Guide Day Skipper theory
Day Skipper theory online
The RYA Day Skipper theory course is 40 hours of study plus exam time, can be taken online or in a classroom, and Sail Academy prepares you for it online from free to £79 a year, but only an RYA course awards the certificate.
Last checked 30 Oct 2026. Course facts are from the RYA's own course page and the public syllabus; provider prices are from each provider's own page.
What the syllabus covers
The public RYA Day Skipper theory syllabus has 17 sections, and our 18 modules cover every line of it. The RYA groups the course as seamanship, coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, tides and collision regulations. See every line on the syllabus map.
| RYA section | Topic | Sail Academy module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nautical terms | 01 |
| 2 | Ropework | 02 |
| 3 | Anchorwork | 16 |
| 4 | Safety | 03, 17, 18 |
| 5 | International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea | 04, 05 |
| 6 | Definition of position, course and speed | 07 |
| 7 | Navigational charts and publications | 07 |
| 8 | Navigational drawing instruments | 07 |
| 9 | Compass | 08 |
| 10 | Chartwork | 12 |
| 11 | Tides and tidal streams | 09, 10, 11 |
| 12 | Visual aids to navigation | 06, 13 |
| 13 | Meteorology | 14 |
| 14 | Passage planning | 15 |
| 15 | Navigation in restricted visibility | 15 |
| 16 | Pilotage | 13, 06 |
| 17 | Marine environment | 15 |
The course at a glance
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| How long? | 40 hours plus exam time | RYA course finder |
| Where? | Classroom, online or distance learning | RYA course finder |
| Experience needed? | Some practical experience desirable, not required; no minimum age | RYA course finder |
| Online course price | £275 to £349 at the three providers on our comparison page, each awarding the RYA certificate | Each provider's page, 30 Oct 2026 |
| Sail Academy price | Free tier; £12 a month; £79 a year. No RYA certificate. | Pricing |
The RYA's course page gives the length, not a fixed paper, and providers set their own assessment: for example Navathome describes a final assessment in two parts of about 1.5 hours each. Our 50-question mock exam is practice: timed, scored by module and repeatable.
Online or classroom?
It is one RYA course, offered in three ways: the RYA says it can be taken in the classroom, online or by distance learning. Online lets you study at your own pace; a classroom gives you an instructor and a group. Sail Academy is online only, theory only, and no substitute for practical training on the water.
Module 01, knots, a game and a taster exam
No card needed. See how the course teaches before you pay.
Questions people ask
What does the Day Skipper theory syllabus cover?
The public RYA Day Skipper theory syllabus has 17 sections: nautical terms, ropework, anchorwork, safety, the collision regulations, position, course and speed, charts and publications, drawing instruments, the compass, chartwork, tides and tidal streams, visual aids to navigation, meteorology, passage planning, restricted visibility, pilotage and the marine environment. The RYA's own course page groups it as seamanship, coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather, tides and collision regulations.
How long does the Day Skipper theory course take?
The RYA's course page gives the course length as 40 hours plus exam time. Ardent Training lists 40 to 50 hours, and Navathome says it typically takes around 40 hours of dedicated study.
What is the Day Skipper theory exam format?
The RYA's course page gives the length but not a fixed paper, and providers set their own assessment. Navathome describes a final assessment in two parts of about 1.5 hours each, completed consecutively. Skippers Online describes 2 final online exams after mock exams. Sail Academy's own 50-question mock exam is practice only and is not the RYA assessment.
How much does an online Day Skipper theory course cost?
On their own course pages on 30 Oct 2026, Navathome lists £275, Skippers Online £295 and Ardent Training £349, each for a course that awards the RYA certificate. Sail Academy is free to start, then £12 a month or £79 a year, and does not issue the certificate.
Can I take Day Skipper theory online instead of in a classroom?
Yes. The RYA's course page says the course can be taken in the classroom, online or by distance learning,.
Do I need sailing experience before the theory course?
No. The RYA says the course is open to anyone, some practical experience is desirable but not required, and there is no minimum age.
Does Sail Academy give an RYA Day Skipper certificate?
No. Sail Academy is not an RYA training centre and never implies certification. It teaches the same published syllabus with 18 modules, films, quizzes, a mock exam and boat-handling simulators, to prepare you for a course or exam. It is theory only and no substitute for practical training on the water.