Documented minimum sea time completed on a seagoing sailing or motor yacht (as appropriate) in the last 10 years:
which may be reduced to 25 days if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence ; ; , which may be reduced to 1250 miles if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
At least half the qualifying sea time should be gained in tidal waters and on vessels less than 24m LOA, and all seatime must be on vessels of the same discipline as the exam to be taken, i.e. sail or power.
Contact if your sea time is on a yacht greater than 24m and 500gt.
For example, an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail wishing to be examined for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Power
You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.
The boat used must be between 7m and 18m (LOA) and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook 2nd Edition (code G103). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications along with working instruments and either plotter or GPS. In addition to the candidate there should be two crew on board as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.
There may be vessels that will meet the guidelines outlined above but by virtue of their layout, construction, handling characteristics or other factors may be unsuitable for use for an RYA Yachtmaster Practical examination. The RYA reserves the right to refuse an exam on a vessel that, in the view of the RYA Chief Examiner, will not allow the examiner to conduct an examination to the standard required by the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Qualification Panel.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed .
Arranging your exam, commercial endorsements, exam payments service, mca manning requirements, professional qualifications.
In a seafarer’s career, there comes the time when Yachtmaster ticket becomes either a necessity, or the next logical step in professional development. No matter what the reason for the course is, Yachtmaster Offshore requires a thorough preparation and planning as well as some prior knowledge and experience.
The candidate’s eligibility for Yachtmaster Offshore program is defined by a number of requirements. First and foremost, the logged sea time must show a minimum of 2500 nautical miles, about half of which should be in tidal waters. There is a huge debate as to what tidal waters are, and the RYA leaves it to the Yachtmaster candidate to decide whether the passage they undertook happened in a tidal area. The definition offered by the RYA is as follows:
An area is deemed tidal if published stream, current or tidal range data is available, the influence of which is significant enough to require the effects to be taken into account to plan and execute a safe and efficient passage .
But even if the decision to call experience tidal is the candidate’s, the RYA wisely warns that the final judgement will be made by the examiner and recommends to list only those miles that can be backed up with evidence. The qualifying sea time should be gained on motor vessels if the candidate applies for Yachtmaster Offshore Motor license. Sail miles do not count.
The RYA also sets a requirement as to the number of qualifying passages. As defined by the Association, ‘a passage is a non-stop voyage from a departure port / safe haven to a destination port / safe haven ’. For the Yachtmaster Offshore , there must be a minimum of 5 passages over 60 nm each; 2 of those passages should be overnight and 2 when the candidate acted as a skipper. The skipper, as understood by the RYA , is a person nominated and responsible for the planning and execution of a passage including vessel and watch management . It’s important that throughout the 60-mile passage there occurs no change of skippers; otherwise, the passage cannot be deemed as qualifying.
Proper understanding of the skipper’s role is vital for ticking the box of another requirement – 5 days on board acting as a skipper. A day in this case is a period of 8 consecutive hours, and the majority of them should be at sea . In every 24 hours, Yachtmaster candidate can have only one qualifying day onboard.
Last but not least, the RYA’s Yachtmaster Offshore exam pre-requisites put some restrictions as to the tonnage and length: days on board and miles should be gained on vessels up to 500 gt and less than 24 meters LOA.
The full program – RYA Yachtmaster Offshore theory and RYA Yachtmaster Practical – takes 10 days to complete; the exam is usually scheduled right after, and candidates need to allow 2 days for it. With the sea, winds, and weather being unpredictable, to the candidates coming from abroad we advise to add an extra day before taking flights back home. Thus, the course is quite a commitment, and most seafarers take it during low Med season. Our Yachtmaster Offshore course is scheduled every month from December throughout April to give options to potential candidates.
Yachtmaster is not for beginners. Commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence entitles its holder to master a yacht of up to 200 gt, and that is a big responsibility. That said, one of the reasons to get Yachtmaster is to advance the qualifications from entry to higher level including MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) or Chief Mate, for which Yachtmaster Offshore CoC is among the required documents. Yachtmaster Offshore Shore-based (theory) certificate is another pre-requisite to apply for the OOW, and it has to be sent along with STCW and other records as a part of the Notice of Eligibility.
In a scheme of RYA training , Yachtmaster Offshore is preceded by RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, which allow to navigate 20 and 60 nautical miles offshore accordingly. With Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications, it is possible to skipper a cruising yacht up to 150 miles from harbour, so recreational boaters can have larger areas to explore and longer distances to cover.
If you believe you are ready and meet the pre-requisites mentioned above and outlined on our website , your first step is to get in touch with us by email, phone, or through contact form . Once we receive your enquiry, we will email to you Sea Time Summary and Self-Evaluation forms to fill out, which we will then forward to our instructor to confirm your eligibility. If you are eligible for the course, we will proceed with course booking and securing your place on the training.
Some important things to remember: the candidates for the training should hold a valid Elementary First Aid certificate . For the STCW EFA , it should be issued within the last 5 years, for the RYA First Aid - within the last 3 years. VHF Marine Radio certificate can be offered as a part of Yachtmaster Offshore package , but if you already hold the certificate, we can offer a 100 euros reduction.
Our next Yachtmaster Offshore session starts on the 6 th of December. Click here for more dates.
More questions about Yachtmaster? Let us know!
Comments must be approved before appearing
* Required fields
Subscribe to our newsletter & be the first to know of training dates & offers
Sailing qualification recognised around the world as a clear mark of your sailing ability.
By Marcin Wojtyczka
In this article in series about RYA certifications we reveal how to pass the RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore Certificate of Competence.
The RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on offshore passages.
The holder of a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) in waters up to 150 miles from a safe haven.
The exam is similar to the Yachtmaster Coastal in terms of syllabus, but you can expect to get more complex scenarios on the Offshore exam.
Don’t treat the examination just as an exam. This is a great opportunity to get feedback on your skills and become a better sailor.
You can find the official requirements here .
To pass the exam you need ample experience and be able to navigate as well as handle the boat at sea. You can take the exam without holding previous certifications from the ladder (e.g. Yachtmaster Coastal) or doing any course before as long as you have enough knowledge and experience.
To qualify to undertake the Yachtmaster Offshore examination, you must have a minimum of 50 days at sea, 2500 miles logged, including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. You must have 5 days of experience as a skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam. You will also need to hold a GMDSS short-range radio certificate.
Before taking the practical exam at sea, it is recommended to take the Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course , especially if you have not sat at the chart table for a while. Holding the RYA Yachtmaster Theory as well as your Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competence is also required if your goal is the Officer of the Watch 3000GT.
You should also consider taking RYA Radar and a practical preparation course before the exam. There is no official RYA prep course, but many sailing schools offer on-the-water preparation courses. Our trips are focused on training based on the RYA syllabus and can get you prepared for the exam as well. We can evaluate whether you are at the right level to pass the exam and identify gaps in your knowledge. Many of our participants passed the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam and keep returning year after year to us in order to become yet more confident and experienced. Our practical on-the-water training builds confidence, teaching you everything from basic terminology and safety tips to how to skipper a yacht and manage its crew.
In Yachtmaster Offshore exams you will be expected to demonstrate competence based on broad experience. You are supposed to demonstrate knowledge of competence in many areas listed below. In each section, the examiner will expect to see you take full responsibility for the management of the yacht and crew.
1. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)
Questions will be covering the International Regulations. You must be aware of the existence of Local Regulations, but they will not be expected to memorise specific local regulations.
You will be expected to deliver a safety briefing and know what safety equipment should be carried on board a yacht, based either on the recommendations in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook (C8) , the ISAF Special Regulations or the Codes of Practice for the safety of Small Commercial Vessels MGN 280 (M) . It should cover the following areas including the responsibilities of a skipper:
3. Boat Handling
You will be expected to answer questions or demonstrate ability in more complex situations and will also be expected to show a higher level of expertise than the Yachtmaster Coastal candidates:
4. General Seamanship, including maintenance
5. Responsibilities of skipper
6. Navigation
7. Meteorology
You must hold the SRC Certificate of Competence (VHF) in radiotelephony or a higher grade of certificate in radiotelephony
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158), which is available from the RYA webshop.
The exam consists of an oral and written test.
The candidate must provide the examiner with the following information 48 hours prior to the exam:
During the oral test the candidate will be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.
The written exam will include questions on sights and sight reduction and worldwide meteorology.
Candidates who hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate (final exam must have been invigilated at an RYA RTC), or a MCA issued full STCW Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer (Unlimited) will be exempt from the written examination.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed - see 'Related articles'.
Please note: Only those who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence are eligible to receive the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence on passing the oral exam. Those holding OOW (Yacht 3000gt) will receive a pass confirmation certificate.
Have completed a qualifying passage on board a sailing or motor yacht up to 500gt which meets the following criteria: The minimum qualifying passage must have been accrued within 10 years of the examination date. Candidates must hold OOW (Yacht 3000gt) to claim qualifying passages on vessels greater than 24m LOA. Contact if your passage is on a vessel greater than 500gt.
| |
Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea. | |
Hold either: | |
Approximately 1.5 hours |
Enter voucher code HOME STUDY in the booking form
Coastal / Offshore
Online Theory Course
A challenging course which stretches you but backed up with excellent coaching and instructor support.
The RYA Yachtmaster online theory course takes your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.
This course advances your skills as a skipper of a yacht or motor boat, with an emphasis on navigation and passage planning for more complex coastal or offshore passages by day and night
Includes some time for the revision of Day Skipper subjects then moves on to cover a greater depth of knowledge and more advanced skills in navigation, pilotage & meteorology.
Successfully gaining your RYA Yachtmaster theory certificate will enable you to confidently work towards your Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore practical qualification.
Simply click below to try a free lesson.
Pilotage for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Unlimited support from our dedicated RYA Instructors - 365 days a year via email, phone or Skype/Zoom.
14-day unconditional money-back guarantee.
17 fully-narrated online lessons including animations, videos and realistic 3D graphics.
Embedded quizzes with instant feedback in each lesson.
14 self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers.
Over 50 downloadable or linked resources.
Videos covering: updating paper charts, engine checks, dismasting, jury rig, flood control, firefighting, gas explosions, capsize, lifejacket checks, how to put on a lifejacket and what happens when it inflates, man-overboard recovery, launching and boarding a liferaft.
Free Radar course.
RYA Student Pack (including 2 training charts, training almanac & course handbook).
Mock exams to prepare you for the real thing and give you the confidence to pass.
3 final online exams with detailed instructor feedback and free repeat attempts if requried.
RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Course Completion Certificate.
12 months access to study with instructor support and exams - you can extend this if you want.
Lifetime access to training materials once you’ve completed the course.
Plotter and divider You’ll need a course plotter and chart-dividers to complete the chartwork exercises - if you don’t already have these you can purchase a top quality set from us for £28 when you place your order.
Delivery UK delivery is free. European delivery is £20, outside Europe delivery is £40.
You can start studying immediately as many of the lessons don’t rely on the printed support materials.
This course is accessed online with no additional software required.
Lessons are accompanied by optional professional narration, and notes.
They are intuitive and easy to follow, whilst more complex subjects are accompanied by interactive animations and graphics to help you gain a full knowledge of each subject in the course syllabus.
Detailed step-by-step workings for navigational or tidal calculations make it easy for you to follow along as we show you how to plot positions, make tidal height and stream calculations, etc
You can go over these again and again, and test your knowledge with regular quizzes throughout each lesson.
At the end of each lesson there is an excercise containg similar questions to the exam, with detailed and illustrated answers sent to you immediately to confirm your progress and fully prepare you for your mock and final exams.
You can repeat entire lessons and excercises as often as you wish until you are confident that you fully understand each subject.
When you have completed the course you can request mock and then final exams.
These are assessed by our RYA Instructors and detailed feedback is provided in any areas that may require further study within the course.
If you pass the final exams you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Certificate , which will be posted to you.
Additional free resits, with suitable Instructor guidance, are available if required.
Course reviews.
Laura Anderson
Impressively prompt and thorough feedback on all queries, tests, mock and real exams. Very high standards and you feel you have earned the Yachtmaster certificate.
Ciaran McIntyre
Excellent course materials and high quality delivery. Very responsive and excellent instructor feedback
Andrew Harvey
Does what it says on the tin and more. I was impressed how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.
Oliver Fleming
I found the Yachtmaster theory course to be really well structured and covered all of the syllabus in great detail. I was impressed by how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.
Complete our short form for a prompt response and world class tax advice.
Yes please contact me regarding mortgages
By selecting this, you agree to the Privacy Policy .
What is an rya yachtmaster offshore exam.
The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is a much sought after qualification for skippers.
This qualification is respected worldwide.
One will be able to acquire the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate if they are able to demonstrate that they have sufficient sea-time, experience and certification in order to sit for an exam.
There are also courses that can help one to be properly prepared for the exam.
Course duration, course content, converting from offshore sail to offshore power, qualifying passages, all my sea time was on superyachts over 24m - is that ok, how to log miles for your rya yachtmaster exam, do i need any first aid qualifications, what about commercial endorsement, stcw basic safety training endorsement, is rya yachtmaster theory required, how do i become a yacht captain, do rya yachtmaster qualified yacht captains make much money, rya yachtmaster offshore course overview.
Sea time experience is one of the most important prerequisites.
You would need to have completed the following within the last ten years:
The course duration is generally 5 days, including the exam.
The course content will comprise key areas that will allow one to be properly prepared for the exam.
The instructor will focus on areas where one needs to improve.
Notably, night sailing and blind navigation will be practiced.
There will be an overview of the lights, signals and collision regulations, among others.
Since different ports and harbours will be visited, you will be able to get tested in different waters, and your strengths and weaknesses will be better tackled in preparation for the exam.
The Yachtmaster Offshore Exam itself will take anywhere between 8 to 12 hours for a single candidate, or between 10 to 18 hours for two.
Candidates will be met onboard by examiners who will outline what will happen during the test.
Tasks will be set for the candidates to demonstrate their abilities as skippers of offshore cruising yachts.
Candidates should be well prepared as questions on any part of the syllabus can be asked at any stage.
Examiners will be independent assessors who evaluate candidates on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency .
In order to convert from Yachtmaster offshore sail to Offshore Power the following will need to have been completed within the past 10 years:
There are a number of rules that need to be followed when it comes to passages that can be deemed as qualifying.
An applicant will need to have completed at least five passages which exceed 60 miles.
These five passages must have been completed on a vessel that is less than 24 metres in length.
Two of these passages need to have been overnight passages.
In addition, two of them will need to have been where one acted as a skipper.
It’s important to mention that a 60 mile qualifying passage is one where the voyage has been non-stop from the departure port A to departure port B, where A and B cannot be the same place.
The 60 mile distance has to be measured as a straight line from A to B.
The RYA will accept passages that were on board yachts over 24m in length.
However, only 50% of the qualifying sea time can be derived from such passages.
Thus, not more than 2500 miles in all, and one would need to provide a testimonial or a discharge book to confirm them.
The remaining 50% of the qualifying sea time must have been carried out on vessels which ranged between 7m and 24m.
Since so much importance is placed on passages, it’s crucial to record the miles.
Recording miles can be carried out in a RYA logbook G158, or using an Excel spreadsheet.
It’s also good to have a CV detailing one’s sea time.
When logging miles it’s important to take note of key details, including the dates of the passage or trip, the miles sailed on the various passages, the name and type of vessel, and any night hours.
Yes, you must have a valid first aid qualification in order to sit for the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam.
There are different types of first aid qualifications that are accepted, including:
It’s common to choose to commercially endorse the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam qualification once the exam has been successfully completed.
In this case, besides holding a valid first aid and VHF certificate, one will also need an STCW or RYA Sea Survival certificate, as well as either an ENG1 medical certificate or an ML5 medical certificate .
One will also need to complete the RYA’s online PPR course.
Subsequently, one can apply for commercial endorsement through the RYA.
Following STCW Basic Safety Training , the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate can be endorsed in order to allow the holder to be a skipper both on commercial as well as privately owned vessels.
This includes those exceeding 24m in length.
Yes, in order to become an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore it is highly recommended to know specific aspects of navigation and being able to handle a vessel at sea.
Thus, following a Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course is advisable to improve one’s abilities and competence.
This will inevitably improve one’s chances of successfully achieving the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.
Becoming a yacht captain takes several years of training, experience and qualifications.
Like many careers, you’ll need to start life on a vessel working your way up.
From humble beginnings like being a deckhand to a junior crew member, the journey towards becoming a yacht captain takes years of dedication and hard work.
Our guide to becoming a yacht captain explains this process in greater detail.
Yes, the potential to make a very lucrative income is high.
A lesser experienced yacht captain can expect to make in the region of $48,000 to $98,000 per annum, whilst a more seasoned captain can make an impressive $150,000 gross per year.
So the time and effort it takes to become a skipper on a vessel has its rewards.
Furthermore, if your time at sea exceeds 183 days each calendar year, there’s the strong possibility that you could qualify for the seafarers earnings deduction which means you are not obliged to pay any income tax on your earnings.
So the above salary figures could be your final take home.
A good yacht captain will lead the crew, be a good communicator and instil confidence.
Acquiring the RYA Certificate is a demonstration that one has shown such skills along with the necessary experience.
Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.
How Much Does a Yacht Captain Make?
Working as a yacht captain is a very privileged and unique employment position. In our article we explore what being a yacht captain involves and how much yacht captains make.
Patrick Maflin
How to Become a Yacht Captain
Working as a captain on a superyacht can be a very rewarding career. But how do you become a yacht captain? Our article takes a deep dive into the process.
What is RYA Competent Crew Training?
RYA Competent Crew training is a beginners level sailing course, teaching basic knowledge and skills needed to become a competent crew member on a yacht. Read on to discover why even experienced yacht crew should consider taking this foundation course.
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate - A Must for Yacht Captains
Gaining RYA powerboat level 2 certification is a must for any aspiring yacht captain. In our latest article, we explore what this crucial certificate is for, what you will learn, and how you go about getting one.
You're about to visit a page on our legacy site. We're currently in the process of updating all our tax tools and while this page is still active please return to the main Marine Accounts site after completition.
Upon successful completion of the referral the cash will be transferred to you.
The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Instead ...
Prove your ability and experience as a skipper with an RYA Certificate of Competence. Available at Advanced Powerboat and RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal, Offshore and Ocean level, RYA Certificates of Competence are well known qualifications that are highly respected worldwide. Unlike other RYA qualifications, Certificates of Competence are not ...
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam pre-requisites. 5 passages over 60 miles long, which must include 2 overnight passages and 2 as skipper, which may be reduced to 3 passages including 1 overnight and 1 as skipper if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence 3. 1 At least half the qualifying sea time should be ...
The RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence, your driving license, so to speak, is the aim of most skippers who are looking for reassurance that they have met the highest of standards. The RYA Yachtmaster is a highly regarded qualification and is respected around the world.
The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right, but is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Master 200, Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications. See also. International Certificates for Operators of Pleasure Crafts;
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on any coastal cruise. The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven. Don't treat the examination just ...
Route to RYA Yachtmaster (Power or Sail) The Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence Exam can be taken in a powered or sail craft (i.e. there are two separate disciplines). Much of the route (the shorebased courses) is identical for both disciplines. There are actually three levels of Yachtmaster ( Coastal, Offshore and Ocean).
Pre-study is essential for a successful outcome of this course. The RYA Yachtmaster course is accredited by the RYA and MCA and recognized for service as Captain or Mate (OOW) up to 200gt up to 150 miles from a safe haven, at the Offshore level or up to 60 miles from safe haven at the Coastal level. The Yachtmaster CoC meets the STCW A-V1/1 and ...
The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge and experience needed to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean is the highest certification level at RYA. The holder of a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up ...
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore has long been the qualification that cruising yacht sailors, both amateur and professional, have aspired to. Quite aside from the fact that it is the gateway to working in the yachting industry if the desire so takes you, it is good to know that you have mastered the sweep of skills and experience necessary for you to be deemed competent at skippering a sailing yacht.
The RYA Yachtmaster® Ocean is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158), which is available from the RYA webshop. The exam consists of an oral and written test.
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor exam is open to anyone who meets the minimum criteria, with all experience within the last 10 years. 18 years of age or older. 50 days spent at sea. 2500nm cruised, with at least 50% in tidal waters. 5 days as skipper.
The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well-known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. ...
The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is a much sought after qualification for skippers. This qualification is respected worldwide. One will be able to acquire the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate if they are able to demonstrate that they have sufficient sea-time, experience and certification in order to sit for an exam.
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam is open to anyone who meets the minimum criteria, with all experience within the last 10 years. 17 years of age or older. 30 days spent at sea. 800nm cruised, with at least 50% in tidal waters. 12 night hours.
The RYA Yachtmaster certificate requires 50 days and 2,500 miles. The exam for RYA Yachtmaster can be taken once the miles have been accumulated. If you already have 1,500 miles and 30 days logged experience, by completing the Fast Track course you will have the minimum sea time experience to take the RYA Yachtmaster exam.
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme and Logbook (G158) available from the RYA webshop. RYA Yachtmaster Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. You or a training centre provide the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.
Elections. In the 1990s, the Oblast's population was distinguished by relatively high support for parties and candidates of the right and democratic persuasion. In the 1996 presidential election, Boris Yeltsin, a native of the region who lived in Sverdlovsk until the 1980s, won over 70% of the vote.In the regional elections in 2010 in the Sverdlovsk Oblast, United Russia received minimal ...
Yekaterinburg [a] is a city and the administrative centre of Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Ural Federal District, Russia.The city is located on the Iset River between the Volga-Ural region and Siberia, with a population of roughly 1.5 million residents, [14] up to 2.2 million residents in the urban agglomeration. Yekaterinburg is the fourth-largest city in Russia, the largest city in the Ural ...
GMDSS Radio Operator Certificate (GMDSS ROC)
Find out About GMDSS Short Range Courses
Find a GMDSS Short Range Radio (VHF) Course
The GMDSS Restricted Operator Certificate is a prerequisite for Officers and Masters on vessels over 24m operating in Sea Area A1 (i.e. within about 50 miles of a coast station). It is also a prerequisite for the MCA Master 200 (Code Vessel) within a limited area. A GMDSS GoC is required for seafarers of the same capacity operating in an unlimited area (outside of Sea Area 1 / > 50 miles from a coast radio station).
*For yacht crew only in need of a VHF SRC certificate to fulfill the needs of a commercial powerboat or Yachtmaster license, a 1 day VHF license may meet the requirements based on the candidates capacity and area of operation (Opposed to the GMDSS ROC). Please contact your course administrator or employer in order to best understand the requirements *
- Radio equipment used in the GMDSS - Distress signals and alerting procedures - Use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) - Survival craft communications - Procedures for the use of EPIRBs and SARTs - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) regulations - Operational procedures - Maintenance of GMDSS equipment on board ship - Log keeping requirements.
This course is followed by an exam that is usually run by a different RYA assessor and has to be registered for separately to the course in most cases. The exam usually has a separate exam fee.
To obtain a GMDSS Short Range certificate, an operator must successfully complete a written examination and a practical examination administered by an accredited maritime training institution. The examinations test the operator's knowledge of radio equipment, procedures, distress signals, and other emergency information.
The GMDSS RoC is valid for five years and must be renewed every five years. The holder of a GMDSS Short Range certificate must maintain a current proficiency in radio operations and equipment maintenance. Candidates must complete a refresher examination in order to maintain license validity after the 5-year period.
Username or Email Address *
Remember me Lost your password?
Username or Email
Get New Password
Time | 6 to 48 hour exam (dependant on the number of people) after a potential prep course of up to 5 days |
Prerequisites | 30 days spent at sea 800nm sailed, with at least 50% in tidal waters 12 night hours 2 days as skipper |
Min. Age | 17 |
Exam | 6 hours to 2 days on the water |
Aim | To work commercially on a sailing vessel under 24m in length within 20nm of a harbour. |
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor ticket is a highly useful and credible motor cruising qualification. Administered on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastgaurd Agency by the RYA the qualification is accepted as a worldwide standard. To gain an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor qualification you must sit a practical exam.
Gaining an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor will allow you to work commercially on small motor vessels.
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam certifies that you are competent to skipper a motor yacht on coastal voyages within 20nm of a harbour.
The exam can be organised via the RYA to be done on your own vessel or via an RYA training centre, to be done on an RYA training vessel. It should be noted, that to complete the exam on your own vessel, your vessel must be up to an appropriate safety standard.
Most RYA training centres offering the RYA Cruising Scheme offer some form of pre exam preparation or coaching for those looking to take an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam.
These courses are often referred to as ‘RYA Yachtmaster Prep’ courses. This is unique within the RYA training framework in that it does not have a fixed course syllabus, length or course completion certificate.
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam is open to anyone who meets the minimum criteria, with all experience within the last 10 years.
If you have exceeded all of the above by large margins, then the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor exam might be for you.
If you have the miles, but not the skippering experience, it is suggested that you charter a vessel in order to gain the skippering experience.
Additionally, exam candidates must also hold a relevant GMDSS VHF certification and an RYA First Aid certificate or recognised equivalent.
You can indeed jump straight into the RYA Cruising Scheme at this stage, however, it is imperative that you understand the levels that are required of you, both in your knowledge and practical skills.
It is suggested that as a minimum you have completed (and passed) the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course as the knowledge in here is both required for you to be at the level required, but will be formally tested during your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam, both orally and in practical applications.
You, of course, need to be a suitably experienced skipper and this involves meeting the prerequisites mentioned above to be eligible. You should be able to handle your vessel competently in close quarters and at sea. You should be comfortable applying this in various day and night time passages.
As mentioned, it is strongly recommended to have completed the RYA Coastal and Yachtmaster Theory as the depth of knowledge gained from this shore based course will be tested throughout your exam.
If you are looking for aa sailing equivalent course then you want RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Sail course .
The exam itself can take anything from 6 hours to 2 days depending on how many candidates are being examined on one vessel at a time. Up to 4 candidates can sit the exam at once and this would last for a maximum of 48 hours if so.
An RYA Yachtmaster Prep course is generally four and a half days long and is usually directly followed by the practical exam.
No, this is the one time that while there is a recognised ‘course’, there is no syllabus. It is up to the experienced instructor on the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor Prep course to tailor the learnings to your needs. This is more about refining your skills rather than teaching new ones.
You should be honest with yourself and your instructor in order for learnings throughout the week to be tailored to improve yourself on any weak areas that you may have.
These courses run as a standalone course and while there may be students on another course, generally everyone onboard is a candidate for an RYA Yachtmaster Exam. The courses should however be run with no more than 4 students on board.
The content will depend on the needs of all students and is aimed at fine-tuning existing skills rather than teaching new ones. This will involve a lot of night time cruising and navigation, carrying out challenging boat handling while using theory knowledge and ensuring general skippering skills are up to scratch.
There is a basic syllabus that is used to help shape the exam content, but in reality, you can be tested on anything from the RYA cruising scheme within the exam.
Before choosing the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor Prep course you need to be honest with yourself and your own abilities. While on the course you need to take on the advice and guidance given by the instructor on what areas need work. If you speak to your instructor before the course, they can tailor the instruction to your needs.
On the exam, you will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and competence. You will be expected to take full responsibility for your vessel and crew. The examiner will be looking for you to demonstrate competence and show your broad range of experience.
The exam will be an intensive experience and even when you are not the designated skipper, you will still be asked questions and observed and examined as a participant of the crew.
During the exam you will be asked to complete various tasks, ranging from leaving the dock, skippering a short passage, casualty recovery, night pilotage and even blind navigation. Additionally, you will be tested on theoretical aspects such as how to deal with an engine failure, knowledge of your vessel’s stability, meteorology and IRPCS.
As a potential RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor, these tasks are ones that should now be second nature to you and should take minimal time to plan while the theoretical knowledge should be able to roll off your tongue.
The following topics make up the basis for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam syllabus. IRPCS, safety, boat handling, seamanship, responsibility as skipper, navigation, meteorology and signals.
But, as mentioned above, anything from the whole RYA cruising syllabus scheme can be tested.
As ever, many schools differ in price. We would recommend that you take a look around at the various options and find what suits your needs the best. Cheapest is not often better.
This can range from knowing if you will have to share a cabin while onboard to whether food and berthing charges are included to how many other students you will be sharing your week with.
The exam fee is usually not included, which is currently £208.
As always there are many thoughts and pros and cons on this, and as a potential RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor, you should consider yourself experienced enough to sit the exam anywhere. However, if you choose to sit the exam in an area that you are familiar with then you will take a lot of the stress out of learning a new area and start with a small advantage of having that all important local knowledge at your disposal.
Your instructor should be able to update you on your ability levels throughout the course. They will be highly experienced and it is suggested that you listen to their advice given.
If you are learning something for the first time you should consider if you are ready for the exam. Talk to your instructor and they will be able to guide you on if you are ready for the exam or if they would advise further training.
There is no pass mark as such and the examiner will be looking to see that you are a competent and complete skipper, capable of looking after both your vessel and crew in a safe manner.
Every exam is different and no examiner will be setting out to fail any candidates, but they must ensure and check that each candidate is able to demonstrate their ability, knowledge and skills in a safe and timely manner.
If you were to fail to reach the levels of an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor certificate of competence then the examiner will give you a thorough debrief complete with action points to work on before you have another attempt at the exam.
After completion of the exam, you will have gained the credible achievement of an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor certificate of competence and you can get this commercially endorsed by adding a sea survival certification, a personal medical and a PPR course, all of which, along with your GMDSS VHF and First Aid should be sent off to the RYA for certification upgrade. This will now allow the holder to skipper a vessel commercially, in coastal waters, up to 20nm from a harbour.
The next step is of course to get out on the water and to keep learning, keep gaining experience and keep improving on the skills and knowledge learned so far. No skipper is the finished article and we should all keep seeking to improve.
Once you have gained more experience, knowledge, mileage and time on the water it will be time to progress to the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor exam.
Your Comment*
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Prepare for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam with the official and definitive guide, covering skills, safety, and sailing disciplines. Learn more!
The global standard of sailing qualifications is achievable for any experienced, competent skipper. Tom Cunliffe explains how to pass your Yachtmaster exam
The gold standard. The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster.
In an age of digital navigation and walk ashore pontoons, how hard can the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore be? Theo Stocker prepared to take the test to find out
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore has long been the qualification that cruising yacht sailors, both amateur and professional, have aspired to. Quite aside from the fact that it is the gateway to working in the yachting industry if the desire so takes you, it is good to know that you have mastered the sweep of skills and experience necessary for you to be deemed competent at skippering a sailing yacht.
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor ticket is considered the most useful and credible of all motor cruising qualifications. Administered on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastgaurd Agency by the RYA the qualification is accepted as a worldwide standard. To gain an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor qualification you must sit a practical exam.
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. You or a training centre provide the boat and the RYA provides an examiner. Note: All qualifying sea time and passages must be gained on vessels appropriate to the type of exam i.e. gained in sailing vessels for a sail exam and power vessels for a power exam.
Doug Innes talks us through the different Yachtmaster Certificates and gives us some top tips on How To Pass the Yachtmaster practical Exam
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore / Yachtmaster Coastal Preparation is an intensive programme for those with considerable sailing experience. Contact UKSA today.
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam pre-requisites. 5 passages over 60 miles long, which must include 2 overnight passages and 2 as skipper, which may be reduced to 3 passages including 1 overnight and 1 as skipper if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence 3. 1 At least half the qualifying sea time should be ...
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Sail ticket is a highly useful and credible sail cruising qualification. Administered on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastgaurd Agency by the RYA the qualification is accepted as a worldwide standard. To gain an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Sail qualification you must sit a practical exam.
The full program - RYA Yachtmaster Offshore theory and RYA Yachtmaster Practical - takes 10 days to complete; the exam is usually scheduled right after, and candidates need to allow 2 days for it.
Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Syllabus Candidates may be given the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of competence in the areas listed below. In each section the examiner will expect to see the candidate take full responsibility for the management of the yacht and crew. In Yachtmaster Offshore exams the candidate will be expected to demonstrate competence based on broad experience.
Yachtmaster. A Yachtmaster qualification is a certificate of competence of the ability to handle either a sailing boat or motor boat (as endorsed) in certain prescribed conditions. Three different titles are specified; Yachtmaster Coastal (previously - and in some countries still - called Coastal Skipper), Yachtmaster Offshore, and Yachtmaster ...
The exam is similar to the Yachtmaster Coastal in terms of syllabus, but you can expect to get more complex scenarios on the Offshore exam. Don't treat the examination just as an exam.
The RYA Yachtmaster® Ocean is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158), which is available from the RYA webshop. The exam consists of an oral and written test.
If you pass the final exams you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Certificate, which will be posted to you. Additional free resits, with suitable Instructor guidance, are available if required.
The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is a much sought after qualification for skippers. This qualification is respected worldwide. One will be able to acquire the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate if they are able to demonstrate that they have sufficient sea-time, experience and certification in order to sit for an exam.
Certificates of Competence; RYA Yachtmaster; What is an RYA Yachtmaster? The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a we
Find RYA VHF radio courses for superyacht and yacht crew. Filter yacht training training schools by location and book a course near you!
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor ticket is a highly useful and credible motor cruising qualification. Administered on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastgaurd Agency by the RYA the qualification is accepted as a worldwide standard. To gain an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor qualification you must sit a practical exam.
MCA RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track 14 Wks ; Fast Track . MCA RYA Fast Track 7 Wks Yachtmaster Coastal ; MCA RYA Fast Track 8 Wks Yachtmaster Motor Boat ; RYA Half Track Yachtmaster ; RYA Fasttrack Dayskipper ; RYA Day Skipper Combined ; Fast Track . PADI Fast Track Dive Master ; Gap Year Student Training ; Marina Drills and Skills Power & Sail
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Rio Games and the Brazilian Real. Ryan Lock had planned his trip to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, f