First Aid

RYA First Aid 

This one-day course is aimed at anyone who goes afloat.  It provides a working knowledge of first aid and covers all the usual aspects of first aid with a boating perspective. 
The syllabus is based on recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and fulfills the requirements for professional skippers of small craft working within 60 miles of a safe haven.

Previous experience Required

    • No age restriction
    • No previous experience or assumed knowledge required


Course Syllabus 

    • Unconsciousness and the recovery position in a confined space
    • CPR, including an awareness of AEDs
    • Drowning protocol
    • Breathing difficulties
    • Failure of the circulation: shock, blood loss and the control of bleeding
    • Recognition of internal bleeding, angina and heart attack
    • Levels of response and the AVPU scale
    • Head injury: concussion and compression
    • Immersion/exposure hypothermia, cold shock and burns (including sunburn)
    • Seasickness and dehydration
    • Diabetic emergency
    • Seizures
    • Fractures, including spinal injuries
    • First aid kits
    • Medical advice or assistance by VHF radio
    • Helicopter rescue (Medivac)

Radar

RYA Radar Course

This one-day course is essential for anyone looking to take the RYA Yachtmaster coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of Competence as the RYA has made radar knowledge a key component of all Yachtmaster exams. 
Radar is an invaluable aid for navigation and collision avoidance but it is only useful in the hands of a knowledgeable operator

Previous experience Required 

    • No age restriction 
    • No previous experience or assumed knowledge required


 Course Syllabus

1. Switching on and setting up

    • The main components of a radar set
    • How a radar set measures distance
    • How a radar set measures bearings 
    • The limitations imposed by the power, antenna size and display size of a typical small craft radar
    • Switch on a typical small craft radar set; adjust its brilliance, contract, gain, range and tuning

2.  Understanding the picture

    • How antenna size and frequency affect beam width 
    • How pulse length and PRF are varied with range
    • The factors that determine the strength of echo returned by a target 
    • The effect of beam width on discrimination 
    •  The effect of pulse length on discrimination 
    • The effect of blind arcs, shadows sectors and radar horizon

 3. Refining the picture

    • The cause and cure for sea clutter
    •  The cause and cure for rain clutter
    •  The cause and cure for interference
    •  The purpose of echo stretch 
    • The dangers associated with clutter clearance tools 
    • The difference between Head Up, Course Up and North Up modes 
    • Adjust the sea clutter and rain clutter controls to suit prevailing conditions
    • Identify whether a radar is in Head Up or North Up mode

 4. Radar reflectors 

    • How radar cross section is measured 
    • Types of passive reflector in common use (octahedral, stacked array, lens) 
    • Types of active reflector in common use (RTE, Racon, SART) 
    • The limitations of passive radar reflectors

5. Understands Collision Avoidance

    • The principles of relative motion
    •  The existence of automatic radar plotting aids
    •  The implications of IRPCS Rule Numbers 5, 6, 7 and 19 (look out, safe speed, risk of collision, restricted visibility
    • The practical limitations of small craft radar
    •  Assessing the risk of collision with another vessel 
    • Assessing the closest point of approach of another vessel, and determining whether it will pass ahead or astern
    •  Assessing the course and speed of another vessel

 6. Fixing position by radar

    • The principles of a three point fix
    •  Selecting landmarks for a three point fix 
    •  How to take and plot a position fix using the EBL
    •  Limitations of the EBL for position fixing
    • Plotting the vessels position on a chart by using the VRM

 7. Pilotage by radar

    • ‘Eyeball’ pilotage by radar
    • The limitations of ‘eyeball’ pilotage 
    • The principle of parallel indexing 
    • Preparing and executing a simple pilotage plan using clearing ranges

Diesel Engine

RYA Diesel Engine Course

This course is designed to help you prevent and solve diesel engine failure. The course will give awareness of the main systems of a marine diesel engine and the ability to prevent breakdown at sea & rectify defects not requiring workshop support. 
Mechanical failure is the main cause of lifeboat callouts to yachts. 
This course includes basic maintenance and engine care which will prevent most cases of engine failure.

Previous experience Required 

    • No age restriction
    • No previous experience or assumed knowledge required

 Course Syllabus  

1. Introduction 

    • Principles of the diesel engine

2. The four-stroke cycle 

    • Naturally aspirated engines
    • Turbocharging
    • Intercooling / aftercooling

 3. The fuel system 

    • The basic system
    • The tank
    • The water-separating pre-filter
    • Fuel lift pump
    • The engine fine filter
    • Injection pump
    • Injectors
    • Bleeding the system

 4. The cooling system 

    • Seawater cooling
    • Freshwater cooling
    • Temperature control
    • The thermostat
    • The seawater impeller pump

5. The air systems The airway in The airway out

 6. Engine electrical systems 

    • The basic system
    • Battery capacity and care
    • Drive belts
    • The alternator

 7. Spares and tool requirements 

    • Basic spares and tools

 8. Importance of winterisation and servicing 

    • Engine lubrication
    • Transmission lubrication
    • Winterisation and servicing
    • Service schedule

9. Fault finding