Course, Distance, Speed, Time and Track Control
Solving navigation triangles and time-distance relationships while maintaining a safe track, ETA and correction strategy.
How to prepare for Yachtmaster Theory
Refresh source and compass discipline, master position and tidal calculations, then integrate electronic cross-checks, weather, IRPCS, publications, offshore passage planning and emergency judgement.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Distance, speed and time calculations must use compatible units and the speed appropriate to the intended leg, sea state and vessel condition.
Exam cue: Convert time units first, calculate, then compare the result with a practical vessel speed.
Concept 2
A safe planned track includes cross-track limits, clearing features, turn points, wheel-over allowance and a decision about how frequently progress will be checked.
Exam cue: Mark the no-go areas and cross-track limit before optimising distance.
Concept 3
When off track, the navigator distinguishes a deliberate direct correction, a controlled intercept and a revised plan rather than blindly steering back to the old line.
Exam cue: Recalculate ETA and downstream tidal or daylight consequences after a meaningful deviation.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using speed over ground in a through-water calculation without explanation.
Guardrail: Do not present the 601-item authoring target or internal study sections as an official RYA paper structure and do not treat shorebased study as evidence of practical Yachtmaster command competence.
Treating the charted route line as safe at every distance from it.
Guardrail: Do not present the 601-item authoring target or internal study sections as an official RYA paper structure and do not treat shorebased study as evidence of practical Yachtmaster command competence.
Making a late aggressive correction that creates a new collision or grounding risk.
Guardrail: Do not present the 601-item authoring target or internal study sections as an official RYA paper structure and do not treat shorebased study as evidence of practical Yachtmaster command competence.
Memory anchors
DST
Distance equals Speed multiplied by Time.
Track Has Width
A route needs a cross-track limit, not just a thin line.
Safe Before Short
Clearance and contingency precede route efficiency.
Correct Deliberately
Choose direct, intercept or replan rather than steering reflexively.
ETA Drives Decisions
A changed ETA can alter tide, weather, daylight and berth availability.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
A one-hour DR run is 5 NM east and the assessed current displacement is 1 NM north. What ground result follows?
At 7.5 kn, how far will a motor yacht travel in 48 minutes if speed remains constant?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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