Adam here. Over nearly thirty years at Classic Sailing, I’ve seen countless first-time sailors make the step from just being on board to actually understanding what’s going on. That change always starts with learning the basics. (Some have gone on to become tall ship captains.)
There comes a point in every sailor’s journey when being on board is no longer enough. You want to understand what is happening around you, to take part in the decisions, and to play a more active role. You shift from being a keen sailor to wanting the full sailing and navigation experience.
For some, it starts with tying a few knots or steering a straight course. For others, it’s about taking the first steps towards running their own boat. Wherever you are on that path, structured training helps turn curiosity into confidence.
That is where RYA theory and practical courses come in. From the Competent Crew introduction to the Day Skipper theory, they provide the knowledge that makes you a useful member of any voyage. You learn not just how things are done, but why. And once you can read a chart, plot a position, or work out the effect of tide and wind, sailing stops being a mystery and becomes a skill you can be proud of.
Classic Sailing has always been good at introducing people to their first voyage. The real magic, though, is when you decide to go a step further—back to sea school.
Where the Magic Starts
Most people have seen a nautical chart, but few know how to use one. It looks complicated until someone shows you how to fix your position and plot a course. That’s the moment it clicks—you’re no longer guessing where you are, you know.
I remember my first chartwork on a friend’s yacht sailing out of the Bay of Douarnenenz . It felt like unlocking a code. One pencil mark on the paper and suddenly the sea around me made sense and I knew what course to steer to go around the Cap de le Chevre (Cape of the Goat).
Phone?
The first question many ask is whether they can just rely on a phone. It’s an excellent question because the key word is “rely.” Batteries fail, signals drop, and software can lag or crash. A phone is a convenience, but not to be relied upon.
To navigate with confidence, you need to understand paper charts. It isn’t difficult once you learn the steps. The RYA Day Skipper Theory course gives you those tools, complete with practice charts, plotters and dividers sent to your home. From there, you can take your place at the chart table and join the conversation about where the ship is heading.
RYA Training Centre
Classic Sailing has been an RYA training centre for more than 20 years. For theory courses, we work with our partners at Ardent Training. Quite simply, they specialise in this and do it far better than we could ever do it on our own.
I’ve sat through plenty of theory courses over the years, and I can honestly say Ardent have raised the bar. Their rapid response times are something I’ve never seen matched elsewhere.
Ardent provide year-round, on-demand instructor support seven days a week from 0800 to 2000. Most queries are answered in minutes. You can speak to them via online chat, phone or video call, whichever works best. Their instructors are highly qualified and take pride in giving tailored, personal guidance.
What the course gives you
– Instant instructor support, seven days a week
– Over 21 hours of video lessons across 112 modules
– Extra resources in a detailed knowledge base
– A forum to exchange ideas with instructors and fellow students
– Mock and final exams with personal feedback and a revision plan
– Full 12-month access to the course material
– RYA Day Skipper Shorebased certificate
Your student pack includes:
– Portland plotter and dividers
– Two Admiralty training charts
– Mechanical chartwork pencil and soft eraser
– Handy hints bookmark from Ardent
– Two lengths of Marlow rope
– RYA Day Skipper Shore based Notes e-book
– RYA Training Almanac
All this arrives by post, free within the UK, so you can start learning with real charts and real tools from day one.
Back to sea school is not about going back to basics, it’s about getting to grips with making the charts work for you.
RYA Day Skipper Theory Online.
