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