The Day Skipper course teaches pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the required standard to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar.

1. Preparation for sea
To be able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails,
securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below

2. Deck Work
Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions
Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside,
coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or alongside berth

3. Navigation
To gain a working knowladge in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including:
Taking and plotting visual fixes
Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
Use of waypoints
Working up to DR and EP
Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
Knowledge of IALA buoyage
Maintenance of navigational records
Use of echo sounder and lead line

(Sailing Ireland recommends all students to complete the ISA Shorebased Navigation Course in order to gain the required knowledge to become proficient in the above. We would be happy to advise on our next available course or to recommend a suitable course in your area. Please refer to the  revelant section for more details.)

4. Pilotage
Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour
Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
Use of transits and surroundings as aids to pilotage

5. Meteorology
Knows sources of forecast information
Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

6. Rule of the road
Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

7. Maintenance and repair work
Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

8. Engines
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system

9. Victualling
Understands how to victual a yacht and prepare for a trip

10. Emergency situations
Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard
Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft
Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and send a distress message
Understands how to secure a tow
Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

11. Yacht handling under power
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy
and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide
Understand the uses of propwalk, ferrygliding, windage and tidal flow

12. Passage making
Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational
hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew

13. Seasickness
Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness

14. Helmsmanship and sailing
Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
Can steer a compass course, under sail and power
Buoy pickup and anchoring under sail, uses of heave to, scandalising sail, steering with sails

15. General duties
Can carry out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks
in connection with the daily routine of the vessel