Free interactive quiz
A short, independent practice sample on selected Day Skipper-level topics. Not an official or complete mock exam, and not a prediction of your exam result.
12 questions · about 7 min · no sign-up · Updated
These 12 questions are a learning exercise, not an assessment of the complete RYA syllabus. They do not include a full chart-plotting or passage-planning paper. Follow your training centre’s course materials and ask it about the official assessment.
Take it once cold. Then read the explanations for the ones you missed, follow the guide links, and take it again in a few days.
Want to learn it first? The Day Skipper theory course and exam: what it covers and how to prepare.
12 questions
Question 1 of 12
Answer: East cardinal — pass to the east of the mark
Q(3) = three quick flashes = 3 o'clock on the clock face = East cardinal. Safe water is to the east, so pass on the east side. Confirming chart expectations against observed light characteristics is a key part of safe pilotage — it verifies you are looking at the mark you planned for.
IALA R1001 — cardinal marks
Answer: No — using machinery for propulsion makes you a power-driven vessel
Using machinery to propel the boat makes her power-driven under Rule 3, even with sails set. Merely running an engine in neutral to charge batteries does not. Under International Rule 25(e), a vessel under sail also being propelled by machinery displays a cone apex down by day. Decide the applicable encounter rule from the whole situation.
COLREGs Rule 3(c) and Rule 18
Answer: No — in a narrow channel, you must not impede a vessel that can only navigate within the channel
Rule 9 overrides Rule 18 in narrow channels. A sailing vessel (or any vessel under 20m) shall not impede a vessel that can safely navigate only within the channel. The cargo vessel cannot leave the dredged channel — you can. Move well clear and let her pass. This is one of the most important practical exceptions to "sail over power."
COLREGs Rule 9(b)
Answer: A vessel towing astern with a tow length of 200 metres or less
Two masthead lights in a vertical line indicate towing, plus the yellow towing light above the stern light confirms it. "White over white, short tow in sight." If the tow were over 200 metres, there would be three masthead lights in a vertical line. "White over white over white, long tow in sight."
COLREGs Rule 24(a)
Answer: 130°
310° − 180° = 130°. When the original heading is 180° or more, subtract 180°. If you accidentally add 180° to a heading above 180° you get a number above 360° — that is your signal to subtract instead.
Compass basics — reciprocal headings
Answer: At chart datum the rock will be exposed, standing 1.8 m above water level
On this metric chart, underlining denotes a drying height: 1.8 m above chart datum. Water over the rock is height of tide minus drying height, using the same datum. Check the chart’s actual datum; it is not always LAT. A depth calculation alone does not establish safe clearance.
Admiralty Chart 5011 — drying heights
Answer: 60
Since 1 minute of latitude ≈ 1 nautical mile and there are 60 minutes in a degree, one degree of latitude equals approximately 60 nautical miles. This consistent relationship is what makes the latitude scale so useful for measuring distance at sea.
Chartwork — latitude scale and distance
Answer: 2.5m
The sounding is not underlined, so it is a normal charted depth of 0.4m below CD. Actual depth = 0.4 + 2.1 = 2.5m. The 1.7m answer comes from subtracting as if it were a drying height. Always check for the underline — it completely changes the calculation.
Tidal heights — depth = charted depth + height of tide
Answer: 3.8m
Minimum height of tide = drying height + draft + safety margin = 1.5 + 1.8 + 0.5 = 3.8m. The 3.3m answer forgets the safety margin. The 2.3m answer forgets the drying height. Always add all three components when calculating safe passage over a drying area.
Tidal heights — drying height + draught + margin
Answer: Your boat will be pushed to the east of your intended track
A stream setting 090°T flows towards the east. If you are heading north, the stream acts across your beam, pushing you eastward off your intended track. To compensate, you would need to steer slightly west of north (counter-tide) so that your course over the ground (COG) ends up being 000°T.
Tidal streams — set and drift
Answer: 40 m
Maximum depth = 4 m (current) + 3 m (tidal rise) + 1 m (bow roller height) = 8 m total from roller to seabed at high water. At 5:1 scope: 8 × 5 = 40 m of chain. Forgetting to add the tidal range is a very common mistake that leaves you short of rode when you need it most.
Anchoring — scope on maximum expected depth
Answer: Pan Pan — this is an urgency situation
PAN-PAN indicates an urgent message concerning the safety of a vessel or person when the distress criteria are not met. An engine failure does not automatically require it: a non-urgent assistance request may be routine. MAYDAY is for grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. Reassess if the situation deteriorates.
GMDSS / SRC — urgency vs distress
The guides behind these questions — each one sourced, diagrammed and checked against the rule text.
Exam preparation
What the RYA Day Skipper Theory (shorebased) course covers, how it differs from the practical course, what the RYA says about the exam, the topics that need practice rather than reading, a COLREG reasoning method, and a four-week study plan.
11 min read
Tides
What chart datum is, how charted depths, drying heights, heights of tide and clearance heights are measured from it, the datums used on UK and US charts, and how to combine them without mixing quantities.
8 min read
Tides
Why height of tide and tidal stream are separate quantities, where the timing of slack water and maximum stream comes from, how to read tidal diamonds and a tidal stream atlas, and how springs and neaps change the answer.
8 min read
Questions and explanations were checked against the documents below on . Scope: Selected Day Skipper-level theory topics · International COLREGs and IALA Region A · Metric charts; stated datum applies. Rules, buoyage and syllabuses change and can differ by jurisdiction — the official text always takes precedence.
Linking to these organisations does not imply that they endorse SailQuiz. SailQuiz is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, accredited by, or otherwise connected to the ASA, US Sailing, the RYA, the USCG, or any other certifying body, and it is not a substitute for their official training or examinations.
The Day Skipper Theory, Actually Explained course covers Buoyage and Marks, Rules of the Road: Practical Scenarios, Navigation Lights and Shapes, Compass Basics and Headings, Charts and Chart Symbols, Latitude, Longitude, and Position Fixing, Tidal Heights and Drying Heights, Tidal Streams and Tidal Planning, Anchoring, Emergency Procedures and Distress Situations and more — every answer explained, with spaced review that brings back what you miss. Free to download, no account, works offline. One full quiz and 3 Daily Challenge rounds a day on the free plan.
