Day Skipper knowledge and revision support
RYA Day Skipper training covers a broad range of theory and practical knowledge. StandOn is not a Day Skipper course and is not designed to replace an RYA Training Centre, recognised course material or professional instruction.
Instead, StandOn is designed as a supporting revision and knowledge-retention tool. It helps sailors practise recalling selected areas of core sailing knowledge alongside their existing training and experience.
What does RYA Day Skipper Theory cover?
The RYA describes its Day Skipper Theory course as a theory-based course for prospective yacht skippers and inexperienced crew who want to develop their knowledge and skillset.
The current published course content includes seamanship, coastal navigation and pilotage, chartwork, electronic charts, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting and meteorology, tides, and collision regulations.
The RYA currently lists the course length as 40 hours plus exam time and says the course can be taken in the classroom, online or by distance learning.
For the current course structure, requirements and syllabus information, always refer directly to the RYA or your chosen RYA Training Centre.
Where StandOn fits
Day Skipper covers much more than the areas currently available in StandOn.
StandOn does not teach the complete Day Skipper syllabus. It does not replace chartwork exercises, navigation tuition, tidal work, meteorology teaching, pilotage training or practical instruction.
Its role is narrower: helping you practise and retain selected areas of sailing knowledge through repeated active recall.
Available now in beta
- Day shapes
- Navigation lights
- Buoyage
Launching shortly
- Sound signals
- Questions on common COLREGs
The available topics will expand over time, but StandOn remains a supporting revision and knowledge-retention tool rather than a replacement for recognised training.
Why we built StandOn
Formal sailing training teaches much more than facts that can be recalled from memory. It includes explanation, judgement, practical application, instructor feedback and experience on the water.
StandOn was built to support one particular part of that learning process: keeping important knowledge fresh between lessons, courses and time afloat.
The idea is simple. Once you have been taught a piece of knowledge properly, repeated recall can help you check whether you can still retrieve it without immediately looking at the answer.
StandOn gives sailors a structured way to practise that recall. It is a revision aid, not a teaching qualification or substitute for instruction.
Some Day Skipper knowledge overlaps with StandOn
Some of the knowledge areas covered within Day Skipper overlap directly with topics available in StandOn.
Navigation lights
Recognising navigation lights and understanding what they indicate forms part of broader collision-regulation knowledge. StandOn includes navigation-light recall practice to help users test what they can identify from memory.
Day shapes
Day shapes communicate information about a vessel's status or activity during daylight. StandOn includes day-shape revision material designed around identifying and recalling those meanings.
Buoyage
Buoyage is part of the broader navigation knowledge sailors develop through training. StandOn includes buoyage recall material to help users keep recognised marks and their meanings fresh.
More topics are being added
StandOn is also preparing recall material covering sound signals and common COLREGs questions.
These areas are launching shortly and should not yet be treated as currently available beta content.
What StandOn does not replace
StandOn should be used alongside proper sailing education, not instead of it.
It does not replace:
- an RYA Training Centre or sailing school
- qualified instruction
- official or recognised course material
- chartwork and navigation exercises
- practical boat-handling experience
- instructor feedback
- time on the water
If you are taking an RYA Day Skipper course, follow the guidance of your training centre and instructor regarding what you need to learn, practise and demonstrate.
Theory and practical training
The RYA also offers a Day Skipper Practical Sailing course. Its current published course content includes practical areas such as navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, boat handling and passage-making.
StandOn cannot replicate practical training. Its role is to help keep suitable knowledge fresh alongside the practical skills developed with instructors and through experience afloat.
View the current RYA Day Skipper Practical Sailing course information
Use StandOn as a supporting revision tool
If you are already learning through a sailing school, instructor or recognised course, StandOn can provide an additional way to revisit selected knowledge between sessions.
Use it to test what you remember, identify areas where your recall is less reliable and keep important knowledge in regular use.
For broader Day Skipper teaching, course preparation and assessment guidance, use your RYA Training Centre, instructor and recognised course material.