Rya Day Skipper Theory Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES.
Q1. What is the RYA Day Skipper qualification intended for?
A. No qualification for offshore yachtmaster
B. Competent to skipper a sailing yacht up to about 7m to 15m in familiar waters by day
C. Only for professional commercial captain unlimited
D. Only for dinghy sailing
Correct Answer: B. Competent to skipper a sailing yacht up to about 7m to 15m in familiar waters by day
Rationale: RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical qualifies to skipper yacht up to ~15m familiar waters daylight. Covers
navigation chartwork tides pilotage boat handling safety. Foundation for Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster.
Q2. What does the acronym RYA stand for?
A. Regional Yacht Association
B. Royal Yachting Association
C. Royal Yacht Academy
D. Recreational Yacht Authority
Correct Answer: B. Royal Yachting Association
Rationale: RYA Royal Yachting Association UK national governing body for sailing, powerboating, windsurfing. Issues
certificates Day Skipper Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster.
Q3. What is latitude?
A. Distance east west from Greenwich meridian
B. Angular distance north or south of equator measured 0 to 90 degrees N S
C. Depth of water
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Angular distance north or south of equator measured 0 to 90 degrees N S
Rationale: Latitude measures north south from equator 0 to 90 N S. One degree latitude = 60 nautical miles. Parallels
run east-west. Used for position.
Q4. What is longitude?
A. Angular distance north south of equator
B. Angular distance east or west of Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W
C. Speed of vessel
D. Depth
Correct Answer: B. Angular distance east or west of Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W
Rationale: Longitude measures east west from Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W. Meridians run north-south
converge poles. Used for position with latitude.
Q5. What is a nautical mile defined as?
A. 1 km
B. One minute of latitude approximately 1852 metres 6076 feet
C. One degree of longitude
D. 100 metres
Page 1 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
,Correct Answer: B. One minute of latitude approximately 1852 metres 6076 feet
Rationale: Nautical mile = one minute of latitude = 1852m. Used for distance at sea. Knot = one nautical mile per hour.
Chart latitude scale used to measure distance.
Q6. What is the difference between true north and magnetic north?
A. No difference
B. True north geographic north pole magnetic north where compass points variation difference between them
C. Magnetic north is true north
D. True north moves rapidly
Correct Answer: B. True north geographic north pole magnetic north where compass points variation
difference between them
Rationale: True north geographic North Pole charts referenced true. Magnetic north magnetic pole where compass
points. Variation is angle between true and magnetic depending location changes over time. Compass has variation and
deviation.
Q7. What is variation?
A. Error caused by boat's own magnetic fields
B. Angle between true north and magnetic north caused by Earth's magnetic field varies by location and time
C. Difference between compass and GPS
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Angle between true north and magnetic north caused by Earth's magnetic field varies
by location and time
Rationale: Variation magnetic variation is difference true north and magnetic north due Earth magnetic field. Shown on
chart compass rose inside variation amount e.g., 3 degrees W 2023 decreasing 8' annually. Apply to convert true to
magnetic. Remember CADET Variation West Magnetic Best.
Q8. What is deviation?
A. Same as variation
B. Error caused by magnetic fields on board vessel engine electronics causing compass deviation from magnetic
north
C. Error caused by Earth magnetic field
D. Tide height
Correct Answer: B. Error caused by magnetic fields on board vessel engine electronics causing compass
deviation from magnetic north
Rationale: Deviation is error caused by boat own magnetic fields engines wiring speakers. Deviation table deviation card
shows deviation for each compass heading. Must apply after variation. Formula True to Compass via variation deviation.
CADET mnemonic Compass ADd East True? Actually to convert true to compass.
Q9. How do you convert true bearing to compass bearing?
A. True bearing plus variation only
B. True to magnetic apply variation then magnetic to compass apply deviation using formula CADET Compass
Add East to get True
C. No conversion needed
D. Subtract deviation only
Correct Answer: B. True to magnetic apply variation then magnetic to compass apply deviation using
CADET Compass Add East to get True
Rationale: Conversion: True to Magnetic: Magnetic = True +/- variation West Best East least? Variation West Magnetic
Best add West to true to get magnetic. Then Magnetic to Compass: Compass = Magnetic +/- deviation. CADET
Page 2 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
, compass add east true subtract west? Actually CADET: Compass ADd East to get True means True = Compass +
Deviation East. So to go True to Compass subtract East. Use diagram.
Q10. What is a chart datum?
A. No datum
B. Reference level from which charted depths and drying heights measured usually Lowest Astronomical Tide
LAT
C. High water level
D. Mean sea level only
Correct Answer: B. Reference level from which charted depths and drying heights measured usually
Lowest Astronomical Tide LAT
Rationale: Chart datum usually LAT Lowest Astronomical Tide lowest tide possible under average meteorological
conditions. Depths on chart below datum drying heights above datum. Actual depth = charted depth + height of tide
above datum.
Q11. What are the three types of depth information on nautical charts?
A. Only depths
B. Charted depths below datum drying heights above datum contours soundings
C. Only drying heights
D. Only contours
Correct Answer: B. Charted depths below datum drying heights above datum contours soundings
Rationale: Chart shows: depths below datum numbers, drying heights underlined numbers or green areas above datum
that dry at low water, contours lines joining equal depths, soundings spot depths. Also wreck depths etc.
Q12. What is the meaning of a drying height of 2.3m on a chart?
A. Depth of 2.3m below datum
B. Height that dries 2.3m above chart datum at low water covers at higher tide
C. Height of lighthouse
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Height that dries 2.3m above chart datum at low water covers at higher tide
Rationale: Drying height underlined number shows area dries above chart datum e.g., 2.3m drying dries 2.3m above
LAT. At low water may be exposed. Need tide height >2.3m to have water over it. Depth at time = tide height - drying
height.
Q13. What is the formula for actual depth of water?
A. Charted depth minus height of tide
B. Charted depth plus height of tide above datum, if drying height depth = height of tide minus drying height
C. Height of tide only
D. Charted depth only
Correct Answer: B. Charted depth plus height of tide above datum, if drying height depth = height of tide
minus drying height
Rationale: Actual depth = charted depth + height of tide above datum. If area is drying: actual depth = height of tide -
drying height (if tide higher than drying height else dry). Important to avoid grounding. Use tide tables.
Q14. What are springs and neaps tides?
A. No difference
B. Springs large range tides near new and full moon sun moon aligned neaps small range near quarter moon sun
moon at right angles
Page 3 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
, C. Springs in spring only
D. Neaps larger than springs
Correct Answer: B. Springs large range tides near new and full moon sun moon aligned neaps small
range near quarter moon sun moon at right angles
Rationale: Tides caused moon sun gravitational. Springs higher high water lower low water larger range near new full
moon sun moon aligned. Neaps smaller range higher low water lower high water near first third quarter moon sun moon
90 degrees. Springs about 2 days after new full moon.
Q15. What is the mean range and how is it calculated?
A. No mean range
B. Difference between Mean High Water Springs and Mean Low Water Springs average range
C. Difference between high and low on one day only
D. Height of high water only
Correct Answer: B. Difference between Mean High Water Springs and Mean Low Water Springs average
range
Rationale: Tidal range = HW - LW at given time. Mean spring range = MHWS - MLWS average springs. Mean neap
range = MHWN - MLWN. Chart tide tables give MHWS MLWS etc. for standard ports.
Q16. What is a tidal diamond on a chart?
A. Diamond shaped island
B. Symbol on chart with letter indicating tidal stream data direction rates for springs and neaps in tidal diamond
table
C. No tidal diamond
D. Type of buoy
Correct Answer: B. Symbol on chart with letter indicating tidal stream data direction rates for springs and
neaps in tidal diamond table
Rationale: Tidal diamond letter in diamond symbol on chart refers to tidal diamond table on chart gives direction and rate
of tidal stream at HW +/- hours for springs and neaps. Important for navigation course to steer.
Q17. What is a tidal atlas?
A. No atlas
B. Series of charts showing tidal streams at hourly intervals relative to HW at reference port
C. Only depths
D. Only buoys
Correct Answer: B. Series of charts showing tidal streams at hourly intervals relative to HW at reference
port
Rationale: Tidal atlas series of 13 charts typically HW-6 to HW+6 showing arrows direction and rate of tidal streams at
each hour relative to HW at standard port e.g., Dover. Easier to visualize than diamonds. Used for passage planning.
Q18. What is the Rule of Twelfths for tidal heights?
A. No rule
B. Approximation that in 6 hour tide period hourly rise is 1/12 2/12 3/12 3/12 2/12 1/12 of range
C. Exact rule always accurate
D. Only for neaps
Correct Answer: B. Approximation that in 6 hour tide period hourly rise is 1/12 2/12 3/12 3/12 2/12 1/12 of
range
Page 4 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES.
Q1. What is the RYA Day Skipper qualification intended for?
A. No qualification for offshore yachtmaster
B. Competent to skipper a sailing yacht up to about 7m to 15m in familiar waters by day
C. Only for professional commercial captain unlimited
D. Only for dinghy sailing
Correct Answer: B. Competent to skipper a sailing yacht up to about 7m to 15m in familiar waters by day
Rationale: RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical qualifies to skipper yacht up to ~15m familiar waters daylight. Covers
navigation chartwork tides pilotage boat handling safety. Foundation for Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster.
Q2. What does the acronym RYA stand for?
A. Regional Yacht Association
B. Royal Yachting Association
C. Royal Yacht Academy
D. Recreational Yacht Authority
Correct Answer: B. Royal Yachting Association
Rationale: RYA Royal Yachting Association UK national governing body for sailing, powerboating, windsurfing. Issues
certificates Day Skipper Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster.
Q3. What is latitude?
A. Distance east west from Greenwich meridian
B. Angular distance north or south of equator measured 0 to 90 degrees N S
C. Depth of water
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Angular distance north or south of equator measured 0 to 90 degrees N S
Rationale: Latitude measures north south from equator 0 to 90 N S. One degree latitude = 60 nautical miles. Parallels
run east-west. Used for position.
Q4. What is longitude?
A. Angular distance north south of equator
B. Angular distance east or west of Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W
C. Speed of vessel
D. Depth
Correct Answer: B. Angular distance east or west of Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W
Rationale: Longitude measures east west from Greenwich Prime Meridian 0 to 180 E W. Meridians run north-south
converge poles. Used for position with latitude.
Q5. What is a nautical mile defined as?
A. 1 km
B. One minute of latitude approximately 1852 metres 6076 feet
C. One degree of longitude
D. 100 metres
Page 1 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
,Correct Answer: B. One minute of latitude approximately 1852 metres 6076 feet
Rationale: Nautical mile = one minute of latitude = 1852m. Used for distance at sea. Knot = one nautical mile per hour.
Chart latitude scale used to measure distance.
Q6. What is the difference between true north and magnetic north?
A. No difference
B. True north geographic north pole magnetic north where compass points variation difference between them
C. Magnetic north is true north
D. True north moves rapidly
Correct Answer: B. True north geographic north pole magnetic north where compass points variation
difference between them
Rationale: True north geographic North Pole charts referenced true. Magnetic north magnetic pole where compass
points. Variation is angle between true and magnetic depending location changes over time. Compass has variation and
deviation.
Q7. What is variation?
A. Error caused by boat's own magnetic fields
B. Angle between true north and magnetic north caused by Earth's magnetic field varies by location and time
C. Difference between compass and GPS
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Angle between true north and magnetic north caused by Earth's magnetic field varies
by location and time
Rationale: Variation magnetic variation is difference true north and magnetic north due Earth magnetic field. Shown on
chart compass rose inside variation amount e.g., 3 degrees W 2023 decreasing 8' annually. Apply to convert true to
magnetic. Remember CADET Variation West Magnetic Best.
Q8. What is deviation?
A. Same as variation
B. Error caused by magnetic fields on board vessel engine electronics causing compass deviation from magnetic
north
C. Error caused by Earth magnetic field
D. Tide height
Correct Answer: B. Error caused by magnetic fields on board vessel engine electronics causing compass
deviation from magnetic north
Rationale: Deviation is error caused by boat own magnetic fields engines wiring speakers. Deviation table deviation card
shows deviation for each compass heading. Must apply after variation. Formula True to Compass via variation deviation.
CADET mnemonic Compass ADd East True? Actually to convert true to compass.
Q9. How do you convert true bearing to compass bearing?
A. True bearing plus variation only
B. True to magnetic apply variation then magnetic to compass apply deviation using formula CADET Compass
Add East to get True
C. No conversion needed
D. Subtract deviation only
Correct Answer: B. True to magnetic apply variation then magnetic to compass apply deviation using
CADET Compass Add East to get True
Rationale: Conversion: True to Magnetic: Magnetic = True +/- variation West Best East least? Variation West Magnetic
Best add West to true to get magnetic. Then Magnetic to Compass: Compass = Magnetic +/- deviation. CADET
Page 2 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
, compass add east true subtract west? Actually CADET: Compass ADd East to get True means True = Compass +
Deviation East. So to go True to Compass subtract East. Use diagram.
Q10. What is a chart datum?
A. No datum
B. Reference level from which charted depths and drying heights measured usually Lowest Astronomical Tide
LAT
C. High water level
D. Mean sea level only
Correct Answer: B. Reference level from which charted depths and drying heights measured usually
Lowest Astronomical Tide LAT
Rationale: Chart datum usually LAT Lowest Astronomical Tide lowest tide possible under average meteorological
conditions. Depths on chart below datum drying heights above datum. Actual depth = charted depth + height of tide
above datum.
Q11. What are the three types of depth information on nautical charts?
A. Only depths
B. Charted depths below datum drying heights above datum contours soundings
C. Only drying heights
D. Only contours
Correct Answer: B. Charted depths below datum drying heights above datum contours soundings
Rationale: Chart shows: depths below datum numbers, drying heights underlined numbers or green areas above datum
that dry at low water, contours lines joining equal depths, soundings spot depths. Also wreck depths etc.
Q12. What is the meaning of a drying height of 2.3m on a chart?
A. Depth of 2.3m below datum
B. Height that dries 2.3m above chart datum at low water covers at higher tide
C. Height of lighthouse
D. Height of tide
Correct Answer: B. Height that dries 2.3m above chart datum at low water covers at higher tide
Rationale: Drying height underlined number shows area dries above chart datum e.g., 2.3m drying dries 2.3m above
LAT. At low water may be exposed. Need tide height >2.3m to have water over it. Depth at time = tide height - drying
height.
Q13. What is the formula for actual depth of water?
A. Charted depth minus height of tide
B. Charted depth plus height of tide above datum, if drying height depth = height of tide minus drying height
C. Height of tide only
D. Charted depth only
Correct Answer: B. Charted depth plus height of tide above datum, if drying height depth = height of tide
minus drying height
Rationale: Actual depth = charted depth + height of tide above datum. If area is drying: actual depth = height of tide -
drying height (if tide higher than drying height else dry). Important to avoid grounding. Use tide tables.
Q14. What are springs and neaps tides?
A. No difference
B. Springs large range tides near new and full moon sun moon aligned neaps small range near quarter moon sun
moon at right angles
Page 3 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
, C. Springs in spring only
D. Neaps larger than springs
Correct Answer: B. Springs large range tides near new and full moon sun moon aligned neaps small
range near quarter moon sun moon at right angles
Rationale: Tides caused moon sun gravitational. Springs higher high water lower low water larger range near new full
moon sun moon aligned. Neaps smaller range higher low water lower high water near first third quarter moon sun moon
90 degrees. Springs about 2 days after new full moon.
Q15. What is the mean range and how is it calculated?
A. No mean range
B. Difference between Mean High Water Springs and Mean Low Water Springs average range
C. Difference between high and low on one day only
D. Height of high water only
Correct Answer: B. Difference between Mean High Water Springs and Mean Low Water Springs average
range
Rationale: Tidal range = HW - LW at given time. Mean spring range = MHWS - MLWS average springs. Mean neap
range = MHWN - MLWN. Chart tide tables give MHWS MLWS etc. for standard ports.
Q16. What is a tidal diamond on a chart?
A. Diamond shaped island
B. Symbol on chart with letter indicating tidal stream data direction rates for springs and neaps in tidal diamond
table
C. No tidal diamond
D. Type of buoy
Correct Answer: B. Symbol on chart with letter indicating tidal stream data direction rates for springs and
neaps in tidal diamond table
Rationale: Tidal diamond letter in diamond symbol on chart refers to tidal diamond table on chart gives direction and rate
of tidal stream at HW +/- hours for springs and neaps. Important for navigation course to steer.
Q17. What is a tidal atlas?
A. No atlas
B. Series of charts showing tidal streams at hourly intervals relative to HW at reference port
C. Only depths
D. Only buoys
Correct Answer: B. Series of charts showing tidal streams at hourly intervals relative to HW at reference
port
Rationale: Tidal atlas series of 13 charts typically HW-6 to HW+6 showing arrows direction and rate of tidal streams at
each hour relative to HW at standard port e.g., Dover. Easier to visualize than diamonds. Used for passage planning.
Q18. What is the Rule of Twelfths for tidal heights?
A. No rule
B. Approximation that in 6 hour tide period hourly rise is 1/12 2/12 3/12 3/12 2/12 1/12 of range
C. Exact rule always accurate
D. Only for neaps
Correct Answer: B. Approximation that in 6 hour tide period hourly rise is 1/12 2/12 3/12 3/12 2/12 1/12 of
range
Page 4 | RYA Day Skipper Theory Exam | Perfect Edition 215Q Interrogative | Latest
