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Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course

A basic introduction to navigation and safety for anyone new to boating: sailors, powerboaters, sea anglers, divers and boatmasters. Also useful for experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

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Scheme Type

Navigation

Beginner

Ashore

Online

Required experience

None

Minimum duration

16 hours in the classroom or approximately 8-10 hours online

Minimum age

None

Content

Charts and Publications, safety, engine checks, buoyage, tidal awareness, visual and electronic navigation, pilotage, rules of the road, anchoring, weather forcasts, passage planning

Certificate issuing criteria

Basic knowledge of navigation and safety

Format

Can be taken in the classroom or online

If you decide to take the course online, you will find many interactive exercises to help reinforce the information and lots of chances to try out what you've learned.

Both the classroom course and the online course are available through our training centres. Contact a training centre or visit their website to find more details.

However you take the course, you will receive a course pack which includes a chart, plotter, dividers, course handbook and exercises.

Looking for something else?

Want a more challenging course?

Essential Navigation course materials laid out on a table with charts and training materials

Man stood at board with chart giving a navigation lesson

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