Day Skipper Course now available Online

Here’s a great option for making the most of some cold winter evenings. Coastguard Boating Education have several of their popular courses online which means you can study from the comfort of your own couch and at your convenience.

The VHF and Day Skipper courses are crammed full of essential information for anyone heading out on the water and are a great investment in being safe on the water.

The VHF course covers the basics on using a VHF radio and while it may seem as simple as clicking the button and having a chat, there is important protocol that should be followed, particularly in emergency situations.

The Day Skipper course is more comprehensive and follows an informative sequence of modules which include: 

The Boat: the components of a boat, its equipment, function, operation and handling techniques

Navigation: navigational charts and GPS, compass use, tides and weather and knowledge of navigational marks

Rules & Regulations: maritime Rules and Regulations

Emergencies: training in the causes and preventative actions to be taken in emergency situations

Knots: provides practical competence in knot tying.

Each module uses an interesting and engaging mix of video, interactive graphics and texts to get the message across. At the end of each module there’s a few key questions that reinforce key points and that’s followed up with an assessment. You’ll need a 100% to pass but the good news is that if you happen to miss a question or two you can retake the test - repetition helps learning. 

There are options for online and offline study and review which makes the remote study really convenient. Studying for your day skippers course is just as feasible at 10,000m as it is on your couch at 0.5m! Tablet and computer versions are also available. The only section that requires a reliable on-line connection is the assessment at the end of each module.

There’s no doubt anyone doing this course will be better equipped to be responsible for the safety of their friends and families. Now that opportunity is as far away as your keyboard thanks to Coastguard Boating Education.