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RYA Theory Courses
How do I get underway?
AUTUMN/WINTER THEORY COURSES 2026/2027 – Dates are summarised below or view the schedule for more information
From Mid-October 2026 we will run Theory Courses at a classroom based on the first floor of Compass House (above the Galley Café) at Penarth Marina. This allows us to offer more courses and training workshops beyond the RYA Syllabus.
To confirm availability, or if you and your friends want to do a course on a date that isn’t listed please use the booking enquiry form here. We aim to answer all queries within 24 hours.
Having confirmed the booking with us, you will be sent joining instructions and a link via Revolut Bank to pay using Bank Transfer or card payment.
Going around in circles? – Before you sign up to an online course have a look at this document – Cardiff Yachting – Navigation Theory Pathway
Workshops under development include:
Safe Passage Planning for Today– Software & Paper Hybrid solutions
Taking the Sextant Out of the Box – How to do it, take a sight, and using offline App to calculate position (No Tables or Arithmetic)
RADAR v. AIS – How to use modern software to avoid a collision in restricted visibility
Autumn/Winter 2026/2027 – Course Summary Availability at Compass House
6 Places on Sunday 25/10/26 – RYA First Aid Course
6 Places on Monday 26 to 30/10/26 – RYA Day Skipper Theory
3 Places on Saturday 28/11, 29/11, 05/12, 06/12, 12/12 – RYA Day Skipper Theory
5 Places on Saturday 05/12/26 – RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course (Newport Uskmouth Sailing Club)
3 Places on Sunday 13/12/26 – RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course
6 Places on Wednesday 16 to 20/12/26 – RYA Day Skipper Theory
6 Places on Sunday 27 to 31/12/26 – RYA Day Skipper Theory
4 Places on Saturday 02/01/27 – RYA RADAR Course
6 Places on Saturday 02/01/27 – RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course
6 Places on Sunday 03/01/27 – RYA First Aid Course
6 Places on Saturday 09/01/27 over 3 x weekends – RYA Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper Theory
6 Places on Saturday 09/01/27 over 2.5 x weekends – RYA Day Skipper Theory
6 Places on Sunday 24/01/27 – RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course
5 Places on 30/01, 31/01, 01/02, 07/02, 14/02, & 20/02 – RYA Day Skipper Theory (Newport Uskmouth SC)
6 Places on Wednesday 16 to 20/12/26 – RYA Day Skipper Theory
5 Places on Saturday 21/07/27 – RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course (Newport Uskmouth Sailing Club)
RYA Day Skipper Theory Course (40 Hours)
A comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers.
This course equips you with enough knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day. A basic knowledge of lights is also included to introduce you to night cruising.
The cost of the course is £375.00
Maximum 6 students on the course. Course Schedule is seen in Google Calendar above.
RYA #Digitalfirst – The course will fully embrace this concept – learning time spent on graphical processes will no longer be a key element of navigation.
Cardiff Yachting – Navigation Theory Pathway
RYA Yachtmaster – Coastal Skipper Theory Course (48 Hours)
Ideal for candidates for the Coastal Skipper practical course & Yachmaster Offshore exam. Some revision of the Day Skipper shorebased course plus more advanced skills in offshore & coastal navigation by day & night, pilotage & meteorology.
The course covers position fixing, course shaping and plotting, tidal knowledge, use of almanacs and admiralty publications, electronic position finding equipment, taking and interpreting forecasts, plotting weather systems, weather predictions using a barometer.
The cost of the course is £395.00
Cardiff Yachting – Navigation Theory Pathway
RYA Diesel Engine Course – One day classroom based at Penarth Marina
A one-day beginners’ course to help you prevent and solve diesel engine failure. The RYA student course workbook is included the fee. A RYA Diesel Engine Handbook is also available and can be supplied at the beginning of the course.
RYA Diesel Engine Course – Have a look at the schedule above.
Classroom Based Course £105.00
RYA Diesel Engine Course – 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 Tutorial Based Course
The course can be completed on your own boat or X Beat II on a 1:1 basis or up to 3 people booking together
1:1 Tutorial Based Course £225.00
2:1 Tutorial Based Course £115.00 each student
3:1 Tutorial Based Course £95.00 each student
Contact Peter to discuss this to ensure all elements of the course can be covered. Booking enquiry form.
VHF Marine Radio (SRC) Course – (10 hours learning) – Classroom based at Penarth Marina or Cardiff Yacht Club
If you cannot wait for our next course or the dates are unsuitable then consider the RYA Interactive VHF Course.
The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. This includes both fixed and hand held equipment using International channels. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.
The learning is broken down into two parts – a 3 hour self-learning package and RYA Handbook are sent on receipt of payment. This is followed by 7 hours in the classroom where you will have ample opportunity to use the training radios.
Arrangements will be made for the assessment to take place directly following the course with an independent RYA Assessor. The RYA Fee for this is £70.00.
RYA VHF Marine Radio (SRC) Course
Classroom Based Course £105.00
A one day course increasingly popular on both sailing and motor boats. Radar is an invaluable aid for navigation and collision avoidance but it is only useful in the hands of a knowledgable operator. The course can be conducted ashore using RYA approved software, or afloat on an authorised vessel.
We offer the course aboard X Beat II and X Beat III that have been fitted with modern RADAR sets and screens. During the course we will not only cover the theory aspects but also take you into Cardiff Bay where you will have the opportunity to see and use the equipment whilst underway. This will enahnce your understanding and use RADAR in the future for collision avoidance and an aid to navigation.
The cost of the course is £150.00.
Maximum Number of Students is FOUR
Contact Peter to book your place on the course. Booking enquiry form.
Our one-day course covers all the usual first aid subjects, but from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers, estuaries or on cross channel passages. This course is MCA approved and satisfies the requirements for Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster and Advanced Powerboat certificates of competence and some commercial work afloat.
Have a look in the claendar for dates.
Cost of the course is £105.00
Maximum Number of Students is FOUR
Contact Peter to book your place on the course. Booking enquiry form.
