill gaps in their navigation knowledge. It covers charts, tides, buoyage, safety, weather, and passage planning in a practical, accessible format — available in the classroom or online, at whatever pace suits you.

Course at a Glance

Level

Beginner

Duration

2 days (classroom)  or  8–10 hours (online)

Format

Classroom or online — your choice

Who it’s for

New to boating, or brushing up on the basics

Prerequisites

None. Some time on the water as crew or guest is helpful but not required.

Minimum age

None stated

Price

2-day classroom: £200.00

Bespoke: Contact us

Certificate

RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship Certificate

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed for anyone who spends time afloat and wants a solid grounding in navigation and seamanship. It is equally relevant to:

• Beginner yacht and dinghy sailors
• Keelboat and powerboat skippers
• Coastal rowers, divers, and jet ski riders
• Anyone who has crewed on the water and now wants to understand the bigger picture

There are no prerequisites. The course is most rewarding if you have been afloat at least a few times as a crew member or guest, but it is genuinely accessible from scratch.

Classroom or Online?

Both options deliver the full RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship syllabus. Choose the format that suits your schedule and your learning style.

Classroom

Two days of instructor-led teaching at Port Hamble Marina, 09:00 to 17:00 each day. Bespoke dates can be arranged to suit you. You will work through charts, tides, and exercises in class, with your instructor available to answer questions throughout. Ideal if you want structured learning and the chance to ask questions as they arise.

Online

Complete the course in your own time via the RYA Interactive White Tip Sailing E-Learning site. Once you have booked, we will email you your login and send your chart pack and instruments by post. The course takes approximately 8 hours in total, with interactive exercises throughout to reinforce what you are learning. You have up to six months to complete it, and our instructors are available by email if you need support. Your certificate is posted to you on completion.

Online system requirements: PC with Windows XP or later, or Mac with OS X 10.6 or later (not compatible with iPad or Android tablets). Requires JavaScript and a connection speed of at least 512 kbps. Contact us if you are unsure whether your setup is compatible.

What’s Included

All students receive:

✓ 2 RYA Training Charts
✓ RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship Book
✓ Plotter and dividers
✓ RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship Certificate on completion

Classroom only

✓ Full two-day instructor-led course
✓ Free parking at Port Hamble Marina
✓ Tea and coffee throughout

Online only

✓ Full access to the RYA Interactive E-Learning site
✓ Access to the online RYA Training Almanac
✓ Unlimited email support from WTS instructors
✓ UK mainland postage of your chart pack and certificate included

Overseas postage is charged separately. Contact us for current rates.

What You Will Learn

The RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship syllabus provides a broad and practical grounding in the core skills every boater needs:

• Charts and publications: how to read and use them.
• Safety: essential knowledge for operating on the water responsibly.
• Buoyage: understanding the IALA system and what the marks mean.
• Tidal awareness: how tides work and why they matter for navigation.
• Basic navigation: plotting a course, measuring distance, and understanding position.
• Pilotage: navigating in and out of harbours and through confined waters.
• Rules of the road: who gives way to whom, and why.
• Electronic navigation: an introduction to GPS and chart plotters.
• Anchoring: selecting a suitable spot and anchoring safely.
• Weather forecasts: how to obtain and interpret them.
• Passage planning: putting it all together for a day on the water.

Book Your Place

Classroom courses are run on bespoke dates arranged to suit you. Online access can be set up quickly once you book. Both options are available year-round.

For pricing and availability, contact us at info@whitetipsailing.com or visit whitetipsailing.com.