RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Yachtmaster Offshore Prep &
Exam

Preparation course overview

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation course enables those who hold the required prerequisite experience to sit the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam to fine tune their existing skills prior to sitting the practical exam.

About the course

The preparation course is run over 5 days and designed to assess your level of competency against the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam syllabus found in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158/15) and is intended to fine tune your existing skills and polish any areas of weakness prior to the exam. The subsequent exam is then run over two days, following the preparation course.

Prior the prep course, we advise that you read the exam syllabus and give yourself an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses. Try to address any shortfalls beforehand and then during the preparation course be open with your instructor about your abilities and what you need to work on in the run up to your exam.

During the prep course your instructor will frequently update you on your progress and ability and recommend which exam you should aim for – whether Coastal or Offshore.

The syllabus is taught in a ratio of (4:1) students to instructor.

Prerequisites

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam (Sail)

Candidates must be aged 17 or over and require;

  • A Radio Operators Qualification – A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate
  • A valid first aid certificate
  • Seatime – 800 miles logged within 10 years prior to examination, 30 days living on board, two days as skipper and 12 night hours.

For holders of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate, the seatime requirement is reduced to 400 miles, 2 days living on board, 12 night hours, two days as skipper.

Half of the qualifying seatime must have been gained in tidal waters. For sizes of vessel please refer to page 73 in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158/15).

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam (Sail)

Candidates must be aged 18 or over and require;

  • A Radio Operators Qualification – A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate
  • A valid first aid certificate
  • Seatime – 50 days, 2,500 miles, including at least five passages over 60 miles, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. Five days’ experience as skipper.

At least half of the qualifying seatime must have been accrued in tidal waters. For sizes of vessel please refer to page 73 in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158/15).

Full details and definitions on qualifying passages can be found here.

Exam overviews

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam (Sail)

The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology and signals. You will be set tasks to demonstrate your ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to Yachtmaster Coastal level.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam (Sail)

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, with particular emphasis on command skills, boat handling under sail and power in confined spaces, plus navigation and pilotage techniques in daylight, at night and in reduced visibility. Adverse weather conditions and coping with emergencies are also covered.

The examiner will set tasks to enable you to demonstrate your ability as skipper and may also ask questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore.

Exam Duration 

The exam will take around 8-12 hours per candidate candidate. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours. Whilst one candidate is being examined the remaining candidates will act as crew.

Qualifications

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam (Sail)

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certification of Competence.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam (Sail)

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

Dates and pricing

Course From To All-inc
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 18/04/2024 24/04/2024 Full
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 22/05/2024 28/05/2024 Full
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 27/06/2024 03/07/2024 Full
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 21/08/2024 27/08/2024 £925
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 14/11/2024 20/11/2024 £925
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / RYA Offshore Preparation and Exam (sail) 08/12/2024 14/12/2024 £925

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