rya yachtmaster offshore vs ocean

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What is the Difference Between Yachtmaster Ocean and Offshore?

First Class Sailing is one of the UK’s leading schools for those seeking to complete their RYA qualifications and certificates. We offer the full ranges of courses, including RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and Yachtmaster Offshore .

We are often asked what the differences are between the two courses, so this short blog posts will explain all you need to know.

The simple difference between the two qualifications, is astronavigation. You should take the Yachtmaster Ocean exam if you want to sail large distances over long periods of time. It will mean you can navigate by the sun and stars, fixing your position with a sextant if your electronic navigation fails.

The difference between Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean once qualified

Once you hold a qualification, it will make a difference as to what you can do in addition to the astronavigation aspect we discussed. The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification makes you a competent skipper of a yacht of up to 24 metres in length, in waters up to 150 miles from land.

If you are qualified with RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, the difference is you can skipper a vessel of 24 metres in length and up to 200 gross tonnages anywhere around the globe.

Differences between the practical courses

To take the Yachtmaster Offshore course, you must have at least 50 days’ sailing time, with two of those days as the skipper. You also need to have logged 2,500 nautical miles, 5 passages over 60nm including two overnight and two as skipper, all within the last ten years.

Half the qualifying sea time must have been conducted in tidal waters & on a sailing vessel 24 metres or under.

You will also need a VHF radio licence, a First aid certificate and sound knowledge of using a Radar.

To take the Yachtmaster Ocean course, you must first have the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

You also need to have completed a qualifying passage that meets the following criteria:

• The candidate was fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, storing the spare gear, water and victual and organizing the watch-keeping routine.
• During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land while sailing a distance of at least 200 miles.
• Qualifying passages for Yachtmaster Ocean and Offshore should be non stop by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. Passages such as recognised races which may not comply exactly with these requirements may be submitted to the RYA for approval before the voyage.
• Hold a First Aid qualification, as for Yachtmaster Offshore
• For Ocean Passages, the following definition will apply: Throughout the passage the candidate must have acted in a responsible capacity either in sole charge of a watch or as a skipper.

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What's the difference between RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA Yachtmaster Coastal?

04 March 2016

The RYA Yachtmaster qualification has long been recognised by many as the premium sailing qualification for the experienced leisure sailor. In recent times, the Yachtmaster qualification has been further defined and is now split into three subsections, namely Yachtmaster Coastal, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean. Unlike the RYA Day Skipper qualification, all three qualifications are gained through external examination. 

The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven. A Yachtmaster Offshore is qualified to skipper a vessel of the same size up to 150 miles from a safe haven. Yachtmaster Ocean extends the Yachtmaster Offshore qualification and qualifies the holder to skipper a vessel of the same size and up to 200gt anywhere in the World.

As one would expect, each examination requires that the candidate have a minimum level of experience prior to the examination. Prior to the Yachtmaster Coastal examination , a candidate must have a minimum of 30 days at sea, with 2 days as skipper and at least 800 miles logged, including 12 night hours. If you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate already then this is reduced to 20 days at sea with 2 days as skipper, 400 miles logged and 12 night hours. Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters.

To qualify to undertake the Yachtmaster Offshore examination , you must have a minimum of 50 days at sea, 2,500 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. The candidate must have 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

In both instances you will also need to hold a GMDSS short range radio certificate. 

For advice on what examination you should be studying for, call our senior instructor and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor for a chat on [email protected] or call 07925 784407.

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RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 5 - Yachtmaster Ocean

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® Ocean Certificate of Competence.

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 to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) anywhere in the World (Category 0 waters - unlimited).

The assessment is done by oral interrogation (~1.5 hours). You also need to pass the written (~1.5 hours) exam if you did not complete the Ocean Theory course, complete a qualifying passage, and prepare narrative account and navigational records. You have to stand to attention before seasoned RYA-appointed examiner and convince him that you sailed as skipper or first mate and that you know the job. To be honest, there is probably no better way of doing it.

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.

Requirements

You can find the official requirements here .

• Hold an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• Have completed a qualifying passage which meets the following criteria: You were fully involved with the planning of the passage, including a selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, spare gear, victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine. Throughout the passage you must have acted in a responsible capacity either in sole charge of a watch or as a skipper. Qualifying passage should be non-stop by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. During the qualifying passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land or any charted navigational object while sailing a distance of 200 miles. You can find the exact requirements of the qualifying passage here . If you have any doubts about whether your chosen route qualifies, you can always contact RYA at [email protected] During the qualifying passage you should take some sights to prove that you are actually capable of navigating out of sight of land by astro navigation. If circumstances prevent astro sights from being taken on the ocean-qualifying passage you can also take them on another shorter passage. You just have to make sure to be enough far from shore so that the sights are taken out of sight of land.

Preparation

Before taking the oral exam, it is recommended to take Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course . If you complete the course, you will be exempted from the written examination.

Please also take a look at our routes . On all our offshore passages we are navigating using celestial navigation. Some of our passages qualify for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certification where you can be a watch leader to meet the qualifying passage requirements. Many of our participants passed the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Ocean 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.

Exam Syllabus

During the oral exam, the questions should generally be related to your qualifying passage but may also refer to longer passages if needed to find out if you are capable of an ocean crossing. You may 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.

After booking the exam and at least 1 week before the exam date you must provide the examiner with:

• A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage.
• Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passage, out of sight of land, showing that you navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids. As a minimum, this should include the planning, reduction, and plotting of a sun-run-meridian altitude or sun-run-sun sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, star or planet.

The examiner will not be hard on you if you provide a good narrative account and lots of navigational records. You should show him or her that you thought about many aspects of voyage planning and execution, and that you care about the safety of the yacht and the crew. You will definitely fail if you show a cavalier altitude.

The narrative should include the following:

• Brief description of the chosen vessel and suitability for the voyage
• Crew selection
• Pre-checks on the condition of the yacht, including hull, rigging, engine, electrics and fittings checks
• Navigational passage planning: route selection, sources of information to decide on a strategy, expected and possible durations of the passage if no wind/rig failure/divert to the port of refuge etc.
• Navigational equipment: electronic and manuals
• Weather: source of information pre-departure, weather forecasting sources on passage, actual weather experienced
• Harbours planned: pilotage, reporting, berthing, customs and immigrations procedures
• Ports of refuge
• Watchkeeping rota
• Consumables provisioning: victualling (water and food) and fueling/bunkering - estimating daily usage, the amount carried, allowance for delays, calms and emergencies, preparation for what-if scenarios (e.g. contamination of water, fridge failure etc.)
• Consumables monitoring en route: fuel, gas, food, water, battery
• Methods of charging batteries, battery capacity and electrical consumption calculations
• Medical kit carried and preparation for medical emergencies (e.g. availability of suitable courses)
• Standing orders
• Safety briefing conducted
• Routine equipment checks and maintenance, precautionary replacements
• Drills practices before departure and during the passage
• Fire precautions
• VHF / HF / MF channels monitored
• Communications equipment carried
• Position reporting to shore stations
• Navigational hazards including shipping lanes and shallows
• Expected shipping traffic and other vessels encountered (e.g. fishing fleets)
• Use of courtesy ensigns and Q flag
• Emergency (contingency) plans: MOB, rig failure, hull breach, steering failure, port/hatch failure, engine failure, abandon ship, divert to the port of refuge, heavy weather preparation and tactics, emergency repairs (e.g. jury-rigging, repairing damage to the hull, jury-steering)
• Spare gear and tools required, carried and used
• Deck safety: clipping on and numbers of the crew on deck
• Charts and publications used
• Copy of ship’s log and charts
• Navigation by sextant: all written sight reduction, compass check and plotting sheets completed at sea (not tidied up ashore)
• Procedure for cleaning and securing the yacht at the end of the passage

Example of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean narrative.

The written exam will include questions on celestial navigation (sights and sight reduction) and worldwide meteorology.

If you hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased course completion certificate you will be exempted from the written examination.

Learning materials

• Celestial Navigation in practice - Astro navigation primer.
• Celestial Navigation - With the Sight Reduction Tables with Pub. No 249 - This book gives the clearest explanation of how celestial navigation works and how to use it without bogging down in theory.
• How to use sextant (PDF) , Video
• RYA Certificates of Competence
• Certificates

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RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

What is an Ocean Yachtmaster

What is an ocean yachtmaster and how to become an ocean yachtmaster.

The RYA/MCA Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence (CoC) is the highest level certificate in the RYA scheme. It can be used by blue water leisure sailors and by commercial skippers and crew. Under the MCA Codes of practice the Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence holder, (with relevant commercial endorsement etc.) can skipper a vessel;

• Up to 200 tonnes
• Carrying up to 12 passengers
• Anywhere globally (i.e. beyond the 150 miles from a safe haven limit imposed upon a Yachtmaster Offshore).

Furthermore the Yachtmaster Ocean CoC is the minimum requirement for certain officer positions on board larger (over 200 tonne) yachts.

There are 5 stepping stones to becoming an Ocean Yachtmaster CoC holder. Steps 1-4 can be taken in any order although the order presented below is the most logical. Step 5 can only be completed once the first 4 steps have been completed.

• Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence

RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course

• Qualifying Passage
• Sights and Compass Check by sextant at sea

RYA/MCA Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence Oral Exam

It is technically possible to take the Ocean Yachtmaster CoC Oral exam without having previously completed the RYA Ocean Shorebased Course but not advised as it involves an additional written exam and you would require all of the relevant knowledge taught on the course. Further information is detailed the relevant 5 steps below;

Becoming a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence Holder

While you can proceed towards the RYA Ocean shorebased course and the Ocean practical steps (qualifying passage and sights) you can not proceed to the Oral exam without first holding the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

This is a 40-hour theory course. It can be taken;

• Over 5 consecutive days face to face in the classroom
• Over 13 evenings face to face night school in the classroom
• Over 5.5 days face to face using zoom
• Online in your own time.

Whichever format you choose the course culminates in a written paper.

The course concentrates on astro navigation, i.e using a sextant and the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars and planets) to fix your position. The course also devotes time to ocean voyage planning and worldwide meteorology.

Full details can be found at Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course

While you don’t strictly need to be a Yachtmaster Offshore before taking the Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course , the following knowledge is assumed before the Ocean Shorebased course starts;

• Use of plotting instruments (plotter, dividers etc.)
• Latitude and longitude, knots and nautical miles
• Variation and deviation
• Application of UT, DST
• 2/3 Point fixes and angles of cut
• Dead Reckoning / EP (and ideally the Running Fix)
• GPS and other electronic nav aids
• Coastal/offshore voyage planning
• Sources of forecast information
• Synoptic charts
• Low pressure systems
• Coastal communications /distress comms. (Navtex, VHF, EPIRBs and SARTs)

Is the Ocean Shorebased Written Exam Invigilated?

If you take a face to face Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course then the written paper is invigilated and marked by your Instructor.

If you choose to take the Online or Webinar RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course then face to face invigilation may be required (see table below).

What qualifies as a RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage?

A qualifying passage must have been taken in the last 10 years. Sea time prior to this date does not qualify. The passage must meet the following requirements

Ocean Candidate’s Role On Board

For your qualifying passage you should be either the skipper or mate in sole charge of a watch. You must have been  fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the vessel and her equipment, storing with spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine.

If the skipper changes role at any point during the passage, then neither skipper can use the passage as a qualifying passage.

It is our opinion that it is impossible for multiple Ocean Yachtmaster candidates to use the same passage as their qualifying passage as you can not all fit the definitions above. More than two candidates would be highly unlikely more than three impossible.

Ocean Qualifying Passage

The passage has several minimum requirements

• Departure and arrival ports must be more than 600 miles apart by the shortest navigable route
• Minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log
• At least 200 miles of that passage must have been more 50 miles from land (or charted objects capable of being used for navigation/position fixing, such as an offshore oil rig)
• The vessel must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours

Passages such as recognised races which may not comply exactly with these requirements may be submitted to the RYA for consideration before the voyage.

Examples of Ocean qualifying passages (non stop passages)

• Trans-Atlantic ARC Rally (Canary Islands to St. Lucia/Caribbean)
• Between Azores and anywhere in mainland Europe/UK or the Canary Islands
• Between Bermuda and any of; Bahamas, Caribbean, Canada or most of USA (parts of North Carolina fall below the requirements)
• Between Bermuda and the Azores or Europe
• Solent/UK to Cascais/Portugal,Algarve, Southern Spain or Gibraltar (assuming you follow the rum line or stay offshore when crossing Biscay)
• Trans Pacific Passage (excluding passages between Alaska and Russia, on or close to the Bering Sea)
• Atlantic Germany (Elbe) to Scotland, where the 200 mile run is impossible due to oil rigs)
• Gibraltar to Northern Lanzarote where the mileage falls slightly below 600
• RORC Fastnet Race which does not follow the shortest navigable route or have the 200 mile run
• Northern Spain to Majorca, although well over 600 miles, very little of the passage is over 50 miles from land

If you still are not sure about whether a passage qualifies, then check out the RYA’s definition of a qualifying passage .

Vessel used for Ocean Qualifying Passage

The yacht (or vessel) must be;

• Minimum size 7m, LWL
• Maximum size 500 tonnes (If the vessel is over 24m LOA then the candidate would need to hold an appropriate Certificate of Competence to act as Officer of the Watch on the passage).

Sights and Compass Check by Sextant at Sea

You are required to provide your Ocean Examiner with a minimum of’

• Sun Run Mer Pass (or sun run sun, sun run planet etc.)
• Compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet

Sights are usually taken on the qualifying passage however in some circumstances (such as lots of cloud cover) this is not possible. If sights have been taken on another passage then the following requirement apply to this passage.

• The vessel must of been out of sight of land and charted objects when the sights are taken/used.
• The vessel must be on a passage by the shortest navigable route. You can not therefore simply head offshore take sights and return to departure port.

We always advise candidates to present the examiner with more than the minimum required sights. If you present the examiner with additional sights and your preferred set suffers from errors you still stand a chance of passing the exam.

Prior to the exam you will need to provide the examiner with;

• A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage providing all relevant details.
• Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passage, out of sight of land showing that the candidate has navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids. The records must include as a minimum, planning, reduction and plotting of a sun run meridian altitude sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet.

During the oral exam you 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.

If you already hold the RYA Ocean Shorebased Course Certificate , the exam typically takes 1.5 hours although examiners can continue questioning considerably longer. If you do not hold the Ocean Shorebased certificate then your exam will take considerably longer as you will also have to take a written test.

Does the Ocean Yachtmaster Qualifying Passage have to be on the same type of vessel as I took my Yachtmaster Offshore Exam on (i.e. power or sail)?

Most candidates will qualify in the same kind of vessel as they passed their Offshore exam, however it is possible to qualify as a Yachtmaster Offshore (power) and then compete the Yachtmaster Ocean requirements on a sail vessel (or vice versa).

I hold a OOW (Yacht 3000gt) CoC but not a Yachtmaster Offshore CoC

If you passed the Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence Exam instead of the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence Exam as your entry requirement into the OOW 3000 CoC then you will not be eligible to hold the Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence. On passing the oral exam you will receive a pass confirmation certificate.

How do I commercially endorse the Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence?

Those working under the MCA Codes of practice will require a commercial endorsement. Information can be found at RYA Commercial Endorsements . If you already hold a commercial endorsement on your Yachtmaster Offshore CoC then it is simply transferred across.

Do I require any other certificates to operate commercially as an Ocean Yachtmaster?

To operate a coded sailing yacht in Category 1 or 0 waters (i.e. Over 60 miles from a safe haven) you will additionally require a RYA Diesel Certificate .

To operate the mandatory GMDSS radio equipment on a commercial vessel in Sea Area A2 (more than about 35 miles offshore) you will require either a Long Range Certificate (LRC) or STCW General Operator Certificate (GOC) .

To skipper a coded vessel in Category 1 or 0 waters (i.e. Over 60 miles from a safe haven) you will additionally need to hold  STCW Proficiency in Medical First Aid and Proficiency in Medical Care, unless there is a current qualified nurse practitioner (or higher) on board.

If working aboard a vessel in Category 1 or 0 waters (i.e. Over 60 miles from a safe haven) you will need a ENG1 Medical certificate.  The alternatives which are suitable further inshore such as ML5 Medical Certificate  are not valid in category 1 and 0 waters.

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Requirements for Yachtmaster Offshore exam

There is some confusion around the requirements for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Coastal or Offshore exam. We hope this guide helps explain these requirements.

Whats covered

In this post, we will answer the following questions:

Sea time requirements for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Qualifying passages.

• If my sea time is all on Superyachts
• How to record my sea miles

Converting from sail to power

• What first aid qualification do I need
• Power or Sail?

Commercial endorsement

• Do I need RYA Yachtmaster Theory
• What other skills do I need for the RYA Yachtmaster

To sit the RYA Yachtmaster offshore exam, you are required to have, as a minimum, the following experience. All completed within the last ten years:

• A minimum of  2,500 miles are logged  before you sit the exam. At least half the sea time must be in tidal waters.
• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500GT.
• During your qualifying sea time, you would have completed  five passages of over 60 miles **. Two of these passages would have been at night, and two acting as skipper.  All five  qualifying passages must have been on a vessel between  7 and 24m in length.
• At least five days experience as skipper.
• Please note if you hold an STCW Elementary First Aid, then it must have been issued in the  last five years .
• For RYA First Aid, it’s  three years.
• A GMDSS short-range VHF radio certificate

Click here if you need to refresh your  STCW Elementary First Aid  or complete a  GMDSS short-range VHF course .

To sit the Yachtmaster Offshore exam, you MUST have completed at least five passages of over 60 miles.

A 60-mile qualifying passage is defined as:

A non-stop voyage from departure port/anchorage A to departure port/anchorage B (Points A and B can not be the same place). 

The 60-mile passage must be a continuous passage. The distance, in this case 60 miles, must be measured as a straight line from port A to port B.

**Qualifying passages must be completed on a vessel less than 24 meters.

Acting as Skipper

The skipper is the person nominated and responsible for planning the passage. The skipper is not necessarily the most experienced or qualified person on board but must be the person with responsibility for the safe execution of the passage. 

If the skipper’s role is transferred to another person at any time during a passage then neither person can claim to have skippered that passage.

What if all my sea time has been on Superyachts/vessels over 24m in length?

The RYA accepts that 50% (1,250) of the qualifying sea miles gained on a vessel over 24m can be used towards the 2,500 miles required for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam.

You should provide a testimonial or Discharge book confirming 1,250 sea miles.

The other 50% of the qualifying sea time must have been completed on vessels between 7 and 24 meters in length . Some Superyachts have large tenders and chase boats. In this case, any miles gained at the helm go some way to 1,250 sea miles.

Sea time requirements for RYA Yachtmaster Coastal

• 30 days at sea on a vessel less than 24m in length, and a minimum of 800 miles logged before you sit the exam. At least half the sea time must be in tidal waters.
• Two days as skipper, on a vessel less than 24m in length.
• 12 night hours.
• Short-range radio certificate (VHF), or equivalent.
• A valid First Aid certificate.
• You must be 17 years old at the time of the exam.

If you hold the RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate, then the miles required for Yachtmaster Coastal are reduced to 400.

To convert from Yachtmaster offshore sail to Offshore (Power) you must have completed, in the last 10 years:

• Minimum of 1,250 miles on a vessel between 7 and 24 meters in length
• 25 days living onboard
• 3 days as skipper
• Three passages of over 60 miles, including one overnight and one as skipper

How do I record my sea time for the RYA Yachtmaster exam?

The miles that you have gained on vessels between 7 and 24 meters in length in the past ten years can be recorded in either:

• RYA’s G158 logbook
• A CV detailing your sea time
• An Excel spreadsheet

When recording experience at sea, make sure you detail the following:

• Dates the passage/trip took place.
• Name and type of vessel
• Details of the passages
• Miles sailed on the passages
• Night hours (if applicable)

Flying Fish has created a simple spreadsheet that you can use to record your sea miles. Yachtmaster power personal log

What First Aid Qualification do I need for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?

You must have a valid, in-date first aid qualification to sit the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam. RYA first aid, STCW, Seafish first aid certificates are all accepted by the RYA.

If you hold the STCW Elementary First Aid certificate that was issued  more than 5 years  ago, then you will need to refresh your  first aid qualification  before sitting the Yachtmaster exam.

Power or sail?

The RYA offers two practical schemes depending on whether you want to skipper a Power or Sail. boat. Both schemes lead to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. The requirements for the Yachtmaster Offshore power or sail qualification are the same, minimum of 2,500 miles, etc.

Many choose to commercially endorse their RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam qualification after completing the RYA Yachtmaster exam. If this is your chosen path, then in addition to holding a valid first aid and VHF certificate listed above, you will need the following:

• Either an  ENG1 or ML5 medical
• STCW or RYA Sea survival certificate
• Complete the RYA’s online  PPR course

Once you have completed these three steps, you can apply for  commercial endorsemen t  through the RYA.

STCW Endorsement

Complete  STCW Basic Safety Training , then the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate will be endorsed to allow the holder to skipper a commercial or privately owned vessel up to 200 gross tonnes, which may be greater than 24m in length.

Do I need RYA Yachtmaster Theory?

In short, yes. To become an RYA Yachtmaster offshore then, you need to be able to navigate as well as handle the boat at sea. Furthermore, holding the RYA Yachtmaster Theory as well as your Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competence is required if your goal is the Officer of the Watch 3000GT. If you have not sat at the chart table for a while, then consider a combined  Yachtmaster Offshore Theory and practical prep course .

What other skills do I need before I join a prep course?

If you are considering a  Yachtmaster Prep course  then Flying Fish will provide some pre-course reading. If you did some background reading before your prep course, it would help if you had a good knowledge of the following:

• I.R.P.C.S (rules of the road) and distress signals.
• Weather. The passage of frontal depression, sea breeze, fog, effects of wind and tide, and terminology used in a weather forecast.
• Navigation. Understand how to calculate tidal heights, course to steer, and estimated position.
• Ability to tie the basic knots.
• Have knowledge of Radar, rule 19, and how to use it for collision avoidance.
• The  G158 logbook  provides all sea time requirements and a section where you can record all your sea time.

• Certificates of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158) available from the webshop (see right).

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides 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.

There is no formal training course leading up to the exam, but those who have not previously taken RYA courses often find it useful to book themselves in for some informal training at an RYA centre prior to their exam. This training can be tailor-made to your specific needs and helps to fill any gaps in your knowledge that may become apparent.

The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS, meteorology and signals.

Boats used for exams

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:

• can provide a boat
• have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
• hold an SRC (Short Range Certificate) or higher level GMDSS radio operators qualification
• hold a valid first aid certificate
• have read the syllabus in RYA Logbook (G158)
• have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

Additionally if not on the boat, you will need to bring to the exam:

• laminated or waterproof charts
• GPS set (may be hand held)
• tide tables
• pilotage information for the local area, eg pilot books, port information etc
• plotting instruments.
• Photographic ID card or document, such as a passport or driving licence

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 .

Useful links

Arranging your exam, commercial endorsements, exam payments service, mca manning requirements, professional qualifications.

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RYA yachtmaster vs USCG license Captain vs ICC

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If you ever want to carry passengers in the US for hire. A USCG licence is the only one recognized.  

Yes, agree.  

I got my 50ton ticket...but never officially used it...jaja in ft.lauderdale at a well respected school dont you have to be a uk citizen to get their version...likewise with other countries that offer?  

You don't need to be a UK or AU citizen. With ICC around, RYA becomes more acceptable outside the U.S. water.  

cool I would go for rya then and I agree outside the us the uscg "ticket" is not very well respected or admired... I think its very useful if you plan to charter and or carry passengers for hire again in us waters... outside it simply depends on what country you are doing it in also I got a bunch of ISAF certifications when I was training down here and those I hear are well respected worldwide... pick your poison then! good luck  

dawg, you a citizen of the Federal Republic? OK, then you go for the USCG certification. You a Brit? Then you look up the RYA. If life changes and you decide you want to sail in what's left of the Empire, by all means, go for the RYA as well. But first, try out for the home team.  

HS, it is not because I don't want to get my 100 T USGC license. Getting the day counts on a boat is tough for me unless USCG will give me the credits sailing my Catalina 14.2. Just because someone lives on the boat for years, or someone works on a ship in the kitchen, they get more days than me. but I don't think they have more experience than me sailing the boat. I have met many 100T captains, I was not impressed to say the least. Here is my thinking: I have more than 10,000 off shore miles, and it will qualify me for the RYA yachtmaster certificate. Although I need to pass two written exams and one practical exam on a vessel. Studying and taking exams are never a problem for me. Therefore, until I get my CG license, RYA certificate will provide me a temporary solution if my client wants credential now. RYA certificate and ICC are accepted outside U.S, especially in China.  

USCG 100 ton is not much - in fact it tends to create suspicion that person has no idea The Yachtmaster ( if it is the one I am thinking about ) is a serious bit of tea. People who have earned know a lot  

I have both certifications. There are inexperienced USCG Captains--the ones I've met tend to be older cocky men who test well know it all's that don't know jack. There are also mAny very young YachtMasters. Many of these studied well and tested well but again lack experience. A couple of example. A nice Dutch fellow whose goal was to crew on a mega yacht...which he has been doing off and on for six years now. He would have been better off buying a boat and sailing alone IMHO. I would not hire him. Another was a young gal who passed l her exams and was paying big bucks for sea time under an experienced Captain. I would not hire her, but give her more sea mikes and ocean days and I might. Neither of these certification matter compared to real world experience. I can step on a boat and I observe. 10 minutes makes it obvious who is good and who is dangerous or somewhere in between. As for the certifications themselves, I would recommend getting both. If you want to work and industry you need your RYA Yacht Master "Commercially Endorsed". CE means you've had an evaluation by and approved Marine physician. I don't remember I think you might have to have drug testing of some sort. As for the actual courses I have done them all. ASA, USSailing, RYA and US Navy. I was most impressed with the RYA program. US Sailing is a joke--they constantly talk about how great they are instead of trying to improve and it is a political laughing stock IMHO. The US Coast Guard license doesn't require a course, but there are plenty of certification classes you can take, and these just teach you how to pass the course and it is the most difficult. Taking a prep course makes it easier. US Coast Guard exam has some tricky parts to it,. The set and drift calculations are bizarre to put it mildly. You have to learn how to approximate the answers, because the Coast Guard uses some sort of calculated means to determine the answer which is nowhere close to reality. If anyone has any more specific questions about these programs feel free to ring me up. Capt Conrad Home - Connecticut Captain  

I hold a 100 ton license, and have no real familiarity with the RYA Yachtmaster requirements. So is is from general knowledge, not a deep understanding of the testing regime. The USCG license requires 720 sea days, which typically requires quite a lot of sea time, and requires at least two years to qualify for. The flip side is any time on a boat qualifies, and there is no practical test. So the license itself makes no statement about someone's skill. The RYA license however only requires 50 hours of sea time, so it's possible but not likely to get in a week. However the RYA license also requires a practical exam, so there is at least some guarantee of skill. Which do I think of as being more impressive? Meh, I don't think much of either by themselves. Like most commercial companies and insurance companies I put a lot more stock in someone's resume than the license they have. At least when discussing entry level licenses like this.  

Thanks for the clarification - the Yachtmaster I was thinking has a few hundred hours of practical requirements plus a minimum of a 2,000 mile blue water passage  

Yachtmaster? Offshore | Exams | Learning | Courses & Training | RYA  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard_Charter_Boat_Captain's_license  

Can't you get the rya qualifications in some of the British islands in the Caribbean? Antigua or st Lucia?.  

No, I checked. There are RYA certified yachtmasters in there, but no qualified examiner there except in UK and AU.  

The sailing school at English Harbour does the course and the examination for Yachtmaster offshore. I signed up for it, but then couldn't take part due to timing issues. Internationally, the Yachtmaster ticket is pretty much the only one recognized so if you plan on doing work outside of the USA then that is the way to go. Note, too, that the mileage requirements are in tidal waters.  

I think in order to get a yachtmaster you have to be a citizen or resident of the UK or one of the commonwealths.  

Not true. RYA official just informed me that your don't need to be a British subject to be a member or a YachtMaster. It does make sense to me. RYA is not a government agency. It is a private Association.  

rockDAWG said: But I have to fly to UK or AU to get the practical exam for Yachtmaster Ocean or off-shore. Click to expand...

Good to know. Thanks.  

I know plenty of people with USCG six-pack licenses that don't even know how to properly tie a boat to a slip. No doubt people often fake their way to that one. While I've heard of unimpressive 100T masters and recognize their would be a wide spectrum, of all that I know, they are each good seaman. It should not be discredited broadly.  

If you are eligible to take the test I would seriously consider taking an on the water prep course because their is a definite RYA method of doing things.  

interesting I saw on some of the pre requisistes of the rya that you should be able to do basic sun sights and basic celestial nav...and a test with no electronic devices, so basically dead reckoning and compass sighting, triangulation etc... thats a big difference, not to mention that fact that there IS a practical exam... I would go for the rya, but it sounds like you WILL have to do a lot of studying and testing physically in order to do it their way my advice would be to talk to fellow delivery skippers and crew who might have the rya ticket and see if you can take it... good luck!  

rockdawg check this out How to get your International Certificate of Competence - ICC | BOSS Sailing School Blog when you get your rya you should automatically get or apply for the ICC certificate... also look towards the end where its says experienced skippers that can provide their on boat CAN do some courses and fresheners in order to directly apply for an ICC ticket without going through the lower courses at least thats what I understood... interesting none the less when you see so much that is required for eu citizens to simply rent or charter a boat...  

Note, too, that the mileage requirements are in tidal waters. Click to expand...

interesting I saw on some of the pre requisistes of the rya that you should be able to do basic sun sights and basic celestial nav Click to expand...

It really depends on what you intend to do. Charter captain, or you're getting paid to take/teach students on a sailboat with an engine? Then you need the Coast Guard license, with an endorsement for auxiliary sail if you go higher than the 6-pack. "Inspected vessel" (meaning it has a Coast Guard Certificate of inspection and can take more than 6 pax)? You need the CG license, with enough tonnage to cover what you're skippering. Deliveries, or passengers but not "for hire"? Then it's up to whoever is hiring you as to what kind of ticket they want you to have. I'm not that familiar with the British setup. In the US there's ASA and USSA, but they are private agencies and their cards have no "official" standing, though unofficially they may give you some credibility at a sailing school, or at a charter company who might otherwise put a captain on board for the first half-day to check you out, and might get you a discount on insurance.  

The ICC is not a commercial ticket. It allows the operation of pleasure craft. It may be required in some countries like Croatia.  

The RYA is a private organization. Until you add the Commercial Endorsement (CE) after it. I am not from the UK and I have one. It means something outside of the US and is helpful for getting work.  

I am taking a risk with this, WTH. RockDawg and others might get some better answers over at CF. I know that there you find instructors and others with RYA, USCG, IYT and other commercial tickets. I do not think that there are many RYA folks on SN.  

Taking a risk? Taking a risk is allowing a wombat that isn't litter trained into your house. If the answer to a question is found within another forum, we're certainly not going to discourage visiting it. We'll lengthen your leash just enough so you can ask your question just inside the door and then snap it back when you're done is all. Seriously. The important thing is that someone gets an answer to his or her question. We aren't behind an impenetrable wall.  

We have both the USGG Master's License (My wife) and the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean (Me) on our boat. The USCG license is an excellent theory exam requiring documentation of 720 days at sea but no evidence of the ability to tie up a boat. The Yacht Master Offshore requires less theory, less sea time but the practical test is very exacting with difficult practical tests to be done, day and night, in any weather. '50 days, 2,500 miles 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. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.' Yachtmaster Ocean requires a 600 nm offshore passage with use of sextant, the trip must be at least 4 days in length. It is then followed by a 2-3 hour oral exam taken a few weeks later where you present your celestial navigation notes and work sheets followed by an hour of questions to show a detailed knowledge of ocean passages in all weathers. The easiest way to pass the Yachtmaster exam is to take a one week theory course (The Solent based schools are excellent) followed by the 5 day practical course (4 trainees per boat) followed immediately by the on water exam. It is a waste of time taking it in non-tidal locations because you only get certified for non-tidal waters. The practical would then be taken on a school boat with the 3 other candidates that you had been practicing with all week. While that may seem expensive and redundant the practical consists of elements that you would never practice in 10,000 miles at sea. Picking up a mooring ball under sail in a 3 knot current in 30 knots of wind being an example of what one candidate on my exam had to perform. Wind was into current which was the stronger force so the approach had to been done downwind under jib and boat speed was controlled by progressively reefing the jib. However, the most common reason for failing is trying to command the boat from the chart table rather than with your eyes. The lesser mileage requirements quoted are for Yachtmaster Coastal which is a 6 pack equivalent and not worth taking. In the US you must have the CG license for paying customers but worldwide the YachtMaster has a lot more credibility especially with Lloyds based insurance companies. Once you have passed the exam you then need to sail about 20,000 nm to get some real experience! Phil  

Phil, For the Yachtmasters off-shore or Ocean certificate, are there ratings for non commercial and commercial endorsement?  

rockDAWG said: Phil, For the Yachtmasters off-shore or Ocean certificate, are there ratings for non commercial and commercial endorsement? Click to expand...

Any "test" that involves hands-on demonstration has got to be better than a book test. Book tests are often passed by people who are good at....taking tests and memorizing irrelevant facts to be forgotten in 24 hours. All tests such as both of these do not and cannot measure the most important things like common sense, basic logic, years of experience in a multitude of skill sets, and basic manual ability. They are mostly designed by and for the schools making money. Never forget that schools are businesses first and foremost. I guess requirements for pieces of paper have some validity but not much. There is simply no way to test for the things that really matter. As Minnewaska has noted above, there are very many USCG "six pack" licensees who jump through the hoops but know very little about even the basics of handling a boat.  

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5-Months Fast Track to RYA Yachtmaster Ocean C.O.C

A robust theory and practical programme, including a 2-month mileage trip..

The Odyssey is a comprehensive 5-month programme that takes candidates from an entry-level Competent Crew status all the way to Yachtmaster Ocean – 200-ton unlimited commercial license. 

Structured to suit novices and experienced sailors alike, the first 5 weeks of the programme is a foundation phase comprising alternating weeks of shore-based theory and a week of practical sailing. 

The Foundation Phase consists of RYA Competent Crew, RYA Day Skipper Theory, RYA Day Skipper Practical, RYA Yachtmaster Theory, RYA Yachtmaster Practical and RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory, RYA Short Range Radio Certificate and Power Boat Level II.

This is followed by preparation and an approximately 2-month mileage trip either to Rio (in January) or Madagascar (in June), returning to Cape Town.

The Odyssey not only gives candidates sufficient confidence and experience to sit the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore assessment, and the RYA Ocean Oral exam, it also offers incredible offshore sailing and is a truly life-changing experience.

Please note: STCW courses are not included in our course fees and accommodation during theory week is for your own cost.

Contact us about 5-Months Fast Track to RYA Yachtmaster Ocean C.O.C

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ATLANTIC OCEAN ODYSSEY

Leg 1: ROUTE: CAPE TOWN – ST HELENA – RIO East to West Crossing – inspired by the Clipper ship trade routes, the Adventure routing will follow the trade winds making for stunning downwind sailing: sunny skies, warm breezes and big spinnakers.

Leg 2: RIO – TRISTAN DA CUNHA – CAPE TOWN. West to East Crossing – inspired by the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean race which sails around the bottom of the South Atlantic High (renowned as a 24 hour record breaking route). This route makes for challenging but fast and exhilarating sailing. Not for the fainthearted.

INDIAN OCEAN ODYSSEY

The Indian Ocean Odyssey adventure consist of 2 routes. The Cape Town to Madagascar route explores the Southern African East Coast, famous for its challenging sailing conditions. On the return route you’ll be enjoying the trade winds of the Mozambique Channel, and then routing back to Cape Town along the Wild Coast.

Leg 1: CAPE TOWN – RICHARDS BAY – NOSEY BE, MADAGASCAR Leg 2: NOSEY BE, MADAGASCAR – BASSAS DAS INDIA – RICHARDS BAY – CAPE TOWN

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Career Training

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competency is one of the most prestigious and sought-after qualifications in the sailing industry. It is an essential certification for individuals looking to pursue a career in sailing and take on leading positions such as captain. The 5-month fast track program to Yachtmaster Ocean C.O.C offered by 2 Oceans Maritime Academy provides aspiring sailors with the perfect opportunity to achieve their goals.

The Odyssey adventure is a comprehensive 5-month program that takes candidates from entry-level Competent Crew status to Yachtmaster Ocean. The program is structured to cater to both novices and experienced sailors and is designed to provide a strong foundation of knowledge and practical experience. The first 5 weeks of the program is a foundation phase that consists of alternating weeks of shore-based theory and practical sailing. This phase covers RYA Competent Crew, RYA Day Skipper Theory, RYA Day Skipper Practical, RYA Yachtmaster Theory, RYA Yachtmaster Practical and RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory.

After the foundation phase, candidates embark on an approximately 2-month mileage trip either to Rio or Madagascar, returning to Cape Town. This adventure not only provides candidates with the confidence and experience to sit the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore assessment and the RYA Ocean Oral exam, but also offers an incredible offshore sailing experience that is life-changing.

Hout Bay Yacht Club Marina Harbour Road, Hout Bay Cape Town, South Africa, 7806

+27  (82) 854-9789 [email protected] All images on this site are of our boats and students while training

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Online Theory Course

An outstanding course - I can highly recommend this. The details, feedback and support is excellent - makes celestial navigation understandable!

Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, the sextant, global meteorology and ocean passage making

The online RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean theory course teaches advanced techniques to those aspiring to blue water cruising and is ideal for holders of the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate who are preparing for their first ocean passage, and for commercial Skippers or Mates planning on operating more than 150nm from a safe haven.

This course will introduce you to the principles of astro navigation, the practical use of the sextant, the measurement of time, position fixing by the sun and stars, compass checking and great circle sailing.  

You’ll also study the concepts of worldwide meteorology, including tropical revolving storms, and passage planning for ocean voyaging.

• Assumed knowledge Yachtmaster level.
• Minimum duration 40 hours study is specified by the RYA.
• Ability after course Theory knowledge to undertake an ocean passage.

Simply click below to try a free lesson.

Introduction to Astro Navigation

• Introduction & Basic Astro Navigation Theory
• Using a Sextant
• Meridian Passage
• Plotting Your Position
• Planet Sights
• Moon Sights
• Star Sights
• Latitude by Polaris (The Pole Star)
• Compass Check by Sun’s Amplitude
• Ocean Weather & Tropical Storms
• Passage Planning
• Satellite, HF communications and obtaining weather data

Unlimited support from our dedicated RYA Instructors - 365 days a year via email, phone or Skype/Zoom.

14-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

13 fully-narrated online lessons including animations, videos and realistic 3D graphics.

Embedded quizzes with instant feedback in each lesson.

Self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers.

Final exam with detailed instructor feedback and free repeat attempts if requried.

RYA Ocean 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.

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.

Whilst the process of translating a sextant sight into a position line is straightforward it is quite challenging to get to grips with. Unlike classroom training, where time is limited and students progress at different rates, online learning allows you to participate in lessons as many times as you wish to fully get to grips with the concepts.

At the end of each lesson there are excercises 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 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 the final exam.

This is 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 exam you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Certificate , which will be posted to you.

Ad ditional free resits, with suitable Instructor guidance, are available if required.

If you  are working towards your Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence, successful completion of this course exempts you from the written exam.

For most students exam invigilation is not required - see here for examples of when invigilation is required.

Call us for advice on 0238 218 2604

Course reviews.

Nigel Andrews

Helped me master it

This was my third attempt at an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean online course from different companies, and by far the best. For an admittedly difficult subject matter to get one’s head around, the instructor presents a very organized and understandable series of lessons that combine learning with wisdom and humour. Its still a tough subject, but this course helped me master it. Thanks!

Mathew Myatt

Ability to repeat when in doubt

Logical and clear. What was really good was the ability to go back and repeat or all or part of a lesson to ensure you truly understand a concept / principle, something which is more difficult to do when in a real classroom situation

David McIntyre

An excellent course

I found this course to be very comprehensive and informative. The format was very well presented and clear. The main advantage for me was the convenience of doing this in your own time. They are very generous with this. All my correspondence was very promptly replied. They are certainly very on the ball. The instructors gave clear and prompt feedback.

David Collins

Well worth the investment. Excellent!

A challenging course which stretches you but backed up with excellent coaching and instructor support. Worth the investment in time and money. Highly recommended.

Combined - RYA Day Skipper & Yachtmaster to fast track your theory learning

• Certificates of Competence
• Yachtmaster conversions

Converting between sail and power

Holders of the RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence in a particular discipline (sail or power) are eligible for a “discount” in terms of the mileage and sea time that is required for the exam in the other discipline.

The exam that will be undertaken by the candidate is a full exam, however the fact that the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence in one discipline, means that we can accepted a reduced amount of mileage and sea time in the discipline for which they will now be examined.

The seatime shown below must be in the discipline in which you are to be examined (sail or power). All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

Yachtmaster Coastal

• Minimum of 400 miles
• 12 days living on board
• 2 days as skipper
• 12 night hours

Yachtmaster Offshore

• Minimum of 1250 miles
• 25 days living on board
• 3 days as skipper
• 3 passages over 60 miles including 1 overnight and 1 as skipper

It is essential that candidates for any exam be fully conversant with the entire syllabus relating to the relevant type of vessel (sail or motor) and that they have adequate experience to be confident in the capacity of skipper of that type of craft. 

Note: As of 1st July 2021 shortened conversion exams from sail to power and power to sail are no longer available.

• Commercial Requirements – STCW, ENG1 and RYA PPR
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Contact details Melani Kruger | Sales Cell:+27 (0)82 088 7186 [email protected]

Perry-Anne Davies | Principal & General Manager Cell:+27 (0)73 187 3746 [email protected]

Yachtmaster Ocean Sailing School Duncan Road, Table Bay Harbour Cape Town, Western Cape 8001, South Africa

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RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory

Price: from £485 (Finance now available)

Location: Starts from our base at Premier Gosport Marina

Duration: 5 days

The RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory Course brings students with at least the RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal or Yachtmaster™ Offshore qualification and some sailing experience, up to Yachtmaster™ Ocean level (Theory only).

Take a look at our live course calendar  for dates for the RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory course!

Booking details

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

Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for course joining instructions

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam application fee isn’t included in the above cost. Please click here to print-off the RYA Yachtmaster exam application form :

Recommended Reading: RYA Day Skipper Handbook Sail (G71), RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques (G94), RYA Yachtmaster™ scheme and syllabus (G158)

Course Prerequisites:  RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence for those intending to ultimately gain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate of Competence, otherwise a knowledge of navigation to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory level

Minimum Age: 17+

Holiday Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of souces like Topsail Insurance and can cover things like cancellations and personal effects cover.

Who is the course for:

This is perfect for those sailors who have completed their RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Offshore and want to explore the world with some blue water sailing experience or major ocean-going passages.

What we cover on the course:

The course does cover all aspects of ocean navigation with particular emphasis on the use of astro-navigation and worldwide meteorology.

The lessons on astro-navigation will unlock the mysteries of the sextant and allow you to confidently take sights at sea to obtain your position and carry out compass checks.

• The earth and the celestial sphere
• Practical guide to use and care of sextant at sea
• Meridian altitudes
• Sun, star and other sights
• Ocean passage planning

Another important aspect of ocean sailing is worldwide meteorology, passage planning and communications at sea.

Publications and charts that assist the ocean navigator such as routing charts and other pilot books will be discussed and used.

The course also recognises that there has been a vast improvement in technology available to help with ocean routing and weather prediction.

Time will be spent discussing the various computer programmes, internet sites and satellite/radio broadcasts available to the modern ocean navigator.

Crew management, watch keeping, victualling, water and fuel management and emergency equipment are also covered to give a real all-round course and a vast depth of knowledge.

Upon having successfully passed this theory course you will be ready to put the theory into practice on an ocean voyage and passage.

If you return form your ocean passage and have done the required navigation and sights, you are eligible to sit the ocean master certificate of confidence exam.

This can be arranged through ourselves or direct with the RYA.

Course formats & details:

Courses run in a choice of two formats:

• 3 consecutive weekends: (Saturday to Sunday)
• 5 continuous days: (Monday to Friday)

The course includes free overnight accommodation aboard our immaculate, well-maintained yachts, and free tea and coffee, although no meals are included in the course cost (Free accommodation is during low season only and subject to yacht availability – Please check with us beforehand).

All meals are at the students own cost and are taken at any of the great local establishments in Gosport, or a short ferry hop across the harbour to Portsmouth.

Please note that during high season accommodation on-board cannot be guaranteed, so please ensure if you need to take advantage of this benefit you inform us of your requirements well in advance. Should we have no free boats available, you will need to arrange overnight accommodation at your own cost.

Fancy going VIP and having your own exclusive private course for you and your friends or family? You can book the whole yacht just for your own exclusive course from only £485 per person. Enjoy the course in style, with up to five persons on the boat being taught by one of our friendly, experienced Yachtmaster Instructors! What a way to start your sailing adventure!

Our Chief Instructor says this about the Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory Course:

This is one of the coolest things you possibly can do as a Yachtsman.

Being able to use a sextant and navigate with confidence in the middle of the ocean is one of the pinnacles of sailing.

Being out in the middle of the ocean, stood in the cockpit taking sights and then using reduction tables to work out where you are makes some of the most amazing journeys throughout your time as a Yachtsman.

Carrying that wooden box with you onto the vessel as you move towards your passage can be an amazing feeling. With the additions of world meteorology and also ocean passage planning the course really is a good all rounder for those who want to prepare themselves for an ocean voyage of a lifetime.

Related courses

Channel island cruises.

Our exciting and very popular luxury 7-day Channel Island Cruises are aimed at breaking the confines of the Solent for a relaxed and enjoyable Channel Islands adventure. They are a great way to relax, gain sea miles, enhance your sailing skills and see the beautiful Channel Islands. All under the watchful eye of our professional Skipper.

Take a look at our live course calendar  for dates for the Channel Island Cruise!

Spinnaker & Downwind Sailing

The popular and fun Spinnaker & Downwind Sailing Weekend is a great introduction to flying the “big kite”, especially for budding racing sailors wanting a taster of the skills required. This is an essential for those wanting to do any offshore racing, including the iconic RORC Fastnet race!

Take a look at our live course calendar  for dates for the Spinnaker & Downwind Sailing Weekend!

RYA Sea Survival

The RYA Sea Survival Course is an essential for any sailor. Teaching self-help techniques and what to do when all is lost, it’s a prerequisite for longer passages and those wanting to get into racing like RORC Fastnet!

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

Customer reviews

Excellent RYA First Aid course. The instructor, Tom, certainly knew his stuff. The course was a positive learning experience made interesting by detailed explanation and hands on practice sessions. If you want to learn an extremely useful skill I thoroughly recommend this course.

We've chartered on several occasions and the yachts have always been great. We recently did a days boat handling refresher. Commodore maintained social distancing and protocols without making the day awkward or any less value. Just wish the weather had been better for July!

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