RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
Course Syllabus
This is a course in astro-navigation and worldwide meteorology which also reveals the mysteries of the sextant. It assumes a knowledge of all subjects covered in the other shore-based courses.
The earth and the celestial sphere
• Definition of observer’s zenith and position of a heavenly body in terms of latitude, longitude, GHA and declination
• Right angle relationships, latitude and co-lat, declination and polar distance
• Relationship between GHA, longitude and LHA
• Tabulation of declination in nautical almanac
• Rate of increase of hour angle with time
The PZX triangle
• The tabulation components of the triangle, LHA, co-lat and polar distance
• The calculation components, zenith distance and azimuth
• Relationship between zenith distance and altitude
• Introduction to the tabular method of solution in the Air Navigation Tables and the basic sight form
• The use of calculators for the solution of the PZX triangle
The sextant
• Practical guide to the use and care of a sextant at sea
• Conversion of sextant altitude to true altitude
• Application of dip, index error and refraction
• Correction of side error, perpendicularity, index error and collimation error
Measurement of time
• Definition of, and relationship between, UT, LMT, standard time and zone time
• Rating of chronometers and watches
Meridian altitudes
• Forecasting time of meridian altitude
• Reduction of meridian altitude sights
Sun, star and other sights
• Reduction and plotting of sun sights using Air
• Navigation Tables
• Awareness of use of calculator for sight reduction
• The plotting of a sun-run-sun meridian altitude
• Awareness of the reduction and plotting of sights obtained from stars, moon and planets
Compass checking
• Use of amplitude and azimuth tables systems and/or calculator
Satellite Navigation Systems
• Principles and limitations of use of all systems
Great circle sailing
• Comparison of rhumb lines and great circles
• Vertices and composite tracks
• The computation of a series of rhumb lines approximating to a great circle by use of gnomonic and Mercator projections
Meteorology
• General pressure distribution and prevailing winds over the oceans of the world
• Tropical revolving storms, seasonal occurrences and forecasting by observation
Passage planning
• Publications available to assist with planning of long passages (routeing charts, ocean passages of the world and other publications)
• Preparation for ocean passage including survival equipment, victualling, water and fuel management, chafe protection, spares and maintenance
Passage making
• Navigational routine
• Watchmaking
• Crew management
Communications
• Satellite and terrestrial systems
Reproduced by kind permission of the RYA
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