This page is here to primarily to help those look to undertake an RYA Training Course of some sort to give them a headstart. If you are planning a charter, you may also find it useful to point your crew in this direction. If you have any tips then do please feel free to drop us a line to share them.

Whenever you are looking to undertake a training course, work what out what YOUR priorities are for the time and money you are about to invest. Experience has shown that those who focus on learning as much as they can in the time available, rather than the "ticket" at the end, take pressure off themselves and are more likely to attain their goals. After all, if you are there to learn and have fun you will be more open to ideas.

The RYA logbook for the discipline you are undertaking, e.g. the G15 Cruising Logbook for sailing, contains the syllabi for all of the relevant schemes. This will help you to focus on any weak areas you may have. The RYA logbooks are available from Wetstuff Ltd.

A bit of reading up in advance, particularly for Day Skipper courses or higher, or Intermediate courses on the Powerboat Scheme, will reap rewards by enabling you to learn some bits in advance, then put them into practice once you set sail. Topics that lend themselves to this include :-

• knots & ropework
• rules of the road
• lights & shapes

Use a number of different sources for your pre-course learning. You will gain different things from looking at things from different view points. As this page develops, you will find a collection of links here that will help you on your way, together with a number of other suggestions.

If you are just starting to "learn the ropes" why not get hold of a bit of string and then follow this link to one of the Scouts websites so that you too can be prepared. Should you find yourselves have trouble with rabbits and holes when learning the bowline, ask us to show you the world's simplest way of tying it when you get down. If you get a long enough piece of line you can also use it to practice rope throwing.

For general theory work, including navigation, try following this link to online navigation course .

Anybody doing the SRC radio course, or upgrading their old VHF licence should download this SRC Pre-course reading to give themselves a headstart.

When it comes to learning the lights you may find on boats, right click on this link to Sea Lights and choose the "Save Target As" option - an excellent FREE piece of software.

If you want get more speed from your boat, then sail trim is one of the keys. Sailmakers UK Halsey have a collection of resources which can be found by clicking on sail trim . They also have videos of man overboard - under spinnaker!!- and use of storm sails.

The RNLI are not just there to help should things go wrong, they put an emphasis on prevention through education. Their Sea Safety website has a number of resources including a free to order interactice CD ROM. Click on Sea Safety to order your free copy.