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RYA Theory courses

Get ready for your practical course with Online RYA Theory courses delivered by Ardent Training

Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has been setting the standards for sailing education since 1875.

Test your knowledge

When your instructor asks you about these, will you know?

Fl WRG (2+1) 10s 16m 8M Wind Speed in bft. F5 Rolling Hitch SOS in Morse Code Buy Ballot's law Westerly Cardinal Mark NW5 backing S7 imminent Meaning of + on a Chart Clearance at Low Tide vessel towing at night >200m COLREGS: Sailboat VS Ferry Sound Signal: - . . Advection Fog Passage Plan APEM Clearing Bearings Compass: TvMdC Customs Procedure Flag Etiquette Use of Sextant Storm Tactics GPS Lost Compensate for Tidal Drift Give Safety Briefing ?

Take the Quiz!

Theory Course Quiz

Find out which Theory Course level is right for you.

Theory Course Quiz
Have you ever taken a theory course before?
Which Theory Course have you taken?
Have you self-studied any sailing theory?
How much practical experience sailing do you have?
Have you ever been in a position of a skipper? (responsible for the boat, crew & navigation)
What practical course level are you aspiring towards?

Knowledge test

In the following weather forecast, what does “veering” mean?
Issued 0600. Gale warning: Severe gale F9 expected later.
Southerly 4 veering North-Westerly 6 soon, increasing to severe gale F9 later

Slight to moderate, rough later
Moderate, Good later
Drizzle, Fair later
What wind speed (in kt) would you expect in Force 6 – Strong Breeze? (Beaufort scale)
Southerly 4 veering North-Westerly 6 soon, increasing to severe gale F9 later
What does this marker mean? (IALA A system)
IALA A marker
You anchored at 1600 in 5m of water and are staying overnight.
Q1: What is the minimum clearance under the keel you are going to have if your draft is 2m?
Q2: You are staying until 0600 the following morning. How much chain do you pay out to always have at least 1:4 scope?

Use the tide table to the right, which is valid for this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Use a sine (regular) tidal curve, or the rule of twelfth.
Tide table
What does the following symbol mean on a chart?
Chart symbol
In the following collision situation between two sailboats, who is the give-way vessel?
Two sailboats collision situation
You are the skipper of this yellow sailboat in open waters. A large red tanker on your port side gives you One short blast on their foghorn.
a) Who is the give-way vessel, who is the stand-on vessel?
b) What does the sound signal mean?
Image not to scale
Tanker and sailboat situation
Multiselect: Select all that applies
Can you confidently plot a Course to Steer to compensate for tidal streams on a paper chart?
Well done - you theory checks out! Since you've already taken the Yachtmaster theory course, how confident are you in all the theory contained?
Send me my Quiz Results + insider tips on how to prepare, what to expect, and get the most out of my course.
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Levels

Day Skipper

Essential Foundations

£ 349

Day Skipper

Essential Foundations

Theory Course

85% of what you ever need to know!

Boost your confidence and enjoyment in practical course.

We highly recommend to anyone wishing to brave the seas.

✓ Preparing for a Competent Crew or Day Skipper practical course

✓ Never taken a theory course

✗ You’re 100% confident in your theory

Not Sure? Take our Quiz!

£ 349

Enroll in Day Skipper

Yachtmaster

Professional Standard

£ 379 - 499

Yachtmaster

Professional Standard

Theory Course

Build on your Day Skipper knowledge and elevate your skills.

Prepare for Coastal Skipper and RYA/MCA Yachtmaster exams.

Recognized as the standard for professional mariners around the world.

✓ Preparing for a Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster course

✓ Confident in DS level chartwork, meteorology, navigation, and seamanship

✗ You’ve not taken or recently revised Day Skipper Theory

Not Sure? Take our Quiz!

£ 379 - 499

Confident?
Feeling rusty?

YM Ocean

Mastery Level

£ TBA

YM Ocean

Brave the Ocean Planet

Theory Course

Experienced Yachtmaster ready to conquer oceans?

Add Astronavigation and World Meteorology into your toolkit.

Gain a unique edge that very few mariners have nowadays.

✓ Already a YM Offshore

✓ Excited to use the Sextant

✓ Love lots of high-school math (or willing to put up with it)

✗ Not mastered Yachtmaster Theory

Not Sure? Take our Quiz!

£ TBA

Coming Soon

Which level is right for you?

Take the Quiz!

Vetted & Tested

We’ve vetted and tested these providers for you. We believe they are the very best out there.

At your Own Pace

and from the comfort of your home. Keep access even after completion.

Instructors 365

Live RYA instructors are just a call / message away from helping you with your questions

RYA Certificate

Earn an official RYA certificate upon completion. Globally recognized.

Free Trial

All theory courses enjoy a 14-day money back guarantee & free trials.

"Students with the necessary theory knowledge enjoy the practical course much more and gain far more value than those who try to learn on the go."
Patrik Lindr
Patrik Lindr RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Instructor Trainer
"If I realized I needed to know so much before my Day Skipper, I would have taken a theory course for sure!"
Amber
AmberDay Skipper candidate

Course Providers

We believe you’ll enjoy sailing much more by understanding the theory behind it. That’s why we’ve tested and handpicked the very best providers.

Our partners offer a modern experience with unlimited live instructor support. As accredited RYA Training Centres, they uphold the highest standards of education and provide official certification upon completion.

Ardent Training logo

Ardent Training
Ardent Training has stormed the industry with their novel teaching style, combining live-action videos with classroom-based courses, allowing you to switch dynamically between the two.

This approach ensures an engaging and effective learning experience, especially for visual learners.

RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship

RYA Day Skipper

RYA Yachtmaster

Fast track to Yachtmaster

Explore Ardent Training

Course Providers

We believe you’ll enjoy sailing much more by understanding the theory behind it. That’s why we’ve tested and handpicked the very best providers.

Our partners offer a modern experience with unlimited live instructor support. As accredited RYA Training Centres, they uphold the highest standards of education and provide official certification upon completion.

Ardent Training logo

Ardent Training
Ardent Training has stormed the industry with their novel teaching style, combining live-action videos with classroom-based courses, allowing you to switch dynamically between the two.

This approach ensures an engaging and effective learning experience, especially for visual learners.

RYA Day Skipper

RYA Yachtmaster

Fast track to Yachtmaster

Explore Ardent Training
Skippers Online logo

Skippers Online
Our friends at Skippers Online have disrupted the cumbersome nature of old online theory platforms, bringing you engaging courses worthy of the 21st century. 

Fully narrated, with a solid structure and animations, their courses ensure you achieve and exceed the required knowledge level.

RYA Day Skipper

RYA Yachtmaster

RYA Ocean

Combined courses

Explore Skippers Online
Ardent Training logo

Ardent Training
Ardent Training has stormed the industry with their novel teaching style, combining live-action videos with classroom-based courses, allowing you to switch dynamically between the two.

This approach ensures an engaging and effective learning experience, especially for visual learners.

RYA Essential Seamanship & Navigation

RYA Day Skipper

RYA Yachtmaster

Fast track to Yachtmaster

Explore Ardent Training

Money back & free trial

All Ardent Training theory courses enjoy a 14-day money back guarantee & free trials. Might as well:

Go for It

Squeeze every drop of value out of your practical course.

Come equipped with the theory knowledge.

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