RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Online

To order: register your account and log in.
On this page, click "Add to sail plan": this is your shopping basket.
From the sail plan you can complete your booking.

This comprehensive program covers vital topics such as celestial navigation, ocean passage planning, weather forecasting and meteorology. By mastering these essential skills, you'll gain the theoretical knowledge ready to navigate vast and unpredictable waters with confidence. Join our course and embark on a journey towards becoming a competent and capable Yachtmaster Ocean.

Is this course right for you?

This course is suitable for those who hold theory knowledge to the level of Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore.

Duration & Assessment

The coursework will take approximately 40 hours. No sextant is required for the course as fully interactive animated lessons are included. The final assessment takes 2 hours which is taken in one sitting.

If you wish to take the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam, the RYA require the end of course theory assessment to be invigilated by an RYA Instructor at an RYA recognised Training Centre. Alternatively, the candidate can opt to take an extra paper during the oral exam. If you wish to take an invigilated assessment at the end of the the theory course rather than take the extra paper during the oral exam, please let us know in advance so we can arrange for you to take the assessment at our centre. There will be an additional fee applicable for the invigilation.

Course Extension - 6 months

There is an initial 6 months time limit to complete the course with a further 6 month extension available at a cost of an additional € 45,- fee.
You can book your course extension here: https://www.zeezeilers.nl/cursusaanbod/theoriedagen/rya-online-theory-coastal-skipper-yachtmaster-offshore/24025-extension-navathome-6-months

What's Included?

• Fully Animated & Interactive Lessons
• Multi Device Support
• Study At Your Own Pace
• Proven Pass Rate
• No Classroom Pressure
• MCA & RYA recognised
• Lifetime Access To Revision Material
• 6 Months Access - Extra 6 Months For € 45,-
• Fully animated graphics for easy learning

Course Syllabus

The earth and the celestial sphere:

• Definition of observer’s zenith and position of a heavenly body in terms of latitude.
• longitude, GHA and declination.
• Right angle relationships, latitude and co-lat, declination and polar distance.
• Relationship between GHA, longitude and LHA.
• Tabulation of declination in nautical almanac.
• Rate of increase of hour angle with time.

The PZX triangle:

• The tabulated components of the triangle, LHA, co-lat and polar distance.
• The calculable components, zenith distance and azimuth.
• Relationship between zenith distance and altitude.
• Introduction to the tabular method of solution in the Air Navigation Tables and the basic sight form.
• The use of calculators for the solution of the PZX triangle

The Sextant:

• Practical guide to the use and care of a sextant at sea.
• Conversion of sextant altitude to true altitude.
• Application of dip, index error and refraction.
• Correction of side error, perpendicularity, index error and collimation error.

Measurement of time:

• Forecasting time of meridian altitude.
• Reduction of meridian altitude sights.

Sun, star and other sights:

• Reduction and plotting of sun sights using.
• Air Navigation Tables.
• Awareness of the use of calculators for sight reduction.
• The plotting of sun-run-sun meridian altitude.
• Awareness of the reduction and plotting of sights obtained from stars, moon and planets.

Compass checking:

• Use of amplitude and azimuth tables systems and/or calculator.

Satellite Navigation Systems:

• Principles and limitations of use of all systems.

Great circle sailing:

• Comparison of rhumb lines and great circles.
• Vertices and composite tracks.
• The computation of a series of rhumb lines approximating to a great circle by use of gnomonic and Mercator projections.

Meteorology:

• General pressure distribution and prevailing winds over the oceans of the world.
• Tropical revolving storms, seasonal occurrence and forecasting by observation.

Passage planning:

• Publications available to assist with planning of long passages (routeing charts, ocean passages of the world and other publications).
• Preparation for ocean passage including survival equipment, victualling, water and fuel management, chafe protection, spares and maintenance.

Passage making:

• Navigational routine and Keeping watch.
• Crew management.

Communications:

• Satellite and terrestrial systems.
• Weather information.

Registration

Please read the Navathome Terms & Conditions and the Navathome Data Protection Policy prior to booking as they outline all details of the booking with Navathome. You will check these in the booking process.