Competent Crew
Parts of the boat, sails, knots, points of sail, safety and customs
- Parts of the boat (8)
- Sails and ropes (8)
- Directions (5)
- Points of sail (7)
- Knots (7)
- Safety (9)
- Customs and weather (6)
Learn to Sail
The SailChecker Sailing Quiz
Two free tests of 50 questions, each with a picture, and the answer explained as you go.
50 questionsin each test
A picturewith every question
Every answerexplained as you go
Freenothing to install
Pick a level and start.
Competent Crew: parts of the boat, sails, knots, points of sail, safety and customs.
Day Skipper: rules of the road, lights, buoyage, chartwork, tides, pilotage and weather.
Every question has a picture. You see the answer and the reason for it straight away, and each test ends with a score by topic and the questions you missed.
Pick Your Level
Choose a Test
Day Skipper
Rules of the road, lights, buoyage, chartwork, tides, pilotage and weather
- Lights (18)
- Day shapes (8)
- Sound signals (10)
- Buoyage (9)
- Flags (5)
- Rules of the road (8)
- Radar (3)
- Channels and traffic schemes (6)
- Chartwork (8)
- Charts and symbols (6)
- Tides (9)
- Pilotage (10)
- Weather (8)
- Anchoring (3)
- Safety and radio (3)
- Passage planning (3)
Common Questions
Sailing Quiz Questions
Is the SailChecker sailing quiz free?
Yes. Every test is free. After ten questions we ask for an email address so you can carry on.
Is this the official RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper exam?
No. These are independent practice questions that follow the RYA syllabuses. They are a way to learn and revise, and a score here is not a qualification.
How many questions are there?
167 in all. Each full test gives you 50, and you can also practise one topic at a time, such as knots, lights or tides.
Which test should I start with?
New to sailing: start with Competent Crew. Working towards your Day Skipper: take Day Skipper, or practise it one topic at a time.
How do you know the answers are right?
Each answer is checked against the published source for its subject, such as the collision regulations and the IALA buoyage system. The sources are listed further down this page.
Where the Answers Come From
How These Questions Are Checked
SailChecker writes every question and checks each answer against the published source for its subject before it goes live. Where a rule says "so far as practicable", the answer says so too. Chart symbols follow UKHO Chart 5011.
- International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), IMO: lights, shapes, sound signals and the steering rules.
- IALA Maritime Buoyage System: buoys, topmarks and light rhythms.
- RYA Competent Crew course: what the Competent Crew test covers.
- RYA Day Skipper theory course: what the Day Skipper test covers.
- Met Office marine forecast glossary: forecast terms, visibility and the Beaufort scale.
- MCA GMDSS procedures for small boat users: distress calls and DSC.
These are independent practice questions that follow the RYA syllabuses. They are not official RYA papers, and a score here is not a qualification.
Last checked: October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us at enquire@sailchecker.com.
Sailing Quiz 
Christopher Lait
Chris founded Drake Academy, a sailing company that provides leadership training to businesses. Now the CEO of SailChecker.com you will find him handling many of your enquiries as he attempts to drive SailChecker.com forward as the company of choice for yacht charter and sailing by focusing on quality advice and great customer service.
Knot drawings from Wikimedia Commons: bowline by Hella, adapted by Tescobar (CC BY-SA 3.0); figure of eight, reef knot, sheet bend and rolling hitch by Lucasbosch (CC BY-SA 3.0); round turn and two half hitches by Stephan Brunker (CC BY-SA 3.0); clove hitch by Sawims (public domain). All other pictures are SailChecker's own.