- Week 6: Participate in the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course, with a self-study day.
- Week 7: Continue the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course, complete RYA Radar training, and resume Sea Phase activities.
Whether your goal is superyachts, charter work, or progressing into commercial operations, the UKSA Professional Yachtmaster Offshore course sets a strong foundation for a long-term career at sea.
This course qualifies for 0% finance with Cherry Godfrey
We are now able to offer 0% finance through Cherry Godfrey. Please speak to our Careers Team through WhatsApp for more information about this funding route. Subject to status.
Fast-track a professional future at sea by becoming a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) accredited Yachtmaster with UKSA.
This globally recognised qualification is a benchmark of professionalism, proving you’re capable of handling both sailing and motor vessels across a wide range of conditions.
Advance your maritime career
During the course you’ll be fully immersed in the world of sailing
- 70 days afloat
- 2,500 tidal miles
- 10 qualifications
- 16 weeks intense training
Career
opportunities
Graduates of the Professional Yachtmaster Offshore go on to work in exciting and varied careers in various sectors, including:
Superyacht Industry
Roles including deckhand, first mate, and captain on luxury yachts.
Flotilla and Charter Operations
Skippering charter yachts in popular sailing destinations.
Training and Instruction
Opportunities to become sailing instructors or working on youth sail training programs.
Maritime Services
Careers in yacht delivery, brokerage, and marina management.
Merchant Navy
Careers in yacht delivery, brokerage, and marina management.
What to Expect
- Week 1: Begin with UKSA induction, followed by RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance and RYA Marine Short Range Radio courses.
- Week 2: Complete STCW Basic Safety Training modules, including Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety and Social Responsibility, and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting.
Week 3: Engage in Sea Phase activities throughout the week, with a self-study day.
Weeks 4-5: Undertake the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course, interspersed with additional Sea Phase experience.
Week 8: Engage in Sea Phase training, including sessions aboard the Farr 65 yacht.
Week 9: Continue intensive Sea Phase experience on the Farr 65 throughout the week.
Week 10: Focus on industry knowledge, complete the Proficiency in Designated Security Duties course, and undertake RYA Powerboat Level 2 training, alongside Sea Phase activities.
Weeks 11-12: Continue with extensive Sea Phase training, incorporating self-study and industry guidance sessions.
Week 13: Begin self-skippered Sea Phase voyages, taking on increased responsibility.
Week 14: Continue self-skippered Sea Phase activities, with additional self-study.
Week 15: Finalize Sea Phase training and prepare for the upcoming exam.
Week 16: Engage in intensive RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Preparation sessions, culminating in the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam and oral assessment.
About the Course
About the Course
The Professional Yachtmaster Offshore course at UKSA is a world-renowned, all-inclusive training programme designed to take you from novice to qualified Yachtmaster in just 16 weeks. Combining essential theory with intensive hands-on experience, this course prepares you to take command at sea with confidence and competence.
Training on the Solent
The Solent offers a great training ground due to the challenging conditions from sheltered waters to open sea, strong tidal flows and shifting currents. It’s one of the busiest stretches of water in the world, with commercial ships, ferries, military vessels, and recreational boats, there are also a number of marinas and harbours some tidal and some with unlit navigational marks. This teaches vital navigation, collision avoidance, and situational awareness skills.
Your Path to Becoming a Commercial Skipper
To obtain a commercial skipper’s license, we guide you through two key training components included in this course: the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased and Day Skipper Practical courses. The shorebased course provides vital theoretical knowledge, covering meteorology, navigation, pilotage techniques, and collision regulations. This is then applied during the practical course, where you’ll develop essential skippering skills such as boat handling, crew management, practical pilotage, and passage planning.
Course Duration and Commitment
The course runs over 16 intensive weeks, including:
- 70 days afloat
- 2,500 tidal miles covered
It’s a fast-track route to launching your career at sea, with a curriculum carefully designed to meet industry expectations and real-world demands.
Have you own boat?
If you are looking to learn the skills necessary to work on your own boat, rather than pursue a professional career, this course is still an ideal choice!
- RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail) or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (Sail)
- RYA Day Skipper Shorebased
- RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased
- MCA STCW Basic Safety Training
- Personal Survival Techniques
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
- Elementary First Aid
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
- MCA Proficiency in Designated Security Duties
- RYA Short Range Radio
- RYA Radar
- RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities
Commercial Endorsement
To work professionally within the maritime industry, you must be commercially endorsed. To commercially endorse your RYA Yachtmaster Certification at the end of your training, you will need to complete the RYA application for Commercial Endorsement Form, but you will gain all qualifications needed to commercially endorse your ticket during training.
You must have an ENG1 seafarer medical fitness certificate to work at sea and to enable you to apply for your RYA Commercial Endorsement. We recommend all students secure this before attending a course.
There are no other pre-requisites necessary to start the course. All that we ask is that you have enough sailing experience to know that you want a life at sea. If you don’t have any previous experience, we recommend you talk to our course advisors on +44 (0)1983 203038 or [email protected]
All maritime employers will expect some type of experience to show that you can demonstrate a strong work ethic, practical application of skills and are a motivated individual. We would recommend any student booking onto our careers courses to have a minimum of one year prior experience in a work place, whether this is volunteering or paid work.
UKSA is not a recruitment agency and cannot guarantee work placements after completion of the course, but we work closely with a large number of recruitment agencies and companies that employ our graduates. During all courses we provide industry and career guidance to prepare for seeking employment post-graduation, and offer continual support once you have left UKSA.
Funding Available
We have funding opportunities available for those in genuine financial need.
Contact our course advisers to get the details and assess your eligibility.
Upcoming dates for Professional Yachtmaster Offshore
| Start date → End date | Course only price | Residential price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Sep 2026 → 23 Dec 2026Final places | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 05 Oct 2026 → 03 Feb 2027Sold out | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 09 Nov 2026 → 14 Mar 2027Sold out | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 04 Jan 2027 → 26 Apr 2027Sold out | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 15 Feb 2027 → 07 Jun 2027 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 29 Mar 2027 → 19 Jul 2027 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 10 May 2027 → 30 Aug 2027 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 02 Aug 2027 → 22 Nov 2027 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 01 Sep 2027 → 22 Dec 2027 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 20 Oct 2027 → 19 Feb 2028 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 25 Nov 2027 → 28 Mar 2028 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 04 Jan 2028 → 25 Apr 2028 | £13640 | £14500 | Add to Basket Book now |
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