rya yachtmaster offshore qualifying passages

Certificates of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

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:

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 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:

have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
have read the syllabus in RYA Logbook (G158)
have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

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.

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam pre-requisites

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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.

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 most likely old RYA-appointed salt 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

Here you can find an example of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean narrative and navigational records for passage from Gibraltar to Tenerife prepared for my exam.

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
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RYA Qualification Offshore

General information.

RYA certificates

rya yachtmaster offshore qualifying passages

Qualification as a Yachtmaster™ Offshore is the ultimate aim of many skippers, both professional and recreational. We offer several RYA courses for different levels of experience.

Curious about where you are in the scheme? Please contact us for advise.

Competent Crew Course (5 days practical) This course is for beginners who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. Dates and Prices > Additionally you can choose for a jump start in navigation with the RYA's Essential Navigation online. More information >

Day Skipper Course (5 days practical) A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills. Dates and Prices > We strongly advise to do a Day Skipper online theory course beforehand. More information >

Qualifying Miles (6-14 days practical) Routinate your skills by building miles. Gain more experience before the next step. Dates and Prices >

Coastal Skipper Course (5 days practical) Advanced skippering techniques for yachtsmen and women with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation. Dates and Prices > You must have your theory up to speed on a Coastal Skipper / YM Offshore level beforehand. More information >

Qualifying Miles (30-40 days sailing + training) Milesbuilders and training challenging passages and pilotage to apply knowledge. Dates and Prices > In these variety of trips are at least 5 x 60 qualifying miles. For these we advise to obtain a Coastal Skipper certificate first.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep & Exam (5+2 days) Preparation Course prior to the exam. The final exam takes 2 days . Dates and Prices >

RYA VHF Short Range Certificate (online + practical assessment) Qualification required to operate marine VHF radio equipment. More information >

RYA First Aid (1 day) Highly recommended for all sailors and mandatory for aspiring Yachtmasters. More information >

What is a Yachtmaster™ Offshore?

A RYA Yachtmaster Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. A RYA Yachtmaster™ needs a wealth of knowledge, not only to cope with plain sailing or motor cruising, but also to be able to manage demanding situations. Qualification as a RYA Yachtmaster™ is the ultimate aim of many skippers, both professional and recreational.

The RYA Yachtmaster certificate does not only display your level as a sailor, it is also one of the sailing documents recognized throughout the world. 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.

What does it mean to be commercially endorsed?

If you need a Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft, subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe harbour.

For a commercial endorsement, in addition to your practical certificate of competence you will need:

Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate, acquired with a short online course
A completed ML5 Medical Report Form or ENG1 medical fitness form provided by a doctor
A RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or Offshore Personal Survival Techniques
A RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate

The next step: RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

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”. The examiner will determine whether the candidate is competent at astro navigation. Candidates must have successfully navigated a yacht at sea by astro navigation. 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, a star or planet. Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course

More about 'qualifying passages' After every practical course you need to consolidate your acquired skills. Build miles and broaden your experience in a variety of areas and in different circumstances.

For Yachtmaster Offshore you need at least 5 qualifying passages as a bare minimum: 1) Over 60 nm 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. 2) Trainee skippers undertaking 60 mile passages are strongly advised to obtain a Coastal Skipper qualification first! 3) Supporting testimonials or a Seaman’s Discharge book

Skipper: The skipper is the person nominated and responsible for the planning and execution of a passage including vessel and watch management. 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.
Mate: For the purpose of qualifying passages, a mate is any person on board who has sole responsibility for managing a navigational watch during a passage. They must be actively engaged in the planning and execution of a passage.
Tidal: 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.
Days on board: A day on board or as skipper is a period of eight consecutive hours living on board, the majority of which the vessel should have been at sea. Periods of less than eight hours cannot be aggregated to make up eight hours. Only one eight-hour period may be counted in any 24 hour period.
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Rya yachtmaster coastal and offshore – prep course and exam.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate – Prep Course & Exam

An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is the ultimate sailing qualification for UK sailors and for many aspiring professional sailors around the world. Whether you want the Yachtmaster Certificate of Competency to be able to charter yachts as skipper anywhere in the world, as proof you have reached the pinnacle of your leisure sailing ambitions, or you need it for a sailing career, you will need to pass the exam. It is nautical equivalent of a driving license, no matter if you are into racing yachts, classic boats, super yachts or motor boats.

If you pass and meet the pre-requisites to convert it into a commercially endorsed MCA/RYA Certificate of Competency, you are legally qualified to skipper a vessel up to 24 metres or up to 200 tonnes.

Why do a Yachtmaster Preparation Course ?

Unlike other courses in the cruising programme, there is no formal training to complete in order to become a Yachtmaster Offshore. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime (see pre requisites), you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. This exam takes place on an approved yacht with an external RYA examiner testing both your practical skills and your theoretical knowledge over 5-9 hours per candidate, or slightly longer if you are the only candidate being examined.

Our Yachtmaster Prep course has a generous 5 days (more than most schools) and 2 days set aside after the course for those that feel ready to take the exam.

Benchmark for a Successful Exam Pass

If you have not completed a shore based Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster theory course then please check the syllabus to make sure you are confident with your theoretical knowledge (especially Rules of the Road IRPCS) and the practical application of navigational skills. We can now offer you a Long Distance Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Theory Course, which gives you the option of when, where and for how long, you study.

A RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (formerly Coastal Skipper) should have the knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

A RYA Yachtmaster Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night. The only way to gain confidence is by practice, particularly at night when skill is required in picking out navigation lights and buoys against a background of shore lights. (If you have colour blindness please talk to us before booking)

With a course over 7 days, your fully qualified instructor will be able to devote plenty of time to your individual needs with regular debriefings and coaching aimed at helping you to raise your standards.

Fee’s for Yachtmaster Certificate preparation

Voyage fee is for the full 5 days of instruction (or 8 days if you go on to do the exam)

Examination fee payable to the examiner -RYA Yachtmaster offshore Exam is £215 and Yachtmaster Coastal is roughly £185 per person (2019).

Yachtmaster Coastal Pre Exam Requirements

Radio Operators Certificate – for example (restricted) VHF Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certification or higher grade marine radio qualification.

Valid First Aid Certificate – First Aid certificates held by police / fire or armed servicesare also acceptable.

Seatime – 800 miles logged within 10 years of the examination. 30 days on board. 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours. (half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)

Yachtmaster Offshore Pre Exam Requirements

Seatime – 2500 miles. 50 days on board. At least 5 passages over 60 miles and acting as skipper for at least 2 of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages.

Skipper experience – at least 5 days as skipper. (Half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)

50 Days seatime & 5 days as skipper – 2500 miles logged – 5 passages over 60 miles -including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Qualifying passages must be over 60 miles non stop by the most direct route and involve no change of skipper during the passage.

Bring with you to the exam

RYA logbook or evidence of your sailing experience and qualifying passages

Passport photo
cheque or credit card details for Exam fee payable to the RYA
First Aid Certificate
VHF Radio Operators Certificate
You must be over 18 years of age & qualifying experience gained over the age of 15.
Certification required before the examination:
VHF Radio Operators Certificate – First Aid Certificate

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RYA Yachtmaster Qualifying Passages – Mile builders

Gaining experience.

A significant issue faced by RYA Yachtmaster (Power) candidates is gaining the required sea miles and skippering experience prior to attending an RYA Yachtmaster Prep course and exam. Unless you are lucky enough to own or have access to a suitable motor vessel how do you gain the sea miles and navigational experience! Whereas many people are both confident and competent in all aspects of boating they may not have ventured further afield to meet the RYA Yachtmaster requirements.

RYA Yachtmaster (Pre-requisite)

Coastal : 30 days motor cruising, 800 miles logged, 12 night hours, 2 days as skipper (ideally over 60 miles along the rhumb line). If you hold the Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 400 miles, 12 night hours, 2 days as skipper (ideally over 60 miles along the rhumb line).

Offshore : 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. NB. Qualifying seatime in boats over 24m only counts as 50% of the minimum requirement.

Mile Builders – Skippered Passages

What is a mile builder – Skippered Passage? These can be both or either… Some people just need to gain the ‘Skippered Passage’ and or just the sea miles. These trips are always over 60nm by the Rhumb Line (straight line) so inevitably are over 60nm’s from departure point to destination. Anyone on board can claim the total sea miles of the trip but only one person can claim to have skippered each 60nm+ leg. The person wishing to claim the ‘Skippered’ passage must and will be responsible for the planning of that passage.

As Skipper you would prepare a detailed passage, manage victualling, schedule a crew roster, ensure a navigation log is maintained and ensure a safe passage. You would be expected to utilise a range of navigation skills to include traditional paper navigation, position fixing, electronic navigation techniques and the use of RADAR. The passages may include night hours if required. These are expensive courses to run so we expect that you would want to get as much out of it as possible.

Every mile building trip is supervised by an experienced RYA Yachtmaster (Power) who will ensure that the pilotage and passage plans are safe and to the right standard. You will be set some exercises to complete such as running fixes, fixes by RADAR etc.

Our most recent mile builder, skippered passage, was a run to Falmouth via refuel in Torquay and then return. This was a valuable learning experience for someone with many years of boating experience but not quite enough longer, 60+nm passages. I hope to post a post trip report sometime soon.

By their nature, these cannot be boat handling courses.

Mile Building / Skippered Passages

Paul McCabe - Principal and Director of Mendez Marine, Yachtmaster and Powerboat Instructor, RYSA Shorebased Theory Instructor

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Neptune Maritime Training Sail & Power

RYA yachtmaster power & sail passages

RYA Definition of a Passage for Yachtmaster sail and power exams

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.

Trainee skippers undertaking 60 mile passages are strongly advised to obtain a Coastal Skipper qualification first.

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”.

Ocean candidates may take their sights on a shorter passage than the qualifying passage. The examiner will determine whether the candidate is competent at astro navigation.

Examiners are responsible for establishing the level of a candidates competence during the exam. Where a candidate’s qualifying mileage is doubtful examiners will question the candidate carefully.

Completing qualifying passages is important for new yachtmaster eligibility criteria. talk to an RYA Training centre to ensure your sea miles and passages are complete

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Yachtmaster Offshore: When, Why, and How

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.

When am I ready to take the course?

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.

When is the best time to take the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore course?

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.

Why take the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?

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.

How to apply for Yachtmaster Offshore Program?

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!

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Algemene informatie

Qualification as a Yachtmaster™ Offshore is the ultimate aim of many skippers, both professional and recreational. We offer several RYA courses for different levels of experience.

Curious about where you are in the scheme? Please contact us for advise.

Qualifying Miles (6-14 days practical) Routinate your skills by building miles. Gain more experience before the next step. Dates and Prices >

Qualifying Miles (30-40 days sailing + training) Milesbuilders and training challenging passages and pilotage to apply knowledge. Dates and Prices > In these variety of trips are at least 5 x 60 qualifying miles. For these we advise to obtain a Coastal Skipper certificate first.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep & Exam (5+2 days) Preparation Course prior to the exam. The final exam takes 2 days . Dates and Prices >

RYA VHF Short Range Certificate (online + practical assessment) Qualification required to operate marine VHF radio equipment. More information >

RYA First Aid (1 day) Highly recommended for all sailors and mandatory for aspiring Yachtmasters. More information >

What is a Yachtmaster™ Offshore?

What does it mean to be commercially endorsed?

If you need a Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft, subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed.

You can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe harbour.

For a commercial endorsement, in addition to your practical certificate of competence you will need:

Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate, acquired with a short online course
A completed ML5 Medical Report Form or ENG1 medical fitness form provided by a doctor
A RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or Offshore Personal Survival Techniques
A RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate

The next step: RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

Candidates must have successfully navigated a yacht at sea by astro navigation. 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, a star or planet. Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course

Skipper: The skipper is the person nominated and responsible for the planning and execution of a passage including vessel and watch management. 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.
Mate: For the purpose of qualifying passages, a mate is any person on board who has sole responsibility for managing a navigational watch during a passage. They must be actively engaged in the planning and execution of a passage.
Tidal: 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.
Days on board: A day on board or as skipper is a period of eight consecutive hours living on board, the majority of which the vessel should have been at sea. Periods of less than eight hours cannot be aggregated to make up eight hours. Only one eight-hour period may be counted in any 24 hour period.
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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.

Yachtmaster Milebuilder and Qualifying Passages

Our Yachtmaster Milebuilders provide the opportunity to log sea miles and qualifying passages in preparation for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate assessment. You will take part in a series of extended offshore passages by day and night, operating a watch system on board.

Description

Our mile builder passages provide a fantastic opportunity to develop offshore sailing skills and experience and to log sea miles and Yachtmaster qualifying passages.

Sailing programme

The mile builder is broken into a series of coastal and offshore passages of 60 nautical miles or more, designed to meet the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifying criteria.

The crew will operate in a watch system by day and night and take turns acting as Skipper, Watchleader, and Navigator for a passage.

We aim to sail more than 1,500 miles in the time frame. This target's success depends mainly on the crew's ability to plan the passages to take advantage of the prevailing wind, weather, and currents.

Some nights, you will spend sailing continuously, some will be spent at anchor or on a mooring buoy, and others in the comfort of a marina where you will be able to clean up, re-victual, wash clothes, and have a hot shower.

Accommodation

You will be allocated a crew berth in shared cabin accommodation for the duration. You will be hot bunking while on passage and in a watch system.

On a more extended layover (typically two nights), you may like to book a local hotel or guest house for a bit of R and R.

All vessels have an enclosed bathroom on board.

Course content

Preparation for sea and safety equipment audit.
Safety procedures and drills, shake down sailing exercises
Pilotage and passage planning
Offshore log-keeping and navigation
Seamanship skills offshore, including helming, sail trimming, reefing, headsail changes, poling out, etc
Preparing for heavy weather
Man overboard procedures and other emergency procedures
Watchkeeping/night passages
Crew Management and the Role of the Skipper / Watchleader
Skipper experience

Location and sailing conditions

We will cruise up and down the East coast of Australia, visiting ports like Coffs Harbour and Port Stephens to the North and Jervis Bay, Eden, or perhaps Tasmania to the South.

The scenery and anchorages are magnificent, and the weather is generally excellent for sailing.

You can expect to see dolphins and whales at certain times of the year and, of course, Flying Fish!

The yacht and the instructor

This course will be run on board one of our training yachts by an experienced and accredited RYA instructor.

You live on board with your fellow students and participate in all aspects of running the boat.

Before you start

No formal qualifications are required but your sailing and navigation skills should be at Day Skipper level or equivalent.
We also recommend you hold a Safety and Sea Survival certificate.

What's included

Tuition, logbook, pre-course reading.
Life jackets and safety harnesses are provided and we can loan you wet weather clothing if required.
Shared cabin accommodation on board.
All vessels have an enclosed bathroom on board.
We provide all meals on board from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day.
You should expect to eat, at your own cost ashore, for 2 - 3 nights.

Qualifications and experience

Approx 1500 sea miles / 16 days
RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualifying passages
RYA Watchleader certificate
At the end of the course, your instructor will give you feedback on your sailing skills and your ability as a skipper, making recommendations for your future training and experience.
Plot your course to Yachtmaster certification.

Similar courses

Upon completing this course, you will have a thorough knowledge of all the theory required for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

Dayskipper to Yachtmaster Fast-track is designed for confident sailors who have completed RYA Day Skipper or have previous experience as skipper in sheltered waters. It provides an efficient pathway to the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

This one-day Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) approved course teaches you to use VHF (Short Range) as well as MF and HF (Long Range) radio for distress, urgency, safety, and general calls. The course includes GMDSS and DSC

Hamilton Island Race Week is one of Australia’s favourite yachting events. Perfectly situated amongst Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island offers fabulous trade wind sailing conditions in a tropical paradise.

This course has been specifically designed for those working in the marine environment and is ideal for boat owners, watersports instructors, yacht skippers, and crew. The course leads to an internationally recognised first aid qualification.

This is a magnificent voyage and an excellent opportunity for experienced sailors to gain sea miles and offshore qualifying passages, in preparation for assessment for the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

Be part of the crew on an ocean sailing passage to a stunning Pacific island destination. This is a superb training adventure and is ideal for sailors who want to experience the magic of blue-water cruising.

This magnificent one thousand-mile sailing adventure is definitely a Flying Fish favorite. It provides an excellent opportunity for competent sailors to gain sea miles, offshore experience, and qualifying passages, in preparation for assessment for the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR) is a compulsory online course for qualified RYA Yachtmasters who require a Commercial Endorsement. Ignore the dates shown here!

Learn some tricks of the trade so you can be safe on the race course. Racing with spinnakers is exciting but it also presents new risks. Flying a kite requires the crew to perform a number of tasks in the correct order.

The RYA Coastal Skipper course provides you with the opportunity to develop your seamanship, boat handling and navigation skills offshore by day and night. It is a stepping stone towards the Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence.

This course gives you an overall awareness of the central systems of a marine diesel engine. We teach you how to take simple measures to prevent mechanical breakdown at sea and rectify defects that do not require workshop support.

This course provides intensive training in the practical skills and theoretical knowledge the small boat driver needs. You will learn to drive our rigid inflatable rescue craft.

This course prepares experienced skippers for the prestigious RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence. The programme combines the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course with an exhilarating Pacific ocean qualifying passage.

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shore-based week teaches you ocean passage planning and celestial navigation, including the use of a sextant. You will leave the course confident that you have the knowledge and skills required to navigate an ocean passage using traditional methods.

The Yachtmaster Ocean Fast Track in Sydney first trains you for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate. Then, you go on to learn celestial navigation and complete an ocean-qualifying passage in preparation for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam.

This course leads to a practical assessment conducted independently by an RYA Yachtmaster Examiner. Depending on your prior skills and experience, your objective may be a Yachtmaster Offshore or Coastal Certificate of Competence.

The world-famous 628-mile Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is renowned for being the Everest of amateur yacht racing. Each year, around 130 yachts come together to do battle with the competition and with the elements. Completing a Sydney to Hobart race ticks a big box on your sailing resume.

This two-day course meets the requirements of World Sailing (formerly ISAF), RYA and AS for crew planning to take part in offshore yacht races like the Sydney to Hobart race. The course is also highly recommended for anyone going to sea for any purpose.

The RYA Cruising Instructor course is for professional, commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmasters who want to become accredited to teach RYA courses at a network of over 2,400 RYA-recognised training centres in 58 countries.

This course provides a grounding in the essential maintenance tasks required to keep a modern cruising yacht on the water.

This course is for anyone at or above the RYA Day Skipper standard who wants to develop their boat handling, seamanship, and navigation skills and confidence as a skipper.

The Yachtmaster Coastal Fast-Track in Sydney takes you from novice sailor to RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence.

The Flying Fish Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track in Sydney takes you from novice sailor to the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

The Sydney Harbour Regatta is Australia's premier inshore yacht racing event. The exhilarating race programme on the water is matched only by the fantastic 'après sail' social scene at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

This passage meets the requirements of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for crew qualification for the Sydney to Hobart race. It is also a great mile builder for aspiring Yachtmasters.

Sail the iconic route from Hobart to Sydney in on our impressive, cutter rigged, Sydney to Hobart race yacht Arctos.

This is a re-validation course for those who have completed the two-day AS/World Sailing Offshore Safety and Sea Survival course but whose certificates will soon expire.

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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 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, provided you have sufficient experience, certification and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. There are a number of RYA navigation courses that will help you prepare for your exam. Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates also choose to book themselves into an RYA training centre for some specialised exam preparation training, but this is not compulsory.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

Arranging your exam

The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees and how to book.

With an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence you can start a career at sea.

You'll need to have the appropriate qualification for the vessel and area of operation.

If you want to work commercially, you'll need a commercial endorsement.

Find out more about other RYA professional qualifications.

Getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course

Can you really become an RYA Yachtmaster in as little as 14 weeks? Check out our top tips for getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course...

Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage

Ocean sailing is an exhilarating experience like no other!

Price £2,499 (inc VAT)

14 day course

Maximum 4 students per course

Accommodation onboard provided

All meals eaten onboard provided

Free parking at Port Solent Marina

How to book a course

If you would like to book a course with Portsmouth Marine Training you can use the online booking system at the bottom of the page, or feel free to give us a call on 02392 838885 or 07597 311612 and we can take your booking over the phone.

Unfortunately we will not be offering any Qualifying passages for 2024.

Course aims:

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Passage is for those looking to qualify as a Yachtmaster Ocean sailor, or for those that would like to experience offshore sailing across an ocean. Our aim is to make two qualifying passages of over 600 miles, from Port Solent to Vigo, Spain and back. This will ensure that all 4 crew on board will experience having responsibility for the vessel and be watch leader. A return journey also has the advantage of having two attempts of obtaining sight readings. The passages will be done on a 15m ocean going yacht, with 8 berths and 3 cabins (2 berths in the main saloon). We will only ever have a maximum of 4 clients on board.

Course content:

The syllabus for this course will cover:

Celestial Navigation, using a sextant for sun sights and other planetary bodies
Ocean Passage planning
Victualling and on board living
Watch schemes
Satellite Navigation
Meteorology and weather systems
Heavy weather
Ocean communications
Medical issues at sea
Managing power on the boat
Customs and information when entering a foreign country

Course pre-requisites:

In order to do the ocean qualifying passage you must already hold the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate.

The first stage is to complete the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course . This can be done in our classroom in Chichester Marina. Click the link for details.

The next stage is to complete the qualifying passage which must be a minimum of 600 miles, within a continuous passage of at least 96 hours.

Once completed you will be ready to take the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam.

Related course materials…

Buy rya astro navigation handbook here.

Book Online

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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.

Sea Time Experience

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:

At least 2500 miles logged.
Spent 50 days at sea on yachts of up to 500GT.
At least half the sea time must have been spent in tidal waters.
Have completed five passages of over 60 miles, of which two passages were as a skipper, and two carried out at night.
Have at least five days experience working as a skipper.
Hold a valid First Aid Certificate. In the case of a STCW Elementary First Aid it needs to have been issued within the last five years, whereas in the case of an RYA First Aid it needs to be issued within the past three years.
Be in possession of a GMDSS short-range VHF radio certificate.

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:

At least 1250 miles on a vessel that was between 7m and 24m in length.
Have spent 25 days living onboard.
Have spent 3 days as a skipper.
Have carried out 3 passages exceeding 60 miles, of which one was as a skipper and one overnight.

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:

The RYA First Aid
The STCW Elementary First Aid
Seafish First Aid

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.

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RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor – All You Need To Know

What is the rya coastal skipper practical motor.

The goal of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a motor cruiser safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.

If you have not already done your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory, then you should do that first. You can find more information about our online course here; RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory .

Or if you look here if you are looking for an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail .

What Does the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor Allow You to Do?

You will gain practice in planning and skippering longer passages with a significant number of night hours where watch-keeping rotas become relevant. At the end of the course, a successful candidate would be awarded a course completion certificate.

An RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course gives you the confidence to skipper a motor cruiser in unfamiliar waters, out of sight of land, both during the day and at night. It also gives credibility to the holder’s higher skill levels and will likely be looked at positively by insurance companies.

Occasionally, charter companies may ask for an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor certificate for their larger sizes of vessels or for chartering in more complex waters.

Nobody will be ready to jump straight into a commercial RYA Coastal Skipper Motor exam on completion of an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course, but the skillsets taught will enable the student to continue building their knowledge and experience as they progress in their motor cruising career.

Who Can Do an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course is open to anyone who meets the basic minimum criteria.

17 years of age or older
15 days spent at sea
300nm at sea
8 night hours experienced on the water
2 days as skipper

If you have boating experience but not skippering experience, then you will want to take the RYA Day Skipper Practical Motor course. You can read more about that here.

Can You Go Straight to the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course?

You should aim to complete your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory before attending your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course.

While this is not a beginner’s course, so long as you have the relevant experience and skippering skills as described above then you can indeed, go straight into RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor.

It should be noted however, that on the RYA Day Skipper Practical Motor course certain building blocks in your learning will have taken place and so if you do not have at least a few days of experience as a skipper of a small vessel then it is recommended that you start at the RYA Day Skipper Practical Motor to consolidate your knowledge of boat handling and skippering techniques.

How Long Does an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor take?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor is a minimum of a 5-day live-aboard course, however, some schools may choose to extend this.

Is There a Set Syllabus?

There is indeed a syllabus. Each of the following topics represents a specific part of the learnings that will be covered on an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course in varying levels of detail.

Passage planning, preparation for sea, pilotage, passage making, ability as skipper, handling under power, adverse weather conditions and emergency situations detail the various aspects of the syllabus.

Read on to learn in a little more detail about how each of these is covered in a little more detail.

What Might I Learn on an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor Course?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course is one of the most rewarding courses within the RYA cruising scheme.

On this course, you will advance your cruising and navigational skills from those previously learned. The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor will take your RYA Day Skipper Practical Motor skills to a higher level. With this, you will gain more independence in your skippering.

The highlight of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course will see you take on a passage that involves some kind of watchkeeping, something you may not have been part of before, especially while also responsible for skippering and navigation. This passage will ideally be out of sight of land and include numerous hours both during the day and at night.

Inevitably, the passage will also cover more than one tidal period or window while also overlaying various weather forecast times. Covering these in a practical scenario, under the guidance of an experienced instructor will allow you to truly see and feel how much these will affect your passage and why we need to take careful consideration of them at all times.

Further passage planning and preparation to a coastal level will be covered, while pilotage will now be covered by night as well as day.

Handling the vessel under power will not be forgotten about as you will be put through more advanced learnings both at sea and in close quarters.

Finally, of course, during the week you will cover various emergency situations, including the recovery of a casualty and understanding how to handle adverse weather.

Practicing manouvres on an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course

What Is the Cost of a Course?

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.

Where Should I Do My RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor Course?

There are many thoughts on where is best, but to be truthful, it is what works for you best.

One thought is to do it in an area that you wouldn’t normally cruise in, that way, you can gain learnings and experiences that are uncommon to you.

It is also important to know where you might be cruising. Ideally, you want to be cruising out of sight of land at some point on an extended passage that covers a number of night hours. You do not want to be returning to the same home port every night.

Check here for RYA practical schools.

What Is the Pass Mark for the Course?

There is no specific pass mark as such. The instructor’s aim is to introduce you to the skills, techniques and experiences of cruising out of sight of land, on a watch system and making landfall.

These may all be introductions to you in this area and as such, each student will find they are at a different level.

The instructor for your course will guide and personalise any learnings so as to improve your knowledge and skills as best as possible.

As long as you are willing to put the effort into learning these skills and have come with the relevant knowledge and experience then you should be confident in achieving the desired standard to be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course completion certification.

What Comes After RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor

This is the highest practical course within the RYA cruising scheme. Ideally, you want to go on and consolidate all your learnings and gain experience in a range of conditions, boats and passages.

As you venture out on your travels, be sure to study any special characteristics you will come across in new unfamiliar waters such as med moorings, unusual winds or IALA B.

Once you have consolidated your knowledge, you can start to think about aiming for your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor.

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Qualifying passages
Qualifying passages, sea time and days as skipper must take place on a suitably sized vessel appropriate to the discipline being examined, as detailed below. ... For vessels up to 200gt candidates must hold a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or higher Certificate of Competence.
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam
The RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. ... 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.
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean & Qualifying Passages
The highest of the RYA qualifications is Yachtmaster Ocean. Full information about the requirements are given below. The majority of Rubicon 3's offshore passages are suitable as qualifying passages, but not all. When you head to the Ocean and Offshore trips page, just select 'Suitable for Yachtmaster Ocean' on the filters.
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
Distance: The passage must be a non-stop journey of at least 600 nautical miles. Offshore Distance: At least 250 miles of the passage must be more than 50 nautical miles offshore. This requirement is designed to ensure that the passage includes a significant amount of open ocean sailing, testing navigational skills away from coastal landmarks.
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam
The RYA Yachtmaster® Ocean is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. Qualifications. 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 ...
60 mile passages for Yachtmaster
60 mile Qualifying Passages for Yachtmaster Exam. Before you take a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam you will need a minimum of: 5 passages over 60 nautical miles between ports including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. 50 days seatime. 5 days as skipper. 2500 miles.
Requirements for Yachtmaster offshore exam
Qualifying passages. 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.
PDF Yachtmaster™ Offshore
The YachtmasterTM Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. 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). YachtmasterTM Offshore practical exams ...
RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 5
Hold an RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore Certificate of Competence; Have completed a qualifying passage which meets the following criteria: ... 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 ...
RYA Qualification Offshore
For Yachtmaster Offshore you need at least 5 qualifying passages as a bare minimum: 1) Over 60 nm 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.
Qualifying passages
Qualifying passages, sea time and days as skipper must take place on a suitably sized vessel appropriate to the discipline being examined, as detailed below. ... For vessels up to 200gt candidates must hold a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or higher Certificate of Competence.
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore
An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is the ultimate sailing qualification for UK sailors and for many aspiring professional sailors around the world. ... 5 passages over 60 miles -including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Qualifying passages must be over 60 miles non stop by the most direct route and involve no change of skipper during the ...
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam
The RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. ... 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.
RYA Yachtmaster Qualifying Passages
A significant issue faced by RYA Yachtmaster (Power) candidates is gaining the required sea miles and skippering experience prior to attending an RYA Yachtmaster Prep course and exam. ... Offshore: 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 ...
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam
The RYA Yachtmaster® Ocean is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. Qualifications. 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 ...
RYA yachtmaster power & sail passages
RYA Definition of a Passage for Yachtmaster sail and power exams 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
Yachtmaster Offshore: When, Why, and How
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 .
RYA Courses
For Yachtmaster Offshore you need at least 5 qualifying passages as a bare minimum: 1) Over 60 nm 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.
What is an Ocean Yachtmaster
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.. RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course. This is a 40-hour theory course.
Yachtmaster Milebuilder and Qualifying Passages
Sailing programme. The mile builder is broken into a series of coastal and offshore passages of 60 nautical miles or more, designed to meet the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifying criteria. The crew will operate in a watch system by day and night and take turns acting as Skipper, Watchleader, and Navigator for a passage.
What is an RYA Yachtmaster?
The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. ... RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore. You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore ... your exam; The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees ...
Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage
Course aims: The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Passage is for those looking to qualify as a Yachtmaster Ocean sailor, or for those that would like to experience offshore sailing across an ocean. Our aim is to make two qualifying passages of over 600 miles, from Port Solent to Vigo, Spain and back. This will ensure that all 4 crew on board will ...
What is an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 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.
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor
The goal of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Motor course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a motor cruiser safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. If you have not already done your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory, then you should do that first.

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam pre-requisites

Requirements for Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Whats covered

Sea time requirements for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Converting from sail to power

Commercial endorsement

Acting as Skipper

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

Sea time requirements for RYA Yachtmaster Coastal

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

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

Power or sail?

STCW Endorsement

Do I need RYA Yachtmaster Theory?

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

RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 5 - Yachtmaster Ocean

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Preparation

Exam Syllabus

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The next step: RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

What is an Ocean Yachtmaster

RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Course

RYA/MCA Ocean Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence Oral Exam

Becoming a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence Holder

Is the Ocean Shorebased Written Exam Invigilated?

What qualifies as a RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage?

Ocean Candidate’s Role On Board

Ocean Qualifying Passage

Examples of Ocean qualifying passages (non stop passages)

Vessel used for Ocean Qualifying Passage

Sights and Compass Check by Sextant at Sea

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)?

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

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

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

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Yachtmaster Milebuilder and Qualifying Passages

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