It is three o'clock on a warm sunny afternoon and you are enjoying an afternoon's cruise with your family.  There are a few other vessels in your area but they are all at a safe distance from you. You are not in a shipping lane but expect to approach and cross one some time later in the day.

At half past three you find yourself surrounded by a thick layer of mist, visibility is reduced to a hundred metres and nothing is in site, you can hear the sound of foghorns and need to find out what is going on around you.  You lean over and switch your Radar from standby to transmit and study the display.  There are vessels around you and you need to interpret what they and you are doing.

 Radar is one of the most important navigational aids that you can install on your vessel. It is also in many cases the most underused.

Most radar systems have the disadvantage that they display events in a relative manner, that is they display all target information relative to the motion of your own vessel.  This can be confusing as it does not indicate another vessels true bearing and speed.  What appears to be a vessel converging on you on your port side, that normally should give way to you could be a slower vessel that you, as the overtaking vessel, should give way to.

This course is designed to give you the ability to accurately plot another vessel in order that you can accurately predict their intentions and then take what action you need to in order to comply with the International regulations For the Prevention of Collisions At Sea.

It will teach you the basic concepts of a radar system, how to use it and how to interpret the data that it presents to you.  It will also highlight how it can help you safely navigate and also show you some of the failings of using radar.

Course Contents:

    Switching On & Setting Up

How a Radar measures distance

How a Radar measures bearing

The Main components of a Radar system

Limitations imposed by the power, antenna size and display size of typical small craft radars.

Understanding the picture

How antenna size frequency affect beam width

How pulse length and PRF are varied with range

Factors that determine the strength of return target echoes.

Effect of beam width on discrimination

Effect of pulse length on discrimination.

Effect of blind arcs, shadow sectors and radar horizon.

Refining The Picture

Sea clutter - cause and cure

Rain clutter - cause and cure

Interference rejection

Echo stretch

Dangers associated with clutter clearance tools

Head, North and Course Up displays.

Radar Reflectors

Radar Cross Sectional Area

Passive reflectors

Octahedral

Trihedral

Luneberg lens

Active Reflectors

RTEs

Racons

SARTs

Collision Avoidance

Relative motion

ARPA and MARPA

Implications of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions At Sea

Sections 5,6,7 and 19

Collision Risk Assessment

CPA and TCPA

Plotting

A basic knowledge of navigation and the Regulations For The Prevention of Collisions at Sea is desirable for this course. 

No previous knowledge of Radar is necessary.

Details of other RYA training manuals supplied by us can be viewed on our Training Publications page.

We are based in Lowestoft in Suffolk and use the training rooms at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club. 

Located just inside the entrance to Lowestoft harbour, this old established club together with it's listed clubhouse offers an environment  that will not fail to be appreciated by any person who has an interest in boats. Course participants can enjoy the use of the Club's Bar and Restaurant and parking is normally available either at the Club or adjoining dock area.  Should this not be convenient then training can be arranged at your own Club, house or on board your own boat.

The course presentation is based around a computerised PowerPoint presentation using a multimedia projector. RYA Radar Course notes are supplied for the course. Computerised Radar simulators are used with different risk scenarios throughout the day.

The following table lists the dates and venues that are planned for the near future.

Should you wish to receive your training at another venue, on your boat or at home then simply contact us.

The cost of the course is £115.00 for each participant if held at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club. .  

To book a place simply:

Call us on 

01502.514921

International +44(0)1502.514921

or 

07786 375292

or

Simply email us

This page was last updated on 08 January, 2007 .  This site is copyright © 2006 Peter & Ingrid Marie-Louise Cornish trading as U.K. Maritime.

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