RYA Radar

This RYA Radar training course will give you an understanding of the use of radar in small boats as an aid to navigation and for collision avoidance. By the end of the course you will know the basics of how to operate & use radar equipment on board a vessel.  Be aware that the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea state that if you have radar, you must know how to use it.

Cruising boats increasingly have radar, which is no surprise as it is probably the most versatile of all electronic navigation aids, but the best results are only obtained when you know how to use all the functions correctly. It is not an all seeing eye, and can easily mislead those who do not understand its controls, allow for its limitations, or interpret its picture.

The course is both theoretical and practical and covers how the radar set works, how it adjustments and features affect the way it works, target definition, radar reflectors, types of radar display, radar plotting, the use of radar in navigation and collision avoidance.

'RYA G34 An Introduction to Radar' is available to purchase from our office if you wish to read this before your course.

The course will be both theory and practical.

What’s included?

•  You will be coached over the RYA Radar course syllabus by one of our experienced instructors in our waterside classroom and onboard one of our training vessels.

• Tea and coffee (courses at EASS only)

• Parking

• Certificate 

Maximum teaching ratio - 12:1 

Course language - English

One day course  - at East Anglian Sea School 

Own Boat - if you would like to learn how to use your own radar we can run this course using your own vessels. Please contact us for price & availability. 

RYA Radar Course Completion Certificate. 

Basic understanding of radar wave propagation

Conditions giving rise to abnormal propagation

Radar set components

Function and correct use of controls; correct setting up procedure.

Target definition and discrimination

Spot size, pulse length and beam width; target characteristics, size, shape, material; false echoes; shadow sectors, shadow diagram

Radar reflectors

Passive and active

Fixing position by radar 

Plot the vessel's position. Use of VRM and EBL 

Pilotage by radar 

Understands how to prepare a simple pilotage plan including use of clearing ranges 

Collision avoidance 

Understands how to determine the risk of collision with another vessel 

CPA, course and speed 

The existence of automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA & MARPA) 

The implications of IRPCS when in restricted visibility.