RYA Radar

Price: from £99 (Finance now available)

Location: Starts at our base at Premier Gosport Marina

Duration: 1 day

The RYA Radar Course is quickly becoming a must-have for most sailors, with radar becoming much more affordable and commonplace on boats. This course will give you a great introduction into understanding how to decipher the sheer volume of information on your radar screen.

Course Overview:
This intensive one-day course provides you with a solid foundation in modern radar use, designed for both newcomers and experienced sailors looking to sharpen their skills. You’ll gain hands-on experience interpreting radar displays, understanding system functions, and applying best practices for safe navigation—especially in poor visibility.

What’s Included:

Full-day classroom instruction
Practical radar exercises
All course materials provided

Who Should Attend:
Ideal for skippers and crew of sail or powerboats equipped with radar, or those considering an upgrade to their onboard electronics. No previous radar experience required.

Course Cost:
Classroom from £99 (see finance options above)

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Radar course!

Booking details

No dates currently available. Please contact us for more info.

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Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for course joining instructions

Recommended Reading: Sailing magazines and newspapers, but this is not essential

Course Prerequisites: No assumed knowledge

Minimum Age: No minimum but Under 16’s must be accompanied by adult. Persons aged 16+ can be unaccompanied subject to other pre-requisites having been met

With modern radar technology moving forwards at speed, and with more and more boats readily having radar fitted, now is the time to get ahead of the curve and learn about radar!

It’s one of those sayings—“you never knew you needed it until you first used it”—and it’s so true. Radar is immensely useful in all manner of conditions, whether you’re creeping through the fog or navigating busy shipping lanes on a sunny day. You simply can’t not do this course, especially if you want to look at doing your RYA Yachtmaster at some point.

Why learning radar matters

Radar isn’t just a handy gadget; it’s rapidly becoming a must-have skill for anyone looking to progress in their boating, particularly for those aiming for RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster qualifications. In fact, it’s not just a suggestion—it’s woven into the very fabric of safe seamanship. The International Rules on Prevention (the COLREGS) specifically call for every vessel to “use all available means” for lookout and collision avoidance (see Rule 5 and Rule 7). In plain English? If you’ve got radar on board, you should be using it whenever appropriate, especially in restricted visibility.

So, whether you’re keen to master your new kit, keep your crew safe, or simply want to impress your friends with how much you know about those mysterious blips on the screen, this course has you covered.

Why Take This Course Now?

Radar is rapidly becoming essential for safe boating along the Solent and South Coast.
Local weather and busy waterways mean radar skills are vital for safety and peace of mind.
Stay ahead: Essential for anyone aiming for RYA Yachtmaster or advanced cruising and night time work.

No dates currently available. Contact us to register your interest or join our waitlist. We’ll notify you as soon as new spaces open up.

What You’ll Learn

How radar works and how to use its features for real-world navigation
Identifying and tracking vessels—even in fog or heavy rain
Setting up your display for maximum clarity
Using radar in the Solent’s busy harbours and marinas
Radar plotting and collision avoidance
Real-world demos of both standard and advanced Doppler systems

No prior experience required. All ages welcome; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Get joining instructions here.

What Our Instructors Say

“I see so many sailors benefit from radar the very first time they use it. Whether you’re crossing the Solent or navigating busy marinas, radar can make the difference between a smooth passage and unnecessary stress. We’ll even show you the latest Doppler systems—just ask!”
— Tom, Chief Instructor

A person navigates a sailboat on calm waters at sunset, with a lighthouse visible in the distance.

A green radar screen displays various signals, lines, and points on a dark background, suggesting detection or surveillance activity within a circular grid.

Who is the course for:

A great course for anyone who is about to get radar fitted to their boat, or maybe wants a bit more insight into what they are looking at on their current radar screen!

Why Interpreting Radar Correctly Matters

When it comes to safely navigating on the water, radar is your trusty co-pilot—but only if you know how to read it. Misreading what’s on the screen can lead to risky situations, from plotting a course straight into unseen hazards to mistaking a large vessel for a harmless blip. It’s all too easy to overlook smaller boats or misjudge distances, especially in poor visibility.

A few potential pitfalls include:

Navigational errors: Misidentifying land masses, buoys, or other boats can take you off course or into restricted waters.
Collision risk: Assuming a target is stationary when it’s actually on the move (or vice versa) can quickly result in close calls.
Overconfidence: Relying solely on radar without cross-checking with charts, GPS, and a good lookout can lead to trouble—especially if you don’t fully understand its limitations or quirks.

In short, mastering your radar isn’t just about technical know-how; it’s a crucial part of keeping you and your crew safe, wherever your nautical adventures take you.

What we cover on the course:

A general introduction into radar and its working principles, the types of radar currently available, how to best take advantage of its uses and the benefits it offers in all kinds of weather conditions.

This one-day course is designed to help you confidently decipher radar images and understand both the strengths and limitations of radar as a navigation aid. Misinterpreting radar can lead you into danger, so we’ll make sure you know how to set up your system, interpret what you see, and use radar as a key part of your decision-making process on the water.

Also covered:

how the radar set works
how its 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

You’ll learn how to switch on and set up the radar, refine the picture to take out clutter, and interpret exactly what the display is telling you. We’ll walk through fixing your position by radar, using radar for pilotage, and practical tips for both collision avoidance and navigation. The course includes practical sessions with a simulator and workbook to reinforce your skills, ensuring you leave with the confidence to use radar safely and effectively afloat.

Relevant COLREGS Rules for Radar Use

Understanding your legal responsibilities at sea is just as important as understanding how your radar works. The International Rules of Preventions of Collision at sea (COLREGS) highlight this specifically in two key rules:

Rule 5 (Lookout): This rule requires you to maintain a proper lookout “by all available means,” which absolutely includes radar if your vessel is equipped with it. In other words, keeping an eye on your radar is every bit as essential as using your own eyes—especially in thick fog or at night.
Rule 7 (Risk of Collision): Here, you’re asked to use “all available means” to determine if there’s a risk of collision. That means radar isn’t optional in poor visibility or busy traffic—it’s an essential tool in your kit.

So, if you’ve got radar aboard, you’re expected to put it to work whenever visibility isn’t crystal clear or when the situation calls for extra vigilance. Not only does it improve your safety, but it also helps ensure you’re meeting international standards for safe seamanship.

In more detail, you’ll get a brief overview of the radar system itself, including radar wave propagation and the main components that make up a typical set. We’ll show you exactly how to switch on and set up your radar, and how to refine the picture to remove clutter so you’re only seeing what matters. You’ll learn what the picture on your display is telling you, how to discriminate between different targets, and how to use radar reflectors to improve your visibility.

We’ll dig into the different types of radar displays you might encounter, and give you practical experience of radar plotting for safer navigation. The course also covers fixing your position by radar, pilotage by radar, and, perhaps most importantly, using radar for effective collision avoidance.

A sailboat on calm water during sunset, silhouetted against a colorful sky, with distant land on the horizon and no recognizable landmarks.

Marine radar display shows red landmasses and objects; concentric circles measure distance. Sensitivity options are visible on the right.

Course formats & details:

Courses run in a choice of two formats:

1 day: (Saturday or Sunday)
Also available mid-week

What to Expect on the Day

The RYA Radar course is a full 1-day experience, usually running from 9am to 5pm. You’ll spend the day hands-on with an RYA-approved simulator, allowing you to practice in realistic scenarios without ever leaving dry land. All training materials, including the official RYA workbook, are provided.

Throughout the day, you’ll move between short theory sessions and practical exercises using the simulator. You’ll get guided practice in making decisions on collision avoidance, navigation, and pilotage—all in the safety of a classroom setting. There’s plenty of time for questions and discussion, so expect a relaxed and interactive environment that’s geared towards real-world boating situations.

Practical Tools and Materials

Throughout the one-day course, you’ll get hands-on experience using a radar simulator, allowing you to practice interpreting real-world scenarios in a controlled environment. All study materials are provided, including the official RYA Radar workbook, which you’ll use both during the day and to support your learning afterwards.

You won’t need to bring anything special—just turn up ready to dive in and make the most of the practical exercises on offer.

Our Chief Instructor says this about the RYA Radar Course:

With modern radar technolgy moving forwards at speed, and with more and more boats readily having radar fitted, now is the time to get ahead of the curve and learn about radar!

It’s one of those sayings “you never knew you needed it until you first used it”, is so true. Radar is so immensely useful in all manner of conditions, in quiet and busy waterways alike. You simply can’t not do this course, especially if you want to look at doing your RYA Yachtmaster at some point.

We will show you the typical pulse radar systems fitted to most boats, and if you ask Jonno really nicely, he’ll show you the all-singing-and-dancing Doppler system he’s fitted on his yacht!