Getting to grips with navigation and seamanship is one of the best ways to feel more confident on the water. This course gives you a clear, practical understanding of charts, tides, and safety, with the choice to learn in a classroom or at your own pace online. It’s designed to make boating knowledge straightforward and useful from the start.
Beginning with the basics, classroom learners are guided through charts, buoyage, tides, and navigation techniques in a structured and supportive environment. You’ll work through real examples, practise plotting positions, and build confidence using charts and simple calculations, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and relate the learning to real boating situations.
Those choosing the online option follow a series of interactive modules covering the same core topics, including navigation, safety, and seamanship. Lessons are broken into manageable sections, with quizzes and exercises to reinforce learning as you go. Whether in person or online, the course is designed to give you practical knowledge you can apply straight away, whether you’re crewing, helming, or planning time on the water.
Classroom sessions are held in the Southampton area, including Hamble Point Marina and Marchwood Yacht Club. Both venues are well known within the local boating community and provide a comfortable setting for learning, with easy access, parking, and nearby facilities. Please use the booking form below to select which location you'd like to attend.
Online learners can study from anywhere in the UK, making it easy to fit around work or other commitments. The knowledge gained applies to both coastal and inland waters, giving you a solid grounding whether you plan to boat locally or further afield.
No previous boating or navigation experience is needed. The course is designed as an entry-level introduction, so everything is explained clearly from the ground up, making it accessible for complete beginners.
It’s also a good option for those returning to boating after time away, as it helps refresh essential knowledge in a structured way. Whether you’ve spent time on the water before or not, the course builds confidence step by step.
With Rob leading the training approach, lessons are kept practical, clear, and easy to relate to real situations on the water. His experience means he can explain concepts in a way that makes sense quickly, helping you build confidence without feeling overwhelmed.
The flexible format allows you to choose how you learn best, whether that’s face-to-face with guidance throughout or online at your own pace. Support is always available, and the focus is on making sure you leave with knowledge you’ll actually use, rather than just theory.
This course is aimed at anyone new to boating or those wanting to refresh their knowledge of navigation and seamanship. It’s suitable for sailors, powerboaters, paddleboarders, kayakers, and anyone planning to spend time on the water who wants to understand how to do so safely. The content is designed to be clear and accessible, making it a strong starting point regardless of your background.
It’s also a popular choice for people preparing for practical courses or chartering a boat. By building a solid understanding of charts, tides, and safety procedures, it helps you feel more confident when stepping onboard and taking part in real boating situations.
No prior experience is required at all. The course is structured to introduce concepts from the beginning, so even if you’ve never looked at a chart before, you’ll be able to follow along and build your understanding step by step.
For those with some experience, it works equally well as a refresher. It helps fill in gaps in knowledge and reinforces important principles that are often picked up informally when learning on the water.
Classroom learning provides a structured, face-to-face environment where you can ask questions, take part in discussions, and work through examples with an instructor present. This is ideal if you prefer guided learning and want immediate feedback as you go.
The online course offers flexibility, allowing you to study at your own pace and revisit topics whenever needed. Interactive modules and quizzes help reinforce the material, making it a convenient option for those balancing other commitments.
The classroom course runs over two full days, giving you time to cover all topics in detail with breaks and opportunities to practise exercises. It’s designed to be comprehensive without feeling rushed, allowing you to absorb the information properly.
Online learners typically complete the course in around 6–10 hours, depending on pace. You can spread this over several sessions, making it easy to fit around work, family, or other activities.
You’ll cover a wide range of essential topics, including charts, buoyage, tides, navigation techniques, safety equipment, and the rules of the road. The aim is to give you a well-rounded understanding of how to plan and carry out safe journeys on the water.
In addition, you’ll gain insight into pilotage, anchoring, weather interpretation, and basic passage planning. These are practical skills that you’ll use regularly, whether you’re crewing or taking control of a vessel.
The classroom course includes short assessments throughout to check understanding, leading to certification on successful completion. These are designed to support learning rather than feel like formal exams.
For the online version, assessments are built into the modules through quizzes and exercises. Once completed, you’ll receive your certificate without needing to attend a separate invigilated test.
About the centre
Saltmakers House, Hamble Point Marina, School Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, Southampton, SO31 4NB
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Associated Marine Training / AMT Boat Experiences Ltd, a partner of adventuro.
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