RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory – Classroom
Client: Advanced Navigators
Dates: March 19-23 – complete. Next one TBD.
Info: 40+ hour Classroom Course
This RYA course is a course in astro-navigation and worldwide meteorology which also reveals the mysteries of the sextant. It assumes a good working knowledge of the subjects covered in the other shorebased courses.
The course is taught over 40 hours plus exam time. It is taught as a series of evening sessions.
During the course there will be ample opportunity to have ‘hands-on’ with several types of high-quality professional sextants – Tamaya and Cassens & Plath. We will all do a meridian passage of the sun to determine latitude and a so-called sun-run-sun to get a fix. We also teach star identification, sight planning, star sights and the use of the 2102-D Starfinder.
The sight reduction tables used is H.O. 249 air navigation, popular with sailors.
This is a course in astro-navigation and worldwide meteorology which also reveals the mysteries of the sextant. It assumes a knowledge of all subjects covered in the other shorebased courses.
The course is taught over 40 hours with one exam paper. It can be covered as a series of evening sessions, or as an intensive week-long course.
Course topics include:
- 1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Measurement of time
- Definition of, and relationship between, UT, LMT, standard time and zone time
- Rating of chronometers and watches
5. Meridian altitudes
- Forecasting time of meridian altitude
- Reduction of meridian altitude sights
6. Sun, star and other sights
- Reduction and plotting of sun sights using Air Navigation Tables
- Awareness of use of calculator 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
7. Compass checking
- Use of amplitude and azimuth tables systems and/or calculator
8. Satellite Navigation Systems
- Principles and limitations of use of all systems
9. 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
10. Meteorology
- General pressure distribution and prevailing winds over the oceans of the world
- Tropical revolving storms, seasonal occurrence and forecasting by observation
11. 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
12. Passage making
- Navigational routine
- Watchkeeping
- Crew management
13. Communications
- Satellite and terrestrial systems
- Weather information
Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory or equivalent.
On successful completion of your RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory (classroom) course your name, certificate number and date of issue will be stored for up to 5 years. This information allows us to verify or replace your certificate if required.
Fees and Booking
Price $795.00 – including a lot of material.