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Yachting Monthly

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Tips and hints for passing your Yachtmaster theory

• Katy Stickland
• July 20, 2021

Racing turned cruising sailors Liz Rushall and her husband Mark go back to school to brush up on their Yachtmaster theory

Although accomplished sailors, Liz and Mark found their rusty knowledge was hampering their cruising enjoyment. The Yachtmaster theory course revealed a number of areas in need of a refresher. Credit: David Harding

Liz Rushall shares tips and hints for passing your Yachtmaster theory course

‘Why on earth are you guys doing your Yachtmaster ?’ was the question our friends repeatedly asked. ‘Surely, you know all that stuff?’

We’ve both sailed since childhood, competitively racing dinghies, then keelboats. Sailing is our work and life.

Liz Rushall has won national dinghy and keelboat titles, but currently cruises a 28ft classic Honeybee called Ragdoll

Mark is a British Sailing Team coach, we’ve both won championships together and with others, and raced keelboats offshore.

In between times, since 2000, we’ve cruised Ragdoll our 28ft classic Honeybee, from Emsworth, having slow adventures around Brittany, Normandy, and the West Country.

Generally, we’ve arrived on the day we had planned, if not quite always at our estimated time.

Although I did my Yachtmaster theory some 20 years ago, it’s just like I have a Maths O-Level. It’s still a mystery to me.

Sitting the course at night-school, during an intensely busy job, with a bunch of powerboaters talking jargon knowingly, it was as if I was reliving the horror of maths at school.

Needless to say, as with my maths, I battled through the exam and unfortunately not much of it stuck.

Meanwhile, Mark learned his navigation on the hoof, cruising on friends’ boats during his student days and he is self-taught.

Good at all things involving science and numbers, he was always a bit dismissive of things like compass deviation.

We had a little hand-held GPS, a Walker trailing log, and more recently a very small detachable Garmin chartplotter and Simrad AIS. It all seemed to work – we were fine.

What could possibly go wrong?

You never stop learning

The real answer to the question ‘why do our Yachtmaster ’ was a wake-up call that came last summer.

We’d had a hectic few months, working late and trying to fit in our summer cruise around Mark’s Olympic coaching commitments.

We were both tired and needed a break.

Mark plotted our Channel crossing.

Normally I try to get involved and have a crack at the passage plan too, but it takes me ages.

Making sense of passage planning, including tidal heights and gates, is much easier once you’ve had a refresher. Credit: Liz Rushall

I helped a bit with the tidal streams (which I thought I was good at) and had a quick, over-the-shoulder look.

We decided to head for Cherbourg, to have options.

We dismissed the idea of heading straight to Saint-Vaast, as we’d anticipated a four-hour wait for the lock gates – tedious after a long crossing.

We left Chichester Harbour early, although I wanted to go even earlier.

As soon as we had popped out of the harbour, the wind clearly was not as forecast. It was more WSW than west, so not the reach we had hoped for.

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We were keen to get to France, however, so we pressed on.

It was a big spring tide, so we expected to get swept hard eastwards and then back westwards.

We reefed early, anticipating the wind against tide effect as we got towards France.

But it was a horrible sea. Our little boat was sailing beautifully but struggled to keep to our estimated speed.

We were consistently too far east of our course, even after the tide had turned, and the tide didn’t push us as hard west to Cherbourg as had been expected.

Still behind schedule, the water didn’t flatten out when the tide turned east again.

How to calculate position, estimate time of arrival and course to steer is all easily forgotten in a digital age. Knowing how to extract this information from your chartplotter is also crucial

Now very tired from hand steering, less than two hours from Cherbourg we had to concede that we simply could not punch upwind, with or without the engine.

The whole day had been a domino effect of one little thing after another.

So, as the sun faded, a quick change of plan.

We altered course for St Vaast, rocketing down on the tide, arriving just as the lock gates opened at 2300.

In the end, it was a good result, landing in our favourite spot, although it had been a very long day on a little boat with no self-steering.

After two days’ sleeping, having a sailing coach on board and racing in our blood meant, of course, a thorough debrief.

Naturally, over some lovely seafood and French wine.

We realised that our brains were not getting younger, and clearly there had been some ‘gaps’ in our navigational planning.

For a long time, I’ve felt aware that I didn’t have a complete handle on chartwork, despite owning a certificate that says I do.

The decision was made. Let’s have a crack at our RYA Yachtmaster and find out what we do and don’t know.

A course in ‘Johart’s Window’

Stage one of our plan was enrolling on an Intensive RYA Yachtmaster Theory course with the Emsworth School of Navigation – six days completed over two weekends.

Using dividers to transfer a position line from a scale is easier on a small boat than lining up a plotter or parallel rules. Credit: David Harding

Compared to my memories of scary night-school, the experience was a refreshing change.

Karen Dorontic, the principal, turned out to be an amazing teacher, with astounding levels of patience and a gift for not making you feel stupid, despite most of us coming up with some bizarre calculations and answers.

Her empathy with our learning process, the pitfalls and the mistakes we would make as we progressed through the topics and papers, was clearly based on her own experiences.

We had an interesting, mixed group on the course; a couple refurbishing their yacht to cruise around the world, two people who take people sailing on club-owned yachts, a Solent based cruiser, and my brothers.

One who, like me, did his Yachtmaster theory exam many years ago, the other a confirmed dinghy sailor now doing a bit more yacht racing.

Straight into the first session, and many of us were picking up some great tips.

Frequently things that sounded obvious, although only once you had been told.

For us, it was time-saving things, such as using the dividers to transfer positions from the side of the chart rather than struggling with parallel rules, and unlocking the delights of a Portland plotter.

Both were far more useful for our tiny navigation table. Then, there were the really useful ways of remembering things.

Who knew the cones on cardinal marks point to the black section? Easy.

Bizarrely, one of the most entertaining sessions was learning the Colregs (collision regulations).

We were in hoots visualising all those bells and gongs going off in poor visibility.

Yet once again, Karen gave us really helpful tips for working out lights, especially for towing vessels, which initially felt like a sea of colour we’d never remember.

The intensive nature of the course means there is a vast amount of information to process but without the luxury of a few days to absorb and reread what you are learning.

Almost inevitably, that meant some of us ‘hitting the wall’.

By day two of plotting estimated positions and courses to steer, I could no longer figure out Variation and Deviation.

The phrase ‘Error East Compass Least’ rapidly became another maths maze. Plus or minus?

The more I tried to think about it, the more it went wrong.

One candidate put his dividers down saying: ‘I’ve completely forgotten what it is I’m trying to achieve’.

I began to wonder how we’d ever got our boats anywhere around the Solent, let alone to St Malo, Chausey, and Tréguier.

Homework humiliations

With a lot of exercises to practise before the second weekend, it was hard to cram our homework into a busy fortnight.

Somehow we did, although mealtime conversation got down to the level of ‘what do two red lights mean?’ Riveting stuff!

The family WhatsApp was busy that week with shrieks of frustration as we all made chartwork errors.

Back in the classroom, we all compared notes. Everyone had struggled with their homework.

Mark didn’t get a single question right first time.

Liz found it useful to identify areas of weakness ahead of her Yachtmaster Theory course. Credit: David Harding

Number blindness set in as we all plotted the wrong information, dates and data and tried to use the tidal height tables to calculate tidal stream rates. We’d done it all.

One man owned up to plotting the date as a position on his chart.

At least we were all suffering in the same boat.

Undoubtedly, it was a painful process to go through, as we all fell into the pitfalls and traps deliberately set in the exercise questions.

However, it was true that practice makes perfect.

Through comparing our random attempts with the answers, we were all learning from our errors.

The fog is clearing

With homework horrors behind us, our practice paid off as we went through our exam papers.

Everyone passing the Colregs paper was a confidence boost. Bang the gong!

While we waited to hear our results, the bemused conversation went along the lines of, ‘Were those yellow and red lights a Hovercraft that was fishing?

Or an air-cushioned, displacement fishing vessel?

Details of the RYA Yachtmaster Theory course

Officially speaking, the RYA Yachtmaster Theory course builds on that which is taught in the shore-based Day skipper course.

However, for most people who have sailed regularly, then jumping straight to Yachtmaster theory is unlikely to be a major problem.

The course covers advanced navigation techniques including: position fixing; course shaping and plotting; tidal knowledge including secondary port calculations; navigation in restricted visibility; Admiralty publications and electronic position-finding equipment.

Much of this will be familiar to even the most casual cruiser, but as Liz discovered, some of the specifics might well need a bit of study.

The meteorology tuition includes the taking and interpretation of forecasts, plotting of weather systems as well as weather prediction.

Further courses

Many people who jump straight into Yachtmaster Theory may find that it turns up a weakness or gap in their knowledge.

It can often be helpful to identify areas of weakness and consider a training course that might help raise your level ahead of a Yachtmaster practical exam.

Several schools offer courses on many of the subjects in a Yachtmaster exam and they can help you to improve your knowledge.

On the other hand, it might just be an area you devote more time to in the lead up to Yachtmaster Practical.

Know your COLREGS

The one area where there are no shortcuts are Colregs; you just need to know your stuff – and finding the time to learn isn’t difficult.

So far as the MCA is concerned, this is the crunch.

Examiners are encouraged to demand high standards in this subject, and there’s no reason for a candidate, knowing full well they are going to be grilled extensively on this, not to have the regulations solidly in their mind.

The best way to be exam-proof is to invest in A Seaman’s Guide to the Rule of the Road (Morgans Technical Books Limited (£12.50), available for modest money online or in any chandlery.

Place it prominently in the heads some months before the exam and devote five minutes of each day to digesting its contents.

The book makes it easy and should leave you with no excuse for not having a thorough working knowledge.

Aside from the certificate, we both got a lot out of the course. Mark felt that it reminded him what he did know and reinforced what he didn’t.

Liz found she had forgotten some useful shortcuts during her Yachtmaster Theory course and put these into practice during her Yachtmaster Practical assessment. Credit: David Harding

Learning the processes and the ways to remember them, was so helpful.

For me, cracking the tidal stream rates was a revelation, and fears of secondary ports and tidal height calculations are mostly gone.

It will definitely help us explore places we never felt confident to visit because we have a long keel.

Karen’s many wise tips such as not trusting the electronics unquestioningly, and rapid plotting techniques will be invaluable.

Pilotage plans for new ports will now be a joy rather than a scrabble around through the pilot books.

We love our little boat, we sail her well, yet she will never be anything like the quickest boat on the water.

She needs all the help we can give her, which includes accurate navigation to arrive on time.

Having returned to the Yachtmaster theory I now feel that my confidence is up.

Mark and I now can’t wait for our next big voyage, to see what we’ve really learned.

Now there’s the small matter of our practical exams on the horizon.

5 key points to take away from our Yachtmaster Theory course

• Quick Plotting Techniques: Karen’s quick plotting technique really helps if, like us, you have a very small chart table. Simply plot your latitude using your Portland plotter or ruler. Then measure off your longitude along the top line of the chart from the nearest major longitude line eg 002°. Move the dividers down to in-line with your latitude plot and draw an arc on your first line
• Deviation and Variation: In the end, I solved this by learning to literally translate ‘error east/compass least’ and ‘error west/compass best’ into plain English! In other words: Compass error West – compass will be bigger than True; Compass error East –compass will be less than True. Learning how to use a pencil mark on the error scale on the Portland plotter to avoid the mental arithmetic entirely was another gem.
• Extrapolating tidal streams : One particular ‘lightbulb moment’ was calculating tidal streams. We’d only ever interpolated the tidal streams, estimating the rate between the mean spring and neap rates shown in the tidal atlas. The exercises highlighted that a big spring tide will be higher than the mean rate, and extrapolating this accurately makes a big impact on your course to steer.
• Remembering lights: Learning the lights felt really complex, but Karen taught us to look for the patterns. Remember a clock face for the number of flashes of the N, E, S and West cardinals (E is three flashes, South six, West nine and North continuous) is a great tip. For remembering the lights for towing vessels, adding an extra masthead light to represent the vessel it is towing, plus another for boat length over 50m, and another for tow length.
• Templates for secondary port and tidal stream calcs:  Rather than working it out from scratch each time, Karen encouraged us to develop our own, or use standard templates for calculating tidal information. It helps reduce errors, speeding up the planning process and saving brain cells for other tasks.

Key information on the Yachtmaster practical and theory courses

Why yachtmaster.

Although a Yachtmaster qualification is required for anyone planning to become a professional, thanks to the continuing efforts of the RYA, Brits who sail for leisure still don’t have to carry any proof of competence in home waters.

The certificate certainly remains the logical target of many a self-motivated sailor, though.

It also represents the icing on the cake for those looking for the reassurance of an external assessment.

Theory and Practical

Yachtmaster training can take place on a boat or in a classroom.

A shore-based course, either at desks in a school or via the popular Internet distance learning programmes, ends with a theory exam.

Success in this will help a student in later qualification upgrades, but it is not officially recognised.

The only certificates accepted by the authorities are those issued after an at-sea examination. To become a fully-fledged Yachtmaster, this practical test is the one that counts.

Coastal or offshore

In recent years, the old Coastal Skipper has been superseded by the new Yachtmaster Coastal certificate.

The qualifying mileage for this MCA-recognised qualification is 800 miles, with passage and night-hour requirements being regarded as fairly relaxed in comparison with Yachtmaster Offshore, which keeps its 2,500-mile entry level.

Either will serve as a proper Yachtmaster qualification and can be described as such.

Only the often-dropped suffix distinguishes the two.

Apply for ‘coastal’ and the examiner, recognising that you have less sea-time, will be more inclined to cut you a bit of slack.

The RYA has noted that most candidates are really only making ‘coastal-status’ passages.

In real terms this includes an annual trip across the Irish Sea, the North Sea or the Channel in a calculated weather window.

• Selector Map
• Mediterranean Sea (All)
• Western Mediterranean
• Central Mediterranean
• Eastern Mediterranean
• Adriatic & Aegean Seas
• Strait of Gibraltar
• Balearic Islands
• Ligurian Sea
• Corsica and Sardinia
• Strait of Bonifacio
• Sicily and Malta
• Bermuda to West Indies
• South Florida
• Florida to West Indies
• Gulf of Mexico
• Caribbean Sea
• Virgin Islands to Dominica
• Leeward Islands
• Windward Islands
• Gulf of Honduras
• Approaches to Panama
• Northern Europe to Iceland
• British Isles
• S. Ireland to English Channel
• English Channel
• Bay of Biscay
• Portugal to Gibraltar
• Canary Islands
• Labrador Sea and Greenland
• Nova Scotia and Newfoundland
• New England
• Chesapeake and Delaware
• Cape Hatteras to Florida
• Newport to Bermuda
• Great Lakes
• Great Lakes (all)
• Lake Superior
• Lake Michigan and Lake Huron
• Lake Ontario and Lake Erie
• North Atlantic Ocean (All)
• Tropical Atlantic Ocean
• Northern Transatlantic
• Southern Transatlantic
• Mediterranean to Caribbean
• Azores to Mediterranean
• South Atlantic Ocean (All)
• Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro
• Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
• Cape Horn - Drake Passage
• South Africa to Seychelles
• North Pacific Ocean (All)
• Gulf of Alaska
• California to Hawaii
• USA West Coast
• Strait of Juan de Fuca
• Southern California
• California to Mexico
• Baja California Peninsula
• Mexico to Panama
• Panama to the Galapagos
• North America to Polynesia
• Sea of Japan
• Japan to Micronesia
• Strait of Malacca
• South China Sea
• South Pacific Ocean (All)
• Fiji to the Marquesas
• NE Australia and Coral Sea
• SE Australia and Tasmania
• SW Australia
• New Zealand
• Southeast Pacific Ocean
• Northern Indian Ocean
• Southern Indian Ocean
• Red Sea and Arabian Sea
• Southwest Australia
• Giraglia Race
• Middle Sea Race
• Antigua to Bermuda Race

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)

• Cape to Rio Race (South Atlantic Race)
• Charleston Bermuda Race
• Fastnet Race
• Marion to Bermuda Race
• Newport Bermuda Race
• Pineapple Cup (Montego Bay Race)
• Regata al Sol (Pensacola to Isla Mujeres)
• RORC Caribbean 600

RORC Transatlantic Race

• Transatlantic Race
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• Corona del Mar to Cabo San Lucas Race
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• Newport Beach to Cabo San Lucas Race
• Pacific Cup
• Sydney Hobart Race
• Transpac Race
• Tropical Warnings
• World Pilot Charts

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RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased

Coastal skipper / yachtmaster offshore shorebased.

Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the RYA Day Skipper qualification. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.

About the course

The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course covers all of the theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

The course includes:

• position fixing
• course shaping and plotting
• tidal knowledge
• use of almanacs and admiralty publications
• electronic position finding equipment
• taking and interpreting forecasts
• plotting weather systems
• weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
• collision regulations
• customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

Course syllabus

• Understand dead reckoning and estimated position
• Understand satellite-derived position
• Use of waypoints
• Radar fixes
• Techniques of visual fixing
• Understand fixes using a mixture of position lines
• Relative accuracy of different methods of position lines
• Understand areas of uncertainty

The magnetic compass

• Allowance for variation
• Understand change of variation with tie and position
• Understand causes of deviation
• Swing for deviation (but not correction)
• Allowance for deviation
• Different types of compass
• Causes of tides – Springs and Neaps
• Tide tables – sources
• Tidal levels and datum
• Standard and secondary ports
• Tidal anomalies

Tidal streams

• Sources of tidal information
• Tidal stream information in sailing directions and yachtsmen’s Almanacs
• Allowance for tidal stream in computing a course to steer
• Tide rips, overfalls and races
• Tidal observation buoys, beacons etc
• IALA system buoyage in Region A
• Limitations of buoys as navigational aids
• Understand characteristics
• Ranges – visual, luminous and nominal
• Rising and dipping distances
• Light lists
• Harbour regulations and control signals
• Methods of pre-planning
• Clearing lines
• Use of soundings
• Transits and leading lines

GPS and chart plotters

• Principles of operation and limitations of use
• Raster and vector charts
• Understand datum
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a separate record of position
• Importance of paper charts

Echo sounders

Logs (speed and distance measuring).

• Principles of operation and limitation of use
• Importance of log as yachts official document
• Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries

Meteorology

• Understand basic terms, the Beaufort scale
• Cloud types
• Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information
• Land and sea breezes
• Use of a barometer as a forecasting aid

Rules of the road

• A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except Annexes 1 and 3

Safety at sea

• Personal safety, use of life-jackets, safety harnesses and lifelines
• Fire prevention and fire fighting
• Distress signals
• Coastguard and Boat Safety Scheme
• Preparation for heavy weather
• Life-rafts and helicopter rescue
• Understanding of capabilities of vessel and basic knowledge of stability

Navigation in restricted  visibility

• Precautions to be taken in fog
• Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog
• Navigation strategy in poor visibility

Passage planning

• Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and making, and use at sea
• Custom regulations as they apply to yachts
• Routine navigating in coastal waters
• Strategy for course laying
• Use of waypoints and routes
• Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy
• Sources of local and national regulations

Marine environment

• Responsibility to minimise pollution and protect the marine environment

Prerequisites

Successful completion of RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course or a level of Navigational knowledge up to RYA Day Skipper level (Please assess your level of knowledge against the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course syllabus).

How to Book

To book this course, register your interest below or  Book Online By Clicking Here 

Dates and pricing

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Need help finding the right course for you?

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RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory – All The Information You Need

What Is The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory Course?

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course is a theory-based course aimed at yacht skippers advancing to RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster exams.

It is an advanced course in navigation and other nautical topics such as meteorology that allows you to skipper a vessel on coastal voyages by day and night.

What Does the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory Allow You To Do?

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory sets you up to be ready for your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail or Motor course.

The course will also provide you with the relevant nautical theory knowledge to help for those advancing to the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exams.

Who Can Do an RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course?

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course is open to anyone who has equivalent knowledge to that covered in the RYA Day Skipper Theory course. There is no age limit.

If you are a complete novice to nautical sailing, then you may want to consider the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course or the RYA Day Skipper Theory course is also suitable for novices.

If you are an experienced mariner with many years of experience, both skippering and taking on navigational duties but with no formal training, then there is another suitable course that we have at Ardent Training for you. This is the RYA Fast Track to Yachtmaster course which is essentially the same as the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course but with extended content to bridge the gap for someone without an RYA Day Skipper Theory course completion.

Can You Go Straight to the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Course?

A theoretical experience in line with the RYA Day Skipper Theory course is required.

A practical experience in line with the RYA Day Skipper course is desirable but not required.

If you have advanced practical skills but lack theoretical knowledge, then the RYA Fast Track to Yachtmaster Course is for you.

If you currently lack both theory and practical experience, you will want to start at RYA Day Skipper Theory.

Where Can I Take My RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory?

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

Your 2 main options are in a classroom course or via an online provider. The 2 different types of learning suit different types of people.

Classroom courses benefit from listening to and talking to other students face-to-face, as well as having the instructor in front of you. Online courses benefit from being able to work at your own speed, repeat lessons, and get a more in-depth learning experience as you are not tied to completing the course at the end of the week at the same pace as the others in the classroom. At Ardent Training we pride ourselves on bringing the best of both of these worlds together with instant 1:1 instructor support on demand, built-in discussions on our online platform, a student forum, and every single lesson being recorded in video format as well as visual and text.

How Long Does an RYA Yachtmaster Theory Take?

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory is suggested to take a minimum of 40 hours of learning, plus exam time. I believe the average to be about 50 hours in total.

How this time is shaped can vary. In online courses, you can generally work at your own speed, while in classroom environments, anything from evening classes of 2-3 hours a week, to 3 weekends in a row, or a 6 or 7 consecutive day course over a week.

Is There a Set RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory 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 and Yachtmaster Theory course in varying levels of detail.

Navigational Instruments, tidal heights, tidal streams, position fixing and chartwork, Meteorology, pilotage, safety, passage planning and marine environment 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 Will I Learn in the Yachtmaster Theory Course?

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course covers a wide range of topics and introduces many topics and important knowledge that will be useful not only for completing an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course but in preparing and passing your RYA Yachtmaster exams.

Navigational instruments will cover all those aids to navigation that we have to use onboard such as GNSS, compasses, radar and chartplotters. At this stage, charts should be known about and so they won’t be taught in this course other than using them for our chartwork.

Tidal theory will cover everything from how they are created to using the tidal curves, working out secondary port data, clearances and all about tidal streams. Tidal streams include using a tidal atlas, tidal diamonds and computation of rates table.

Our chartwork at this stage is using the pre-learned tidal information to advance our basic dead reckoning positions to more complex estimated positions, courses to steer and even doing running fixes.

Fog, weather effects, frontal depressions and pressure systems will all be covered within meteorology while IRPCS will see a more in-depth look at vessel lights, shapes and their various characteristics which allow us to know what to do to prevent a collision at sea.

Pilotage and Passage planning will bring all our knowledge together as we learn all the steps contained within the structure of a passage plan and how to formulate and use these. Safety will of course be covered in full, but personal and on-board safety items while we will also look at things to be aware of while being in and to help protect the marine environment.

How Much Does This Course Cost?

As ever, many schools differ in price and it is important to understand everything that is included within your course such as materials, available content and instructor help. As always, the cheapest is not often better. At Ardent Training, our online RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory is priced at £345 and that includes everything. A unique student pack with Ardent Training extras, free worldwide postage, access to materials and instructor help and of course, your end-of-course certificate.

What Is the Pass Mark for the RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course?

There is no specific pass mark as such. The instructor’s aim is to bring you up to a level where you have a satisfactory level of theory knowledge across the subjects covered to be able to put your new learnings into practice during your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course.

What Comes After RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory

After your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory, we suggest progressing on with your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail or Motor course as soon as possible. That way, all your recent learnings are still fresh in your mind and you can use the practical tasks to consolidate all your knowledge. After that, you can look to start gaining more miles at sea, longer passages and progressing the to coveted RYA Yachtmaster certificates of competence.

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RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

Find out About the Yachtmaster Offshore Theory & Practical Training, (both Online & Shorebased)

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• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 200GT
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Requirements
• Course Breakdown
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Limited Theory
• RYA Yachtmaster of Yachts Practical Course
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical Examination
•  RYA Yachmaster Offshore Certificate
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Commercial Endorsement

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Yachtmaster 200GT & 150NM Limited)

An RYA Offshore certifies an individual as competent to captain a vessel up to 24m in length and no more than 200 Gross Tonnes. The offshore certification is applicable passages during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour.

The Yacht master offshore consists of two components:

• Yachtmaster Offshore Theory 
• Yachtmaster Offshore Practical 

Both components can be done on an individual basis but in order to achieve a commercial endorsement for the yachtmaster offshore certificate of competency, both the theory and practical examinations must be passed.

Yachtmaster Offshore Requirements:

In order to be eligible to take the Yachtmaster Offshore practical exam, candidates must meet the minimum sea time requirements.

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore minimum sea time prerequisites are as follows:

• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500GT
• 5 days as skipper on vessels less than 24m LOA
• 2500 miles on yachts up to 500GT
• 5 passages over 60 miles long, which must include 2 overnight passages and 2 as skipper

If a candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence for a different vessel type (Ie. power or sail) then the above prerequisites are adjusted as indicated on the RYA's Yacht Master Offshore Exam page.

Yachtmaster Offshore Course Breakdown

The Yachtmaster Offshore course consists of a 40-hour (minimum) theory course (excluding exam time), 5 days of practical training and preparation followed by a 2-day practical examination.

Yachtmaster Offshore Theory:

The following topics are covered during the Yachtmaster Offshore theory course:

• Position fixing,
• Course shaping and plotting,
• Tidal knowledge,
• Use of almanacs and admiralty publications,
• Electronic position finding equipment,
• Taking and interpreting forecasts,
• Plotting weather systems,
• Weather predictions using a barometer.
• Certificate issuing criteria

Yachtmaster Offshore Theory Online

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Theory can be studied in an online or virtual distance learning format. The online version of the course allows students to work through the training content at their own pace, which may benefit those who are working with little time off.

Yachtmaster Offshore Practical

Although there is no formal training course leading up to the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical exam, it is common for yacht crew to complete a practical training course, leading up to the exam. This may vary slightly between schools but should be done at an RYA accredited center.

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.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical Exam:

A valid GMDSS-approved SRC Radio Operators Certificate and a First Aid Certificate are requirements for the RYA Yachtmaster Practical examination. The Elementary First Aid Certificate as acquired during STCW Basic Training is an accepted version. For recreational sailors, an RYA First Aid certificate is sufficient.

In addition to this, candidates need to ensure that they have met the minimum sea time prerequisites as highlighted above.

Practical Exam Assessment:

The exam will include an assessment of:

• The candidate's skills as a captain,
• Boat handling ability
• General seamanship,
• Navigation planning and execution
• Safety awareness and procedures
• Knowledge of the IRPCS,
• Meteorology,
• Lights, shapes, sounds, and other signals.

Practical Exam Duration:

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

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate

Students who pass their Yachtmaster Offshore practical and theory examinations will be awarded an RYA Yachtmaster offshore certificate of competency. It is important to understand that CoC is a recreational license until it is commercially endorsed by the MCA.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Commerical Endorsement

In order to commercially endorse your Yachtmaster offshore certificate, you will need to submit the following:

• Original Yachtmaster Offshore certificate
• RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate
• an RYA commercial endorsement application form
• Your original, completed ML5, ENG1 , or an ENG1 equivalent medical form.
• A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate .
• A passport-sized photo with your name on the back
• The application fee

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore License

A license card/ book will be provided to those who pass the relevant Yachtmaster offshore examinations. The license will include a photo, and details about the license holder, and will also include information about the endorsements associated with the license.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Training School Locations

Brazil Sao Paulo

Croatia Split

Greece Corfu

South Africa Cape Town Langebaan

Spain Barcelona

Turkey Marmaris

United Kingdom England Ireland Scotland

West Indies Antigua

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• Basic Safety Training
• Refresher (Fire & PST)
• Elementary First Aid
• Fire Prevention & Fire-fighting
• Personal Survival Techniques
• Advanced Fire Fighting
• Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher
• Proficiency in Security Awareness
• Personal Safety & Social Responsibility
• Crowd Management / Crisis Management and Human Behaviour
• Powerboat Level 2
• PWC/Jet Ski License
• PWI/Jet Ski Instructor
• PWC + PWI Pack
• Pack PB2 & PWC
• Day Skipper
• Shorebased Yachtmaster Theory
• Yachtmaster Practical Preparation & Offshore Exam
• Yachtmaster Offshore Package
• Full Deckhand Pack
• Full Interior Pack
• Basic Deckhand Pack
• Basic Interior Pack
• Full Tender and Jet Ski Pack
• Tender Pack
• Jetski Pack
• Yacht Deckhand Training
• Yacht Steward/ess Training
• Basic Food & Beverage Services
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• Basic Wine, Bartending & Mixology
• Food Safety Level 2
• ⚡Lithium-ion Battery Safety Awareness on Superyachts
• VHF Short Range Certificate
• RYA Professional Practice & Responsibilities
• RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship
• RYA Online Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory
• RYA Online Day Skipper Theory
• STCW PDSD for Superyachts
• STCW PDSD for Cruise Ships
• STCW Proficiency as Ship Security Officer on Superyachts
• Useful Information
• Steward/ess

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.

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Requirements for the Yachtmaster Offshore Exam

To sit the RYA Yachtmaster offshore exam, you are required to have the following miles and 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 miles must be in tidal waters.
• Five passages over 60 miles long** . Two of these passages must have been at night, and two acting as skipper. 
• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500gt.
• At least five days experience as a skipper.
• A valid First Aid Certificate (If STCW, completed within the last 5 years)
• A GMDSS short-range VHF radio certificate.

** Note: All five passages must have been on a vessel between 7m and 24m in length.

Requirements for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam

• 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.
• 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.

What is considered tidal waters?

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, all my sea miles has been on a vessel OVER 24m….

Good news! The RYA accepts 50% (1,250) of your qualifying sea miles gained on a vessel over 24m. 

It’s crucial to provide a Testimonial or Discharge book as proof of your 1,250 sea miles.

The other 50% (1,250 miles) must be from vessels between 7m and 24m in length.

Some Superyachts have large tenders and chase boats. In this case, any miles and qualifying passages gained at the helm go some way to 1,250 sea miles.

Do I need RYA Yachtmaster Theory?

Depends on your goal.

Technically, you don’t need it to sit your Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam, however:

To become an RYA Yachtmaster, you need to be able to navigate using traditional and electronic navigation techniques. The RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course teaches you everything you need to know to navigate a yacht offshore and we recommend it to everybody thinking of sitting the RYA Yachtmaster practical exam.

RYA Yachtmaster Theory is a requirement for Officer of the Watch 3000GT.

At Flying Fish we combine both Yachtmaster Theory and a practical prep week into one course.

How do I convert from sail to power?

To convert from Yachtmaster offshore sail to power you must have completed, in the last 10 years:

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

How to record your miles.

Your experience would have been built up over some time on various types of yachts. 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 the information below
• An Excel spreadsheet

Please note, when recording your miles and experience, make sure you detail the following:

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

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

What First Aid qualification do I need?

You must have a valid, in-date First Aid qualification to sit the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam. 

The RYA, STCW, and Seafish First Aid certificates are all accepted by the RYA.

How long are certificates valid?

The RYA First Aid certificate is valid for 3-years.

STCW First Aid certificates do not have an expiry date. However, It is accepted that after 5 years, our knowledge of CPR and other life-saving techniques tends to fade.

Therefore, the RYA requires holders of STCW First Aid to refresh every 5-years from the date of issue.

At flying Fish, we offer STCW Elementary First Aid courses that coincide with our Yachtmaster Power Theory and practical courses. If you need to update your STCW Elementary First Aid qualification, we invite you to click on the link below to book an update.

Commercial Endorsement

By commercially endorsing your Yachtmaster qualification, you not only meet the necessary requirements for taking paying passengers on a commercial vessel but also equip yourself with the confidence and readiness for professional opportunities.

Superyacht tenders are usually registered as a “tender too” the larger yacht, and in most cases, Commercial Endorsement is not required.

Many individuals choose to endorse their RYA Yachtmaster for commercial use. This endorsement prepares you for potential opportunities, such as working as a professional skipper. If this is your goal, in addition to First Aid and VHF, 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 endorsement through the RYA.

Upgrade to RYA Master 200 GT

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.

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.

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Weather expert Chris Tibbs on how to predict and cope with fog at sea

• October 19, 2016

What is the difference between advection and radiation fog? Meteorologist and weather router Chris Tibbs on everything you need to know about fog at sea

Knowing how your variety of fog has formed will give you a better idea of how long it is going to last.

Radar and AIS help to make navigating in fog safer, but it is still an unnerving experience to sail in visibility of less than 1,000m. Foghorns are hard to pinpoint and the rumble of large engines seem closer than they actually are. It usually feels as if you are sailing around in circles.

At some stage all of us will encounter fog and it will have been generated by one of three processes.

What is advection fog?

Advection fog – the widespread fog that covers large sea areas – is caused when a warm moist air mass moves over a cold sea. The cold sea cools the air above to below its dew-point, causing moisture in the air to condense. Fog is formed from the numerous water droplets.

This happens over a large area and will persist until there is a change in the air mass. This can take anything from hours to days. In one recent Round Britain Race, we started from Calais in fog and returned down the North Sea in even thicker fog; it did lift a little for a while in between. It was a fairly memorable race, but not for the right reasons.

Various locations are prone to fog with a given weather pattern. Indeed, it can be so common that the fog receives a local name – the Haar or sea fret along the east coast of England and Scotland, for example. In an east wind, warm continental air moves over the cooler North Sea. By the time it reaches the UK dense fog has formed. Sea fret doesn’t penetrate far inland, but it means the east coast can struggle with low temperatures and poor visibility while the rest of the UK basks in sunshine.

Grand Banks fog

The best known fog in the Atlantic is that found over the Grand Banks. The prevailing wind direction is south-westerly, which brings warm moist air from the Tropics and the Gulf Stream. Cold water moving south with the Labrador Current provides a steep temperature gradient between the currents, causing thick fog banks to form quickly as the warm air moves over the colder waters.

When considering a passage along the northern route from the US to Europe, staying north or south of the Gulf Stream will usually make all the difference in temperature and visibility.

This passage can be quite testing. We found ourselves surrounded by radar echoes on one occasion and although most of these were fishing boats, some may have been ice. We were pushing hard, so we all slept feet forward just in case.

Fog and ice are not great sailing companions and in the days of the Whitbread Round the World Race (see some great images of EF Education from the 1997-98 race here ), before the use of ice gates in the Southern Ocean, poor visibility was a source of concern owing to the increased chance of ice.

The fog indicated cold water and bergs or ‘bergy bits’ (small ice that doesn’t show on radar, but is big enough to do damage) could be around; spectacular sailing, but also somewhat on the scary side.

What is radiation fog or coastal fog?

What we often see around coasts of the UK is radiation fog, generated from the radiative cooling of the land at night, which in turn cools the air above. Any moisture condenses and forms fog. This is most common in the early morning after a cold, clear, still night.

Although this is a land fog, it does drift down valleys and estuaries to the sea, and morning fog can spoil those early departures. We used to keep our boat up the Tamar river, between Devon and Cornwall, and it was always a great feeling to slip away at first light. But this plan could be ruined by radiation fog which reduced visibility to a few metres. Radiation fog will burn off quickly as the sun intensifies and is limited to coastal waters as the warmer sea will disperse it.

Early morning fog on the River Tamar.

The final main process that generates fog is known as frontal fog. This forms when rain falls into cooler, drier air and some of the drops evaporate into water vapour. As the air becomes saturated some of the vapour condenses into fog.

How to navigate a yacht in fog

Knowing the different processes of the development of fog helps you to decide your tactics. With advection fog you either need a change in the wind direction to shift the air mass to a drier, cooler source region, or you need to sail to warmer water.

This may be feasible if you’re close to the Gulf Stream, but generally it is impossible. The tide may introduce a change in the water temperature, but it’s not usually enough to clear fog.

So, to get better visibility you will have to wait for a change in wind direction or speed – in most cases once the wind increases to over around 15 knots, fog lifts to low stratus clouds and visibility improves. That said, it will linger even with a strong wind in locations where there is a large difference between the water and air temperatures.

Frontal fog will quickly pass and radiation fog will burn off – a bit of patience really does go a long way.

What is Dewpoint?

Unless you have a means to measure humidity on board it will be hard to estimate the dew point of the air, although some weather reports on the internet will provide this.

However, marine forecasts do give an indication of expected visibility. While GRIB files increase in popularity on board, they should be viewed as adding to the marine forecast rather than replacing it.

Chris Tibbs is a meteorologist and weather router, as well as a professional sailor and navigator, forecasting for Olympic teams and the ARC rally

RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 4 - Yachtmaster Offshore Theory

Mastering navigation and meteorology.

By Marcin Wojtyczka

In this article in series about RYA certifications we reveal what is covered by the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Theory course.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Theory course is an advanced 6 days training in navigation and meteorology for candidates for the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Certificates.

It is recommended to take the RYA Yachtmaster Theory course before the practical exams, especially if you have not sat at the chart table for a while. Holding the RYA Yachtmaster Theory is also required if your long-term goal is to become the Officer of the Watch 3000GT.

The Yachtmaster theory course provides instruction in tides and tidal streams, pilotage, meteorology, safety at sea, passage planning and advanced navigation techniques including yacht positioning, use of a magnetic compass, GPS and chart plotters.

1. Position

• Dead reckoning and estimated position
• Satellite-derived position
• Use of waypoints to fix position
• Radar fixes
• Techniques of visual fixing
• Fixes using a mixture of position lines
• Relative accuracy of different methods of position fixing
• Area of uncertainty

2. The magnetic compass

• Allowance for variation
• Change of variation with time and position
• Causes of deviation
• Swing for deviation
• Allowance for deviation
• Different types of compasses (magnetic, gyro, fluxgate, GPS)
• Causes of the tide – Springs and Neaps
• Tide tables – sources (charts, Yachtsmen’s Almanacs)
• Tidal levels and datum
• Standard and secondary ports
• Tide anomalies (Solent, etc.)

4. Tidal Streams

• Sources of tidal information
• Tidal stream information in charts and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs
• Allowance for tidal streams in computing a course to steer and estimated position
• Tide rips, overfalls and races
• Tidal observation buoys, beacons etc.
• IALA system buoyage in Regions A and B
• Limitations of buoys as navigational aids
• Light Characteristics
• Ranges – visual, geographical, luminous and nominal
• Rising and dipping distances
• Light lists

7. Pilotage

• Harbour regulations and control signals
• Methods of pre-planning
• Clearing lines
• Use of soundings
• Transits and leading lines

8. GPS and chart plotters

• Principles of operation and limitations of use
• Raster and vector charts
• Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a separate record of position
• Importance of paper charts
• Symbols used in charts

9. Echo sounders

10. Logs (speed and distance measuring)

• Principles of operation limitations of use

11. Deck log

• Importance of logbook as yacht’s official document
• Layout of a logbook, hourly and occasional entries

12. Meteorology

• Basic terms
• Cloud types
• Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, synoptic charts and weather satellite information
• Land and sea breezes
• Use of barometer as a forecasting aid

13. Rules of the Road

• A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), except Annexes 1 and 3

14. Safety at Sea

• Personal safety, use of lifejackets, safety harnesses and lifelines
• Fire prevention and fire fighting
• Distress signals
• Coastguard and Boat Safety scheme
• Preparation for heavy weather
• Liferafts and helicopter rescue
• Understanding of the capabilities of the vessel and basic knowledge of stability

15. Navigation in restricted visibility

• Precautions to be taken in fog
• Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog
• Navigation in poor visibility

16. Passage planning

• Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and making, and use at sea
• Customs regulations as they apply to yachts
• Routine for navigating in coastal waters
• Strategy for course laying
• Use of waypoints and routes
• Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy
• Sources of local and national regulations

Accompanying course materials

Provided as part of the course:

• RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Notes - Highly illustrated book on all aspects of the RYA Yachtmaster syllabus.
• The RYA Navigation Exercises - This is one of the best books about navigation. It accompanies all RYA training courses and includes two training charts (RYA Training Charts 3 & 4).
• RYA Certificates of Competence
• Certificates

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• Yachtmaster Ocean
• Recreational

Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifications

This certificate is a qualification that indicates that the holder has sufficient knowledge of celestial navigation to navigate a 24-metre vessel globally using a sextant and to plan, undertake and manage an ocean passage together with a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved with regards to routing and meteorology. The minimum age to obtain this certification is 18.

What are the entry level requirements?

To gain the IYT Yachtmaster Ocean certificate, candidates must first hold the IYT Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

What does the Yachtmaster ocean theory course consist of?

The course consists of six days of astronavigation and worldwide meteorology. A thorough knowledge of all subjects covered in the IYT Yachtmaster Offshore course is assumed. There will be a final written examination on the last day of the course.

It has come to our attention that it has not been made perfectly clear to all IYT Worldwide yachtmaster candidates that this certification is for recreational use only and may never be upgraded to a professional certificate. Therefore, we require all candidates taking a recreational IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean course to complete an acknowledgement prior to taking the course.

Course outline.

• The Earth and the celestial sphere
• The PZX triangle
• The sextant
• Measurement of time
• Meridian altitudes
• Planet sights
• Starsight planning
• The pole star
• Moon sights
• Compass checking
• Satellite navigation systems
• Great circle sailing
• Meteorology
• Passage planning

The IYT Yachtmaster Ocean certificate is a qualification that indicates that the holder has sufficient knowledge of celestial navigation to navigate globally using a sextant and to plan, undertake and manage an ocean passage together with a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved with regards to routing and meteorology.

Certificate Limitations:

• Command of a vessel up to 24 meters in length
• all oceans / anywhere in the world
• not for commercial use

Note: Yachtmaster Ocean is a recreational course that can be taught in any language BUT cannot be upgraded to the professional Master of Yachts certificate.

How Do I Apply for Enrollment?

Candidates may apply to any of the participating IYT Partner Schools worldwide who offer this course.

As you advance and become more proficient as crew or skipper you take on bigger challenges that require proper training to ensure the safety of your family and friends. The bigger the boat or length of adventure the more training you require.

Most of us prefer to spend our time on the water and not in a classroom. To facilitate this, IYT has a series of E-learning courses available for the theoretical part of sail and powerboat training.

• Take one of our online (Elearning) courses for your next level of training.
• Plan your practical training at one of our many schools worldwide to earn your final qualification.
• Book in advance with your school as class sizes and availability may be limited.
• Review the IYT course progression details to learn about professional level courses.
• Spend time on the water and properly log your seatime.

The Boating Lifestyle is one of the most rewarding pursuits available. There is something physically and emotionally invigorating when you are offshore. To enjoy the experience fully you need the proper training & skills to be safe, prepared and command a vessel.

Recreational Student Information

Benefits of an iyt certification.

IYT is the largest provider of crew and skipper certificates for the recreational yachting industry in the world. Learn more about the benefits of an IYT Certificate.

Certificate Renewal

For many IYT certificates, there is the need to re-qualify for your certificate every 3 to 5 years. This ensures that our certifications are meeting international standards.

IYT Yachting Passport

The IYT Passport is recognized in over 40 countries around the world and offers you an opportunity to study and train worldwide.

• Course Progression

A beginner at sailing or operating a powerboat should be familiar with the training path that is available from IYT. Many recreational boaters progress to become crew on superyachts.

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• Certificates of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam

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

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides the boat and the RYA provides an examiner. Note: All qualifying sea time and passages must be gained on vessels appropriate to the type of exam i.e. gained in sailing vessels for a sail exam and power vessels for a power exam.

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

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

Boats used for exams

You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.

The boat used must be between 7m and 18m (LOA) and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook 2nd Edition (code G103). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications along with working instruments and either plotter or GPS. In addition to the candidate there should be two crew on board as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.

There may be vessels that will meet the guidelines outlined above but by virtue of their layout, construction, handling characteristics or other factors may be unsuitable for use for an RYA Yachtmaster Practical examination. The RYA reserves the right to refuse an exam on a vessel that, in the view of the RYA Chief Examiner, will not allow the examiner to conduct an examination to the standard required by the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Qualification Panel.

Before you book your exam please check that you:

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

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

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

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

Useful links

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

island spirit sailing school

Iyt yachtmaster coastal course (sail), location: pattaya, prerequisites.

• 25 days and 800 miles at sea including 2 days as watch leader/skipper.
• 12 hours underway on watch at night.
• Minimum sea time must have been met prior to the final examination.

Duration: 6 days

Course Details

Classroom theory covering the following:

• International collision regulations at sea, light and shapes
• Navigational charts and publications used for passage planning.
• Dead reckoning and estimated position, position fixing, estimated time of arrival
• Electronic navigation equipment
• Tides and currents, secondary ports, tidal markings on charts, the effects of set and drift
• Pilotage and safe entry into harbors and marinas
• Safety at sea including personal safety equipment and safety equipment on board
• Meteorology, Cloud formations, winds, Beaufort scale, safety actions onboard
• Rope work, splicing, whipping and review of nautical knots
• Anchoring, types of anchors and their use, Lee shores, anchor dragging, and safe anchorages
• Boat handling, steering a course, compass course, true course and magnetic course
• Docking, differences in types of vessel, safe entrance into marinas, docking against the wind versus docking with the wind.
• Passage planning

Offshore Training Cruise, where the participants are responsible for provisioning, pre-departure checks, passage planning, safe anchoring and dinghy use.

Onboard practical exam covering all aspects of the course.

USA Head Office

Group Island Spirit Inc. 7524 Jack Newell Blvd S. Fort Worth, Texas 76119 USA Email: [email protected]

Thailand Offices

Island Spirit Charters Co. Ltd. Located at Ocean Marina, 167/5 Sukhumvit (Km157) Sattahip, Chonburi, 20250 Office: +66 (0) 38 237752 Email: [email protected]

Elite Charters Co. Ltd. (Head Office) 20/107 Moo 2, Boat Lagoon Marina Phuket 83000 Thailand Office :+66 (0) 76 273476 Email: [email protected]

Elite Charters Co., Ltd. (Charter Base) Yacht Haven Marina 141/2 Moo 2, T. Mai Khao Phuket 83110 Thailand Office: +66 (0) 76 273476

Group Island Spirit Manufacturing Co. Ltd. 533/16 Moo 10 Hua Yai, Banglamung, Chonburi, 20250 Office: +66 (0) 38 239 868 Email: [email protected]

Ufa, Bashkortostan

Bashkortostan

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