RYA Yachtmaster Online Tutorials

Explore Admiralty nautical charts' depths, scales, and chart datum, and learn to interpret drawing heights, contour lines, and symbol cues for lighthouses and bridges.

Explore rocks, wrecks, and obstructions on charts, detailing underwater rocks, rocks that never cover, those that cover and uncover, and wash chart datum using chart symbols and the 1-2-3-4 rule.

Learn how magnetic variation affects bearings on charts. Apply the west is best rule to convert between true and magnetic degrees, with practical examples.

Plot a position on a nautical chart by reading latitude and longitude, using a plotter or dividers, and determining bearings with true north and gps.

Learn how to fix your position at sea using bearing lines, three-point fixes, transits, depth data, radar, and running fixes. Understand how GPS backup and tide considerations improve accuracy.

Explore how tides arise from the earth–moon–sun gravity, analyze spring and neap tides, tidal ranges, and how to read tide tables for coastal navigation.

Learn to draw and interpret the title diagram to determine the tide hour, using high water times, UTC and daylight saving adjustments, with hands-on examples.

Learn to read tidal diamonds and the tidal stream atlas to determine set and rate for hours. Use the Victoria tide table and almanac to assess springs or neeps.

Learn to compute tidal rates for yacht master navigation using the Admiralty tidal stream table, distinguishing spring and neap rates, reading tidal diamonds, and applying the method with range-to-rate interpolation.

Learn how time zones: GMT, east-west offsets, daylight saving, and the international date line affect navigation, tide tables, and converting high-water times between Victoria UT and Southern Peninsula time.

Study leeway, the wind's sideways push on a boat, influenced by wind strength, angle, and keel design. Use wake cues and a five to ten degree rule to adjust course.

Use dead reckoning with leeway and tide to estimate position, convert from magnetic to true, plot water and ground tracks, and read position when GPS is blank.

Learn advanced estimated position techniques, converting compass bearings to true, applying deviation and variation, and integrating tidal diamond calculations for accurate dead reckoning.

Plot a projected position from a GPS fix to estimate arrival at the 10 meter contour near strong island. Adjust for wind leeway, deviation, and tides using tidal stream atlas.

Master the running fix by using a single charted mark, bearings, and the tidal set and rate to plot your position, then back it up with depth and transferred lines.

Learn to compute a course to steer that accounts for tide, wind, and magnetic variation using AB and CD diagrams, with leeway and deviation corrections for accurate steering.

Plot a two hour yacht master to steer exercise using tidal rates and clearing bearings. Calculate timing, distance, and magnetic course for a rendezvous at Balshaw Bay.