Take the guesswork out of radar
Radar sets are becoming commonplace on board cruising boats. In experienced hands, they are a useful aid to safety and pilotage. In inexperienced , untrained hand they can lead you right into danger.
There have been a couple of well publicised accidents when cruising yachts and ships have collided, despite both parties being aware of each others presence. Both skippers had misinterpreted what their radar sets were telling them.
Would you know what to do if the target on your screen seems to be heading straight for you?
The RYA’s one-day radar course clears the fog of confusion, and helps you exploit your set’s strengths and be aware of it’s limitations. It is run either on board using a real radar set, or in the classroom using specialist simulation software. No prior knowledge is required, so the course is great for beginners, but some quite experienced yachtsmen have been surprised at how much they learnt.
“I thought I knew all about radar, but this couse has helped me understand how to get even more from it”
What you get on the course
- Setting up – how the radar measures distances and direction, radar set components and the different types of displays and how they work
- Adjusting the picture – range, gain, brilliance and clutter, and how to tune for a better picture
- Understanding the picture – know your set’s abilities and what you are looking at
- Radar reflectors – how they work, false contacts, shadows, different type of radar reflectors and bearings
- Pilotage by radar – tips on creeping into harbour using radar, using clearing lines and parallel indexing
- Collision Avoidance – using radar for piloting, determining risk and working out how close another vessel will pass you
Around 300 of our training centres run the RYA radar course. If you need help locating on visit RYACourses.com
Leave a Comment