RYA Sailing, Powerboat, Motor Cruising Courses and Charters

An 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 courses in the cruising programme, there is no formal training to complete in order to become a Yachtmaster. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge.

However, most applicants wish to spend a week refreshing their knowledge and skills before taking the exam, most will possibly hold the above RYA Coastal Skipper Practical and Theory certificates but prefer further training or a refresher before taking the Yachtmaster Offshore practical exam.

Yachtmaster Offshore Exam pre requisites

Minimum seatime

• 50 days seatime
• 2,500 miles
• 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination.
• 5 days acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages.
• Half the mileage and passages must be in tidal waters.
• Qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

Practical Certification required

• A restricted (VHF only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio certificate.
• A valid First Aid Certificate (first aid qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services are acceptable).

Minimum age

• 18 years

Exam duration

• 8-12 hours for 1 candidate
• 10-18 hours for 2 candidates
• No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours
• No more than four candidates can be examined in one 2 day session

For more information and bookings please contact us.