RYA Day Skipper Navigation

Take out the guess work and put the art into your navigation!

Experience:

Beginner

Duration:

5 consecutive days or 5 days over 3 weekends + 1 x evening Zoom session

Cost:

€500 per person

Syllabus & Certificate:

RYA Day Skipper Navigation

If there’s any doubt…it’s all doubt

It’s the nagging feeling of not knowing for sure that puts a skipper ill at ease and has the crew second guessing your calls. Wild West Sailing will banish those blues for you with an RYA Day Skipper Navigation course. 

Whether you’re planning sun-soaked escapes in the Med or Caribbean or preparing for boat ownership at home or abroad, this is your chance to master the art of navigation, gain the confidence to lead a crew and skipper your yacht like a seasoned pro. Day Skipper Nav is a game-changer for those who want to get more from their sailing. After this course you will be looking out the car window at clouds and trying to work out the moon phase by what time the tide is out! Your eyes will be open, and the doubt will be gone.

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Day Skipper ALL-IN-ONE

Combine a winter RYA Day Skipper Navigation course with your Day Skipper Practical and get a €150 discount on your 10 Days Training!

Set yourself up for success and do the lot with Wild West Sailing!

What am I aiming for?

RYA Day Skipper Navigation Certificate

Our Locations

Where is it?

Northside Centre

7GGH+G6 Northside Centre, County Sligo

View Google Map

Our Schedule

When is it?

November to April

Available all year round on request

Book Now
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1 Day Start Sailing Website Pix (2) 1

What do I bring?

Portland Plotter & Dividers

You can buy these from:

Stationery

  • Pencils, eraser, sharpener, pens
  • Notebook, rough work paper
  • Calculator

Provided by Us

Your Day Skipper Pack includes:

  • RYA Training Charts & Almanac
  • Day Skipper Navigation Textbook
  • Course Questions

Course Structure and Topics You’ll Learn
  1. Weekend 1
    • Session 1 – Charts & Buoyage | Publications | Pilotage
    • Session 2 – Tidal Theory & Streams | Collision Regulations (IRPCS)
    • Session 3 – Magnetic Variation | Position Fixing
    • Session 4 – DR & EP | Day & Night Pilotage
    • Session 5 – Following Tuesday @ 1900 Online via Zoom Meteorology & Forecasting
  2. Weekend 2
    • Session 6 – Electronic Navigation | Advanced GPS Use
    • Session 7 – Radar | Safety Systems (AIS – EPIRB – Navtex – Personal Beacons – SART)
    • Session 8 – Course to Steer | Safety, Stability & Seamanship
    • Session 9 – Tidal Heights, Tidal Curve & Secondary Ports
    • Session 10 – Following Tuesday @ 1900 Online via Zoom  Course Recap
  3. Weekend 3
    • Session 11 – Navigation Exam
    • Session 12 – Collision Regulations Exam (IRPCS)

What People Are Saying

  • Excellent quality, 2nd to none

    Can’t recommend Dave at Wild West Sailing enough. The quality of the Day Skipper Courses, Yachts & Instruction are 2nd to none. Already booked in for my next trip and working towards a Yachtmaster in the next year.

    Jonathan Curran (Coastal Skipper)

    March | 2025

  • Couldn’t recommend highly enough.

    Lovely Boat, Great Instructor And An Incredible Place To Sail Off Ireland’s Beautifully Rugged West Coast. A Day Trip To Sligo’s Innismurray Island In Summer With Wild West Sailing Is Unforgettable, And Sailing There As Part Of A Crew Was A Great Experience. Dave Has A Wealth Of Knowledge, Yet Is Patient In Training Others. He Knows How To Put People At Ease, While Also Pushing Them To Achieve More.

    Sophie Skinner

    March | 2025

  • A great experience!

    Great experience and awesome instructor with many years of sailing experience! Thanks Dave for the perfect week sailing on the west coast of Ireland. We will come back for sure and do the day skipper course with you. I highly recommend this experience for everyone who is serious about sailing.

    Eike Willner

    March | 2025

  • WWS continue to exceed expectations!

    Highly recommend Wild West Sailing having done both Day skipper theory and practical courses with them this year. David and Nigel provided expert, friendly tuition and were super patient. Will be back for my Yachtmaster next year.

    Damien Duggan

    March | 2025

  • A true bucket-list experience!!

    Round Ireland September 2023. Exceptional!! I will remember this experience for the rest of my days! Big seas, calm seas, lots of wind, no wind, amazing islands, pristine coastlines, basking shark, bioluminescence and dolphins swimming in it in the pitch dark, the Skelligs at night, starry skies, shooting stars under full sails, tidal gates, tuskar rock, the fastnet, we saw it all!

    John Mc Donald

    March | 2025

What’s Next?

Keep the momentum going!

Short Expert Courses

for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Time to put your navigation theory to the test!

Discover More
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