The RYA Essential Navigation course is great for anyone new to sailing, motor boating, kayaking, fishing, or diving.

This 16-hour online course is great for anyone interested in sailing or boating.

It forms a valuable companion course to our entry-level sailing and powerboating courses including RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper Practical NSW Boat Licence, and RYA Powerboat Level 2.

Course content 

Charts and publications

• Basic terms
• Introduction to chart datum and depths

Buoyage / Navigation

• Lateral buoys / Cardinal buoys
• Measuring distance, bearing and heading
• Plotting a position, position fix

Pilotage

• Harbour information
• Transits, pilotage plan

Safety

• Personal and boat safety equipment
• Safety procedures, comms, and rescue procedures

Anchoring

• Where to anchor
• How to anchor

Tides

• Tidal streams
• Tidal heights

Electronic Navigation

• GNSS terms and use 
• Using waypoints

Rules of the Road

• Risk of collision
• Rights of way

Weather Forecasts

• Sources of forecast
• Terms used in forecast

Passage Planning

• SOLAS V requirements
• Pre-planning

• Online course login 
• RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course pack includes basic navigation tools
• Instructor support if required

Qualifications  

• RYA ESS certificate of course completion.  

• No previous experience is required.
• The course is suitable for sailors, power boat owners, fishermen, and all boaties wanting to learn the foundations of navigation and seamanship. 
• The course is 100% online. All you need is an internet connection and a computer. Access to the course is 12 months.

If you plan to skipper your own boat or are considering commercial qualifications you should go on to complete Day Skipper Shorebased Theory and Day Skipper Practical courses.