yachtmaster course uk

Fast Track Yachtmaster Professional Sail Training Course

The Hamble School of Yachting fast track Professional Sail Training (PST) course is designed to progress an inexperienced sailor to a fully qualified professional standard.

Hamble School of Yachting follows the globally recognised RYA certification programme that takes students to commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore level - the gold standard in sailing qualifications. The PST course is also a great option for anyone looking for a life-changing experience; either following retirement, during a gap year, sabbatical or taking leisure sailing to the next level.

PST Brochure

Why Hamble?

SETTING QUALITY FOUNDATIONS

Whether you’re looking to embark on a career in the sailing industry, taking a break from work or looking for a new challenge of long-distance sailing in retirement, it is important to set solid foundations for your journey ahead.

Hamble School of Yachting has a reputation in the industry for the high quality of sailors that come from its courses which provides a valuable head-start when seeking employment.

HIGH CALIBRE INSTRUCTORS Hamble School of Yachting employs only the best teaching staff. All instructors are hand-picked for their ability to communicate, their knowledge and sense of humour! Instructors receive ongoing professional development from the Hamble School of Yachting via a programme delivered by the Chief Instructor. Very few schools adopt this policy.

STRICT INTAKE LIMIT Hamble School of Yachting can offer a choice of different yachts on which to sail and a dedicated teaching block equipped with the latest computer and audio visual technology.

Numbers of students on the PST course are strictly limited to an absolute maximum of ten on each intake. This allows incredibly high quality supervision and monitoring of training and enables students to get much more out of that vital contact time with each instructor.

THE VERY BEST PROGRAMME The programme is purposefully organised in such a way that each week has a clear and dedicated set of goals.

Students are debriefed after each task, and at the end of each week, by the instructor and

Chief Instructor. This enables the school to identify student strengths and weaknesses at a very early stage and ensure a personal action plan is put into place to build up skills accordingly.

AN ALL-ROUND EDUCATION Hamble School of Yachting does not try to enrol its students on a ticket collecting exercise for a bewildering array of different courses. This course is focused and carefully designed to turn out high quality sailors with a good degree of all-round seamanship skills.

The school believes there is no substitute for hands on experience and students spend 72 days of the total 98 days tuition at sea learning the skills of their trade. The weeks spent on practical sailing are carefully divided between skipper development and mileage building to destinations in the English Channel, and “drills and skills” weeks closer to home.

THE HAMBLE TOUCHES Hamble School of Yachting is so committed to delivering the best possible experience that it invites prospective PST students to join the team for a weekend of sailing, free of charge. This gives the opportunity for students to meet school’s friendly faces, see how the school operates and chat to the brilliant instructors about their ambitions. It also allows the team to ensure the course is right for the student. For those with more experience it might be suitable to start at module two or three and this will be assessed over the weekend.

Course Dates

For more details about the course and the options open to you, please download a PDF copy of our PST brochure. If you have problems downloading the brochure or would prefer a hard copy please feel free to call us.

If you would like any help at all or would like to discuss the possibilities further, please call Chris Rushton or any of the friendly team here at Hamble School of Yachting with any questions you might have. We would welcome you to the school at anytime to give you a chance to look around and enable us to discuss your requirements further. We all look forward to meeting you.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam

Duration: 4 days plus 2 exam days

Time: 9am to 5pm plus 2 evenings plus evening study

Group Size: 4 per boat

Min Age: From 18

Price: £1500 inc VAT plus exam fees

• This course is aimed at
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Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam - General

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is, for many boaters, the ultimate qualification when working commercially, or for a leisure boater simply a confirmation of the level that you have attained in your boating. Passing the Yachtmaster Offshore CoC (‘the examination’) means that you are considered competent “to skipper a motor cruiser on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour”

Pre examination requirements

To be eligible to take the practical examination candidates must be aged 18 or over and require:

• A Radio Operator’s Qualification – A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate.
• A valid first aid certificate. A list of acceptable first aid certificates can be found on the RYA website
• Seatime – 50 days, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, at least 5 passages over 60 miles, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two of which have involved overnight passages. Five days experience as skipper. At least half the qualifying seatime must have been accrued in tidal waters.
• Whilst not an absolute prerequisite, it is advisable to have completed the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory course before attending.Your level of theory knowledge needs to be at this level and we are always very sceptical of potential attendees that say that they are at this level with no qualification to evidence it.

Qualifying passages for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore must be non-stop, by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper.

Qualifying passages must be on vessels between 7m and 24m LOA and less than 80gt.

Qualifying seatime (days and miles) can either be 100% gained on vessels from 7m to 24m LOA (and less than 80gt) or can be gained from a mixture of craft with a limit that up to 50% of the qualifying seatime can be gained on vessels over 24m and less than 200gt or on a vessel of 200gt to 500gt.

If you are looking at your experience and struggling to crest the minimum requirements for the YM Offshore exam then we’d suggest that you either wait and get more experience or go for the YM Coastal exam instead.

Trainee skippers undertaking 60 mile passages are strongly advised to take a Coastal Skipper course first.

What the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence allows you to do?

Skipper a craft of up to 24m with up to 12 passengers up to 60/150 miles from a ‘safe haven’ day or night. (150 miles if undertaking a ENG1 medical lasting 2 years or 60 miles with a ML5 medical lasting 5 years). For those working commercially whilst 24m is referred to as the typical cut-off in fact you can use the Yachtmaster Offshore to work as a “Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt”

Instructor to Student Ratio

Maximum ratio 4 students to 1 Instructor on our craft.

Course Duration

By default we schedule the preparation courses run on our craft for 4 days with the exams starting on day 5 and running into day 6 if there are 3 or more attendees.

Exam Duration

The exam will last approximately 8 to 12 hours for one candidate and 10 to 18 hours for two candidates.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is an examination rather than a course and is conducted by a RYA Yachtmaster Examiner. The examination assesses the following areas:

• Ability as a Skipper to command a vessel, undertake comprehensive safety briefings and ensure a happy and safe crew
• Theory – theory needs to be to the standard of RYA Yachtmaster Theory and is assessed accordingly
• Boat handling – close quarter boat handling is assessed and you need to demonstrate a high degree of competence in marina situations and also when dealing with other tasks such as man overboard, handling a craft with one engine down.
• Pilotage and passage planning – you prepare a plan for execution at night and are assessed on the plan and your execution of it

If you satisfy the examiner that you are competent in the above areas then he/she will recommend you as a pass to the RYA. If not it is usually recorded as a fail and you receive a debrief and letter from the RYA detailing where you need to work to improve to help you pass a retake.

Passing this examination allows you to apply for a Commercial Endorsement if you also possess the following:

• RYA Sea Survival (1 day course) ~ or equivalent
• ML5 Medical ~ undertaken by your GP or ENG1 Medical ~ undertaken by a MCA Doctor.
• RYA Professional Practices & Responsibilities Course

There is a fee payable to the RYA for the exam and the Commercial Endorsement.

How to achieve the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence

You can simply book an Examination and attend without possessing any RYA theory or practical qualifications (except First aid & VHF) and indeed some do choose this path. The majority of exam attendees will tend though to follow a logical path to the exam to ensure their skills are at the right level thus enhancing their chances of success. This path is typically something like:

Supporting courses

• RYA First Aid (1 day course)
• RYA VHF/Short Range Certificate (1 day or online course)
• RYA Sea Survival (1 day course)
• RYA Radar Course (1 day course)

These are taken in the run up at convenient times. The qualifications of some other bodies are accepted but not all – call/email to discuss.

Theory knowledge

As stated there is a need to ensure that your theory knowledge is at the level of the RYA Yachtmaster Theory course although there is no requirement to hold any qualification to prove this as you will be assessed at the exam. Without question the best way to ensure this has to be simply to undertake the RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course, this is a 6 day (40+ hour) course and is certainly a logical and sound investment given your desire to succeed at the Yachtmaster Offshore exam. There are a couple of ways to achieve the required level of knowledge:

• RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course (classroom – 6 days)
• RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course (self study via online learning or correspondence)

We strongly advise, wherever possible, to undertake this in the classroom rather than online as the support of the instructor makes a real difference to the depth of understanding.

• Boat handling

As stated you need to be a very competent boat handler as this will be tested at the exam. No training in the world can beat hands on time at the helm and this is something you need to ensure that you get. It is very obvious to examiners those who are comfortable with the tasks they are given versus those that are really having to work hard at them. Whilst there is no requirement that you undertake any training ahead of the exam we would strongly recommend that you spend time with us on a Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation course. We suggest it is considered for the following reasons:

• It is an excellent work up to the exam itself and either works to give you additional practice and confirmation of your readiness for the exam or highlights those areas that you need to work on to develop.
• The Yachtmaster Instructor running the course will run some elements of the course in exam format ensuring you start to work in the way that best serves you in an exam.

The preparation course lasts 4 days.

What does the course cover?

We call the time we spend with you a course but perhaps it would be better to refer to it as a ‘brush up and polish’. It’s really important to understand that when you come to us you need to be at the level to enter the exam as there simply isn’t time to spend teaching subjects that the examiner may examine you on.

What we mean by this is that your theory knowledge should be at the level as if you have just completed the YM Theory course. If we were to give you all of the YM Theory test papers you should be able to achieve a strong pass. There is no expectation of perfection but equally if we need to teach you again how to do a course to steer then thats going to eat into time we need to invest in other areas. With regards to boat handling then of course you will probably not have handled our boat before but you need to be a really competent boat handler in open water and close quarters, if we asked you to respond to a MOB then we’d expect to see a really good reaction to this, immediate application of the required initial actions and a prompt and effect return to the casualty and recovery. What our instructor would be looking to do is tidy up what you do perhaps flagging the odd point that you have missed but fundamentally you need to be there already.

In terms of night navigation, predictably you need to be very at ease with this and what our focus will be on is further improving what you do and ensuring you are using all of the resources that an examiner would expect you to use in an effective and co-ordinated way.

In summary the prep time is about taking you through the areas that you will be examined on and practicing them so that as you roll into the exam it becomes something you are familiar with and feel reasonably relaxed about. What the time isn’t, as hopefully we have made clear, is a course to teach you lots of things you should already know.

What happens if during the prep week I think I’d be better off doing the YM Coastal?

The prep courses we run combine those preparing for YM Offshore and YM Coastal exams as the prep week is fundamentally the same irrespective of which of the exams you plan on undertaking so switching is no problem at all.

During the days leading up to the exam you can decide, in discussion with our Instructor, whether you wish to go or YM Coastal or YM Offshore. The reality is that there is not really any difference in terms of exam content but at Offshore level the examiner will expect to see a greater degree of ‘polish’ in terms of boat handling, overall competence etc. Of course the entry requirements for the exams are different with the Coastal exam requiring no ‘qualifying passages’ and less mileage.

Why choose Powerboat Training UK for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation Course and examination?

Our location and teaching facilities ~ Poole Harbour is a truly amazing teaching location – so much so that the RNLI and the Royal Marines base their training operations here. Our classrooms are well resourced, professional, clean and tidy.

Our Instructors ~ We ensure that our instructors are teaching 100% ‘Best Practice’ and have a process whereby we constantly review their sessions to ensure that you get the most productive experience from your time with us. All teach because they love boating and we work with them to constantly ‘upskill’ their qualifications and experience.

Our history ~ We started the school over twenty years ago and have grown a reputation for delivering on our promises. Our clients range from individuals with their own craft to organisations such as Sunseeker, the RNLI and various Police forces and military organisations

We are also very proud to have written the RYA Powerboat Handbook and the RYA Advanced Powerboat Handbook for the RYA.

Our craft ~ Our main training vessel is a Rodman 1250 with twin Volvos using shaft drives. It is fitted with the very latest in Raymarine Cyclone radar and chartplotters. It is a perfect training boat for the motor cruising courses.

What is included in the course price? ~ When you undertake your Yachtmaster Offshore course and examination with us then the price you pay includes all fuel used, free use of waterproofs if required (often charged as an extra). The price includes VAT too – yet another common extra. You will need to pay the RYA exam fee in addition to the course fee.

Does the course price represent good value? ~ remember in life you pretty much get what you pay for. We have great facilities in large marinas offering a great all-round experience. Check out the other relevant pages on this website to see what we mean.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam - The Course

The Yachtmaster Offshore preparation course runs over four days and focusses on checking that your skills are at the right level and then spends time practicing the core skills and improving them where necessary. Whilst it is called a ‘course’ please think of it as more like ‘polishing’ or ‘brushing up’ your existing skills rather than training you in things that you don’t know.

We run combined Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Coastal preparation courses. At the end of the 4 days you can decide which of the two exams you wish to go for.

The YM Preparation course will be run by a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor who over the four days will aim to cover each of the areas that will be addressed in the exam. The exam looks at your boat handling, your understanding of all aspects of boating and navigation (day and night) and particularly your ability to take command of and manage the vessel and crew.

During the course the Instructor will run sessions to help you to improve all of the tested areas and ensure that you are best placed to pass the exam. Some areas may simply be a refresher whereas others may brush up an area you have got a little rusty on, either way it is really key that you are at the right level for the exam before coming on this course as if there are areas that need material improvement then it is probable that you are not yet at the right level for the examination.

We are always keen to ensure that those that pay for a course are well suited to it and stand the greatest chance of passing so if you are unsure whether you are at the right level then please do not hesitate to call/email to discuss this.

Whilst for almost all candidates we undertake a preparation course, if required, we can simply facilitate the exam and can book the examiner for you, provide the craft and should you wish provide crew to ‘man’ the craft during your exam.

Your instructor will cover the following topics with you during the 4 days:

• General seamanship including maintenance
• Responsibilities as skipper

Meteorology

• Lights & Signals

Additionally we’ll ensure time is spent discussing how the exam is structured and what the expectations of the examiner are likely to be. Your Instructor will structure some sessions as the Examiner will do so to help you get into the way of approaching the exam.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam - This course is aimed at

The Yachtmaster Offshore Examination appeals to a wide variety of individuals

• Leisure boaters keen to achieve the ultimate qualification available to them yet who have no intention of working commercially
• Those helming larger motor cruisers for corporate entertainment type work.
• Boat operators keen to work in the wind farm or renewables sector helming the support vessels operating out to their operating sites
• Those involved in construction or towing type craft and venturing offshore or on passage around the UK
• Military or Law enforcement operators operating craft and in locations necessitating the YM Offshore qualification
• Those seeking Boatmaster qualifcations can use the YM Offshore as a route to Boatmaster
• Superyacht crew aiming towards Master 200/500/3000 type qualifications

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam - Syllabus

Candidates will be given the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge or competence in many of the areas listed below. In each section the examiner will expect to see the candidate take full responsibility for the management of the vessel and crew.

In Yachtmaster Offshore exams the candidate will be expected to demonstrate competence based on broad experience whereas in the Yachtmaster Coastal exam the candidate will be expected to demonstrate understanding but may not have had the opportunity to practice all aspects of the syllabus under a range of different weather conditions.

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

Questions will be confined to the International Regulations and although candidates must be aware of the existence of Local Regulations, they will not be expected to memorise specific local regulations.

• General rules (1-3)
• Steering and sailing rules (4-19)
• Lights and shapes (20-31)
• Sound and light signals (32-37)
• Signals for vessels fishing in close proximity (Annex II)
• Distress signals (Annex IV)

Candidates will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board a motor vessel, based either on the recommendations in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook (G103), the ISAF Special Regulations or the Codes of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels. In particular, candidates must know the responsibilities of a skipper in relation to:

• The safety briefing
• Safety harnesses
• Lifejackets
• Distress signalling (flares and electronic means)
• Fire prevention and fighting
• Knowledge of rescue procedures.
• Helicopter rescue

Boat Handling

Candidates for RYA Yachtmaster Coastal examinations will be expected to answer questions or demonstrate ability in less complex situations only. Candidates for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore will be expected to answer questions or demonstrate ability in more complex situations and will also be expected to show a higher level of expertise:

• Coming to and weighing anchor in various conditions of wind and tide
• In all berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide
• Recovery of man overboard and being able to describe the effects of cold water shock and the aftercare requirements of a casualty who has been in the water
• Towing under open sea conditions and in confined areas
• Boat handling in confined areas
• Boat handling in heavy weather
• Helmsmanship
• Use of warps for securing in an alongside berth and for shifting berth or winding

General seamanship, including maintenance

• Properties, use and care of synthetic fibre ropes
• General deck-work at sea and in harbour
• Engine operations and routine checks and troubleshooting

Responsibilities of skipper

• Can skipper a motor cruiser and manage the crew
• Communication with crew
• Delegation of responsibility and watch-keeping organisation
• Preparing vessel for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Victualling for a cruise and feeding at sea
• Customs procedures
• Standards of behaviour and courtesy
• Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
• Chartwork including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tidal stream and leeway
• Tide and tidal stream calculations
• Buoyage and visual aids to navigation
• Instruments including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navaids and chartwork instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Pilotage techniques
• Navigational records
• Limits of navigation accuracy and margins of safety
• Lee shore dangers
• Use of electronic navigation aids for passage planning and passage navigation
• Use of waypoints and electronic routing
• General understanding of AIS
• Navigational techniques for reduced visibility
• Definition of terms
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Weather systems and local weather effects
• Interpretation of weather forecasts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
• Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information
• Candidates for Yachtmaster Offshore and Coastal Skipper must hold the Restricted (VHF only) Certificate of Competence in radiotelephony or a higher grade of certificate in radiotelephony.

Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course & Exam - Book Now

Thank you for your interest in this course.

Hopefully the dates that we have scheduled work well with your availability. If the dates don’t quite work then we are always keen to be as flexible as possible so please contact us and we’ll see what we can do.

We’re always really keen to chat to you when you’re booking a course as whilst we are happy to take bookings through this system for your convenience – nothing beats chatting about boats and courses!

Don’t forget too that if you are an individual or company/organisation booking a few people onto courses then we may be able to schedule dates around you. Equally, for bookings some time in the future we can usually juggle our course dates if what we have scheduled doesn’t quite work for you.

Get in touch

Where to find us...

Powerboat Training UK Ltd, The Slipway, Cobbs Quay Marina, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4EL

T: 01202 686666 E: [email protected]

Aquasafe Powerboat School, Lymington Yacht Haven, Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3QD

T: 01590 678809 E: [email protected]

Marine Education, Port of Poole Marina, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HJ

T: 01202 406066 E: [email protected]

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Register your interest in this course

At the moment it is not possible to book places on this particular course as we have marked it as full. However it may be that we are able to add additional people to this course or to add you to a reserve list in case someone already booked cannot attend. If this date is of particular interest to you please complete the form below and we will contact you to see what we can do to accommodate you.

Request a last minute space

At the moment it is not possible to book places on this particular course as we have marked it as closed due to it being very close to the course running. However it may be that we are able to add you to this course or to add you to a reserve list in case someone already booked cannot attend. If this is is of interest to you please complete the form below and we will contact you to see what we can do to accommodate you.

Call us: +44 (0)1326 211311

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore Exam Preparation Training

At Falmouth School of Sailing, we offer exam preparation courses which help you hone your practical skills to prepare for taking the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore examinations.

At this stage, you will have already completed the qualifying miles needed for each qualification, so the focus of our preparation weeks are to make sure that you are confident and fully prepared in each area of the syllabus. Your instructor will work closely with you and your fellow students to ensure that your individual areas of concern and revision are covered.

Our courses are usually run over five days typically beginning at 17.00 on Sunday, with the examination stage starting on Friday afternoon, and finishing on Saturday.

All of Falmouth School of Sailing’s RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore preparation weeks and exams take place in Falmouth, Cornwall. The range of sheltered cruising waters of the Carrick Roads and the Fal Estuary provide a perfect training and testing area.

Your practical examination will be taken by an independent local RYA examiner who will test you on boat handling, man overboard procedures, passage planning, crew handling, blind pilotage and knowledge of lights and signals amongst other things.

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore qualifications will unlock the door to bare-boat charter worldwide, provide an entrance into the yacht industry, if commercially endorsed and give you a wealth of experience as a skipper.

Yachtmaster Coastal Pre-Examination Requirements

Documented minimum sea time completed on a seagoing or sailing motor yacht (as appropriate) in the last 10 years:

• 30 days at sea on a vessel less than 24m LOA, which may be reduced to 12 days at sea on vessels less that 24m LOA, or substituted with 30 days at sea on yachts under 500gt if an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate or an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is held.
• Two days as skipper on a vessel less than 24m LOA.
• 800 miles, which can be reduced to 400 miles on vessels less than 24m LOA or substituted with 800 miles at sea on yachts under 500gt is an RYA Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate or an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is held.
• 12 night hours.

For information on qualifying passages please visit www.rya.org.uk/training/certificates-of-competence/qualifying-passages

Minimum Exam duration: 6-10 hours for one candidate. 8-14 hours for two candidates.

Minimum Age : 17 at the time of exam.

Yachtmaster Offshore Pre-Examination Requirements

Documented minimum sea time completed on a seagoing sailing or motor yacht (as appropriate) in the last 10 years:

• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500gt which may be reduced to 25 days if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.
• Five days as skipper on vessels less than 24m LOA, which may be reduced to three days if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.
• 2,5000 miles on yachts up to 500gt, which may be reduced to 1,250 miles if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.
• Five passages over 60 miles long, which must include two overnight passages and two as skipper, which may be reduced to three passages including one overnight and one as a skipper if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

For information on qualifying passages, please visit: www.rya.org.uk/training/certificates-of-competence/qualifying-passages .

Minimum Exam duration:  8-12hours for one candidate. 10-18 hours for two candidates. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours and no more than four candidates can be examined in one two-day session.

Minimum Age : 18 at the time of exam.

For both the levels of examination, candidates will also need:

• A passport sized photo
• A VHF/DSC certificate
• A recognised First Aid certificate
• The appropriate exam fee payable to the RYA

Costs & Dates

*Exam fee is not included please see fees below.

Duration: 5 Days plus examination (7 days)

From: Sunday 1700 – Sunday 12:00

RYA Exam Fees: 

Yachtmaster Coastal £223

Yachtmaster Offshore £256

2024 Course Dates:

Sunday 7th – Sunday 14th April Sunday 12th – Sunday 19th May Sunday 9th – Sunday 16th June Sunday 4th – Sunday 11th August

Please contact the office to discuss further dates and availability.

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Privacy Overview

• 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...

Advanced RYA Sailing Courses

Rya yachtmaster coastal and offshore preparation and exams.

The RYA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competency are amongst the most highly regarded sailing qualifications in the world. Awarded after an external examination, a Yachtmaster certificate is proof of the high level of skill and knowledge needed to skipper yachts commercially, as well as for pleasure. 

The Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore are examined to the same syllabus and exams for both certificates can be carried out at the same time. The difference between the two certificates is that a Yachtmaster Coastal has the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

MST runs a five-day preparation course for Yachtmaster candidates, which is followed immediately by the exam. Our Yachtmaster preparation courses are never shared with students on other courses. 

Exam Pre-Requisites

Yachtmaster Coastal:

30 days at sea 

2 days as skipper

12 night hours

This may be reduced to 20 days at sea and 400 miles if you hold an RYA Coastal Skipper certificate.  ​

Yachtmaster Offshore:

50 days at sea

5 days as skipper 

2500 miles 

5 passages over 60nm, which must include two passages at night and two passages acting as skipper

All exam candidates must have an RYA Short Range Certificate or other valid GMDSS radio operator's certificate, and a valid RYA First Aid certificate or acceptable alternative.

Mobile: 07931 940277 07917 573772 Tel: 02392 528019

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RYA Yachtmaster Preparation

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is one of the most useful and credible of all yachting qualifications. It thoroughly tests your ability as a skipper, and can therefore appear daunting to potential candidates. Our RYA Yachtmaster Preparation course aims to refine your existing skills and abilities as a skipper and sailor. We will assess and work on skippering and navigational techniques, close quarter sailing skills, man overboard recovery, pilotage, passage planning and much more. At the start of the week the instructor will assess your abilities, strengths and weaknesses, through coaching and practise during the five days these areas will be strenghtened. You will be debriefed on a daily basis and through discussion any areas which require improvement will be the focus. With practice and thorough preparation, you should be able to relax sufficiently to let your skills shine through any exam nerves.

Our preparation course takes place over 5 days with FREE use of the yacht at the end of the course for the exam, (this could be up to 2 days for 3 candidates). There will be a maximum of 3 students ensuring you get sufficient expert instruction and practise time. All of our courses are all inclusive ( NO HIDDEN EXTRA COSTS ), see below for details. Whilst we will do our very utmost to prepare you we want you to have the best chance of achieving your Yachtmaster ticket and with that in mind we recommend that you read the pre-course requirements and skills below.

Course Information

• What's Included
• Topics Covered
• Pre-course Requirements
• Pre-course Skills
•     5 days Top Notch Tuition!!
•     Accommodation on board
•     All food on board - three meals a day plus snacks and refreshments
•     Home baked tray bake (when Lou is able!)
•     All mooring fees and marina costs
•     Use of waterproof clothing
•     Use of personal safety equipment
•     Any incurred fuel costs
• International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
• Pilotage in good and restricted visibilty
• Passage planning plus passage making considerations
• General seamanship, including maintenance
• Responsibilities of the Skipper

The course will start and end at  Gosport Marina - PO12 1AH

We typically visit some of these ports and harbours

• Southampton
• 800 logged miles (reduced to 400 if you already hold the Coastal Skipper Certificate)
• 30 days sea time 
• 2 days as Skipper
• 2,500 logged miles 
• 50 days sea time
• 5 days as Skipper 
• 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as Skipper
• Execute MOB under sail 
• Pick up a mooring buoy under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
• Leave a mooring buoy under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
• Drop the anchor under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
• Weigh the anchor under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
• Reef sails under sail
• Handle a boat in confined areas under sail and power

How do I Book?

Check out the available course dates and then contact us or book online. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Lou or Jim for more information.

Testimonials

A great sailing weekend with Nomad with bespoke training tailored around our specific requests. Very approachable, great fun, and super-flexible to adapt around what we wanted and the prevailing weather conditions. I've also done various RYA courses with Nomad which have all been great - THE place to go for Day Skipper, Comp Crew, Yachtmaster training whether on the water or in the classroom

Jim and Lou Barden are fantastic instructors. I've now done competent crew and Day skipper with them as well as some other sailing. They factor in diets, nice marinas, tailored training, and social activities (pubs in the evening!). I wouldn't go anywhere else for my Yachtmaster training.

I recently completed my coastal skipper theory with Jim from Nomad, in a well structured course conveniently located in central London. I've subsequently been out in the Solent with them, benefitting from fantastic downwind sail training by Lou. Yachtmaster arranged with them for next year, they were really flexible in our planning for this.

RYA Yachtmaster Program

The Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster certificate has become the industry standard qualification after the entry-level stage. It is the first formal training in navigation and seamanship that deckhands receive on their path to higher MCA issued certificates and it is a vital part of their maritime education.   If you are working towards your MCA OOW, Chief Mate or Master Certificate of Competence, you are required to successfully complete the shorebased theory course as part of your training. In Fort Lauderdale , the course includes: RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory Course ($1250), RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Practical Course ($2150) and the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Exam ($480).  In Antibes , the course fees if taken individually are RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Theory Course 960 euros, RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Practical Course 1700 euros and the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore Exam including commercial endorsement is 330 euros. We also add the VHF and PPR to our package thus you make a considerable saving of 595 euros.  Objectives   You will learn methods of visual and electronic navigation, charts and chart-work, calculation of tidal heights and tidal streams, meteorology, the collision avoidance rules, safety and safety equipment.  Assessment  

Three written exams over the duration of the shorebased theory course.  During your RYA Final Practical Assessment with a 3rd party examiner, you will complete a verbal and practical examination.  This is not a beginners’ course! You will need to demonstrate practical boat handling and navigation abilities on an RYA approved twin-screw, inboard diesel motor vessel, (we do not currently offer Yachtmaster Sail) of up to 45’. Though we will provide direction and instruction specific to our training vessel you must have developed basic boat handling and navigation skills BEFORE taking this course. We strongly urge you to work through the RYA Essential Navigation course materials provided by the RYA before taking this course. We are happy to help you obtain this important study material.  You are required to hold the VHF (SRC) GMDSS Radio Licence, Valid First Aid certificate (to have been taken within 3/5 years), Valid Personal Survival Techniques certificate, Valid ENG1, and online PPR certificate.  FINAL Practical Assessment : You will be examined by an RYA examiner, who will test your practical ability as well as your written and verbal theoretical knowledge. Depending on your personal experience, you may be examined for either of the two qualifications listed below after successful completion of the RYA Shore based Course.  The majority of our RYA Yachtmaster candidates want to get the theory and practical courses done in quick succession, keeping the theory fresh in the mind and applying it immediately to the practical training.  The course is intense and rewards those who have prepared well so get the resources you need to start studying. A Yachtmaster Coastal Exam Candidate must have the knowledge needed to skipper a motor cruiser on coastal cruises but does not have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.  Any candidate preparing to exam for this Certificate of Competence must provide the following information to the examiner:  • Proof of Sea Time – 30 days , 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours  • VHF or SRC Radio Operator’s Certificate • First Aid Certificate A Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Candidate is competent to skipper a motor cruiser on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbor.  Any candidate preparing to exam for this Certificate of Competence must provide the following information to the examiner:  • Proof of Sea Time - 50 days, 5 days as skipper, 2,500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles, including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper  • VHF or SRC Radio Operator’s Certificate  • First Aid Certificate Additional documentation will be required if the candidate desires to have his/her license commercially endorsed.  These documents are listed in the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Theory Course description.  ***Scheduled dates may change due to Examiner availability or Inclement Weather *** Fee for the exam is based on 3 or more examinees for the date of examination.  To book this course individually, please contact an administration staff member @ +1-954-779-7764 in Fort Lauderdale or +33 4 93 34 47 73 in Antibes.

We provide this yacht training course in .

*Due to weather and/or examiner availability, the examination date may differ.

Practical and Written Assessments

• I have a sufficient level of spoken and written English to understand the course content and to pass any verbal or written assessments.

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RYA YACHTMASTER THEORY £315

RYA Yachtmaster Theory

Also sometimes knows as "coastal skipper/yachtmaster theory".

An advanced course for experienced skippers studying towards formal certification to command vessels up to 200GRT or to apply for a MCA Master 200 Oral Examination

• 14-day unconditional money-back guarantee
• 25% off for 2 or more bookings
• 12 months access
• 24*7 Instructor Support  (from UK and Thailand)
• Student Pack (2 charts, training almanac & course handbook)
• RYA chart-plotter software
• 15 fully-narrated lessons (not just the animations) including including realistic 3D graphics and embedded quizzes with instant feedback
• 15 self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers
• Videos covering: updating paper charts, engine checks, dismasting, jury rig, flood control, firefighting, gas explosions, capsize, lifejacket checks, how to put on a lifejacket and what happens when it inflates, man-overboard recovery, launching and boarding a liferaft
• Downloadable US Chart 1 (5011 equivalent) + 48 other downloadable or linked resources 
• Radar & AIS Training
• Mock Exams with automatic feedback
• 4 Final Online Exams with detailed instructor feedback and unlimited attempts. You can arrange your own invigilator. See  exam guidance  for more information.
• Unlimited free exam resits
• RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course Completion Certificate to support your practical course, professional qualification or MCA Master 200 Oral Exam
• Download lessons to run offline on iPads, iPhones and Android Devices
• 2 Years further access to training materials once you’ve completed the course
• UK Delivery by First Class Post. Worldwide delivery by DHL Express (+£20)
• Top quality Portland Plotter and brass chart dividers, £28
• Additional 6 months, £50 or 12 months, £80

RYA Yachtmaster Theory Syllabus

• Charts & Other Publications
• Definition of Position, Time, Speed & Distance
• The Compass (including allowance for deviation and swinging the compass)
• Tidal Theory
• Tidal Heights (including secondary ports)
• Tidal Streams (including interpolation of drift)
• Estimated Position
• Course to Steer
• Visual Aids to Navigation
• Electronic Aids to Navigation
• Passage Planning
• Meteorology (including interpreting surface pressure charts)
• The Collision Regulations
• Safety & Protection of The Environment

25%+ off for multiple bookings

Studying with friends or family is fun and tends to get better results

Order 2 or more courses and get a whopping 25% off every course. Not everybody has to study the same course.

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RYA Online Courses

Rya yachtmaster online course.

£ 315.00

Description

The RYA Yachtmaster online theory course is an advanced  course that builds on the knowledge gained on the shorebased Day Skipper course. The course is aimed at sailors and motor boaters who are looking to undertake more complex passages, perhaps offshore or at night. This course is a must for those looking to work towards taking the RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.

The RYA Online Yachtmaster course costs £315.00 and includes the RYA Course pack which contains: 2 Full size Training charts, a Training Almanac and Shorbased notes that will act as an Aide-mémoire throught the online course

***NEW***  When you purchase this course you will also gain full access to our new Online  Diesel Engine  course.

The Yachtmaster online course is an intensive programme covering advanced navigation techniques. It includes position fixing, course shaping and plotting, tidal knowledge, secondary port calculations, navigation in restricted visibility, Admiralty publications and electronic position finding equipment.

The meteorology tuition within the course includes the taking and interpretation of forecasts, plotting of weather systems and weather prediction. Students are shown how to use this information when planning and executing passage plans. The International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea are dealt with in detail and you will also learn more about yacht stability and safety offshore.

Students will need to have a valid RYA Day Skipper theory certificate or equivalent and have thoroughly revised the Collision Regulations before taking the course.

YACHTMASTER QUALIFICATION WITH AN RYA APPROVED COURSE

The animated lessons are not matched in any other Yachtmaster online course. They are designed to make learning interesting and questions easy.

Assessment methods within the courses ensure student training is  E valuated,  V alidated and  R ecorded.

The majority of Yachtmaster Online courses are mainly narrated videos and slideshows and to be honest, you may as well buy a book.

Our Yachtmaster online courses are fully animated lessons with an optional voice over so you get the best of everything.

Click here for a  Free Trial

You will receive RYA Certification on satisfactory completion of the course.

The RYA Yachtmaster online course is provided by Navathome, a RYA Recognised Training Centre specialising in online training, and includes: a course pack consisting of training charts, exercises pack, Yachtmaster shorebased booklet,  and your certificate, which is normally priced at £40.00. Plus, a Training Almanac normally priced at £7.49 (Day Skipper/Yachtmaster).

By clicking a payment button you are agreeing to Navathome’s terms and conditions available  here .

To Purchase your course just click your preferred payment method below.

The RYA Online Yachtmaster course normally costs £315

YACHTMASTER ONLINE COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE:

• 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

There is a six-month initial access period to the online theory course. In the unlikely event that you will need an extension, there is an option to extend as many times as you like until you pass your assessment. The cost of administrating each 6-month extension, beyond the initial 6 months, is £30.

This is an advanced course in navigation and meteorology for candidates for the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate.

This course will take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal and Yachtmaster™ Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

As with the Day Skipper shorebased course, the RYA’s specially designed chart plotter software will be used during the course to give you a realistic taste of modern electronic navigation.

Those who have not acquired the knowledge set out in the Day Skipper course are unlikely to be able to assimilate all the subjects covered in this advanced course.

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 (but not correction)
• Allowance for deviation
• Different types of compass
• Causes of tide – Springs and Neaps
• Tide tables – sources
• Tidal levels and datum
• Standard and secondary ports
• Tide anomalies (Solent, etc.)

4. Tidal Streams

• Sources of tidal information
• Tidal stream information in sailing directions and Yachtsmen’s Almanacs
• Allowance for tidal streams 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
• Characteristics
• Ranges – visual, 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

9. Echo sounders

10. logs (speed and distance measuring).

• Principles of operation limitations of use

11. Deck log

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

12. Meteorology

• Basic terms, the Beaufort scale b. Air masses c. Cloud types d. Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems e. Sources of weather forecasts f. Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information g. Land and sea breezes h. Sea fog i. Use of barometer as a forecasting aid

13. Rules of the Road

• A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 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 capabilities of 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

Packs will be delivered for free to destinations within most of the mainland United Kingdom.

We cannot deliver to a PO Box address. A physical address will be required in all circumstances.

A valid contact telephone number for the student will also need to be provided at the time of making the booking.

Packs to Russia must go to a Business address.

Sailtrain will not accept responsibility for Packs sent to Marinas, or C/O addresses. If the pack goes missing after it has been signed for, replacement packs will only be provided at the students expense.

Details of any special delivery requirements should be provided in the notes section of your Booking form.

The shipment of packs to the following countries not shown above will incur the below indicated additional charge:

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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;

• 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

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.

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 Certification of Competence.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

Dates and pricing

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RYA Yachtmaster Practical Course

* Your own cabin * Full Board * Top quality fresh food * State of the art wet weather gear * No hidden extra charges * Award winning Instructors

• What to expect
• Course Content
• What to bring

There are two types of Yachtmaster qualification: Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore.

To obtain a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification you need the knowledge required to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but not necessarily the experience needed to undertake longer passages required for Yachtmaster Offshore.  The theory is the same for both, however this course is suited to those with fewer hours of sea time.

To obtain a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification you will need to be ‘a yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astronavigation’.  A Yachtmaster Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night.

With only 3 students on our 8-berth boat you will have a cabin all to yourself, ensuring a comfortable environment for all crew members aboard for the duration of the course.

As with any exam, the more practice you have beforehand, the more confident you will feel. Before your exam, be more adventurous than the usual weekend trip to your favourite anchorage.  Enter some new harbours to refine your pilotage.  Attempt the occasional night entry and be aware of the problems.  This course will ensure that you receive specific tuition and preparation for your Yachtmaster exam.

Here are some of the things you could be tested on:

• MOB under sail
• MOB under engine
• pick up buoy under engine
• pick up buoy under sail wins and tide plus wind against tide
• choose a buoy and pick it up
• anchor under sail
• sail off a buoy
• find unlit markberth forwards
• berth backwards
• tight turn using wind
• tight turn using prop wash
• lights…safe water mark… long flash 10s, iso 10s, etc.
• Follow a contour line
• Spring on and off berth
• tidal heights
• synoptic chart
• Pilotage plans and passage plan

We endeavor to supply as much of what you need as possible. We supply pillows – but not pillow cases. We supply wet weather gear – but not footwear.

So here is a guide as to what you might bring:

• A sleeping bag
• A pillowcase
• A personal torch
• Any essential medication
• Please ensure you have plenty of warm clothing bearing in mind that it is colder out on the water, and you may get wet
• A pair of non-marking deck shoes or trainers
• Non-slip/non-marking waterproof sailing boots. These can be bought in most chandlers for about £45 [optional] (available here )
• Sailing gloves [optional] (available here )
• Waterproof clothing (unless you have asked us to provide it)
• Notebook, pen and pencil
• Sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses / warm hat, gloves
• RYA Logbook (highly recommended). We can provide one for you at cost.
• Passport if doing a Coastal Skipper Course or a Channel Hop
• Travel/cancellation Insurance - essential if doing a Coastal Skipper course or a Channel Hop. Click for Haven Knox Johnson Insurance
• PASSPORT PHOTO for Day Skipper / Coastal Skipper candidates with name and date of birth on reverse

Pack your gear in a soft bag or holdall, i.e. not a hard suitcase, as stowage on board is limited.  We provide all safety equipment such as lifejackets and harnesses etc.

RYA Yachtmaster Practical Course Gallery

What people are saying

Same as Ever- Best of the best Christian was superb - I learnt so much Thank you Angus

A big thank you from us Colin. We really appreciate your flexibility when we had to re schedule due to my illness, that was a massive relief. The yachts were clean, well maintained and nice to sail. Will was great as our instructor. We really enjoyed the course as a family.

Thanks for posting the Padstow harbour photo on the blog, it makes me feel proud the fly the banner!It was a brilliant week last week, from calm waters near Lundy to rough seas around Land’s end.

Just an important bit of feedback for you... our skipper, Adam Waugh was fantastic, and is a good ambassador for your company. From the welcoming text on Sunday morning asking of our arrival time, the personal welcome at the jetty. He made it perfectly clear that safety was his main concern, obviously an important point, but glad to be told it.

The week continued with his professionalism and experience, and the character mix on Galliver was perfect. This is always a worrying point for everyone. On leaving the boat, we all cleaned up, but Adam personally went the extra mile. It was immaculate, and smelt good too!

Good people are always hard to find, I would recommend his guy as a skipper!

Thanks again for a good week.

Best Wishes,

Dear Colin,

Please find my course feedback form attached.

Thank you very much for the course, also particular thanks to Gary who was outstanding!

Many thanks Vlad

Colin and Jon were very patient as I took some time to "get it" with chartwork. I found it very hard work and far more time consuming than I thought it would be.  The online videos were very helpful when doing homework.

Great fun. Don't know how Colin remained so calm with a student parking his boat.  A brilliant experience including the food.

A great course. Bev is a great instructor and gave me great support and encouragement even when things didn't quite go according to plan.  Now I am truly a Yachtmaster!!

Paul was a great skipper, calm and efficient....and he can cook!  This trip has given me the confidence to take my wee boat further afield.

An excellent outfit, well equipped with good boats and brilliant instructors, that is small enough to give a warm personal service but big enough to cope with the full gamut of yachting experiences.

Hi Colin Thanks for sharing this picture 🙂 Let me say once again what a pleasure was meeting you. I felt you were genuinely interested in our success and learning and treated us as friends rather than customers. Thank you All the best with sailing and life, I’m sure our path will cross again soon Stefano - Yachtmaster Offshore Candidate

Dear Colin and Jan, Thank you for forwarding the photos. I also wanted to thank you for a fantastically well organised sailing week in a beautiful location. The peace and calm is such a contrast to sailing on the south coast. The sighting of over forty seals on a sand bank was a real highlight. The instruction was clear, informed and very supportive. I particularly appreciated, as a competent crew trainee, the trust placed in me to try all the tactics expected of the yacht masters. We had a good humoured team on board, many laughs and everyone pulled their weight. Your commitment to deliver an excellent experience was underlined by the provision of very good fresh food with our instructor magically transforming into chef in between imparting sailing skills. I wish you and your family all the best and hope to see you again once I have mastered some theory and quite a few knots.

Hi Colin Just a quick email to say what a great weekend I had, Dave was great. And the food was Fantastic. Thank you

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Our Courses

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• Course calendar

Intensive fast track yachtmaster at Largs, Scotland

By combining other courses we can create a custom fast track package for any individual to get them to Yachtmaster offshore or coastal level.

The course will focus on building mileage, filling gaps in pre-requisites and training students to get their sailing ability up to RYA Yacht Master level. The final stage of the course is exam preparation completing intensive training and mock exams ready for the final RYA / MCA exam when the RYA Yachtmaster examiner steps onboard to assess you for your certificate of competence.

Details of the RYA certificate of competence can be found here .

The exam fee is not included.

For a bespoke package please email [email protected] with your requirements.

Pre-course experience should be near:

Coastal – 30 days at sea, 800 miles, 12 night hours and 2 days skippering

Offshore – 50 days at sea(including 5 days as skipper), 2500miles, five 60 mile passages (2 of which are overnight and 2 as skipper)

Assumed knowledge : Yacht Master theory (although sometime during the course can be spent revising parts of this or a theory course can be included as part of the program).

Necessary certification: A GMDSS VHF Short range certificate and a valid first aid certificate

Minimum age: 18

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Coastal / Offshore

RYA Yachtmaster

Online Theory Course

A challenging course which stretches you but backed up with excellent coaching and instructor support.

Advanced training for more experienced skippers to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages

The RYA Yachtmaster  online theory course takes your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.

This course advances your skills as a skipper of a yacht or motor boat, with an emphasis on navigation and passage planning for more complex coastal or offshore passages by day and night

Includes some time for the revision of Day Skipper subjects then moves on to cover a greater depth of knowledge and more advanced skills in navigation, pilotage & meteorology.

Successfully gaining your RYA Yachtmaster theory certificate will enable you to confidently work towards your Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore practical qualification.

• Assumed knowledge To Day Skipper theory level.
• Minimum duration A minimum of 40 hours of course study time is specified by the RYA, plus time for exercises and exams.
• Ability after course Theory knowledge to skipper a vessel on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.  

Simply click below to try a free lesson.

Pilotage for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

• Charts & Other Publications
• Definition of Position, Time, Speed & Distance
• The Compass (including allowance for deviation and swinging the compass)
• Tidal Theory
• Tidal Heights (including secondary ports)
• Tidal Streams (including interpolation of drift)
• Estimated Position
• Course to Steer
• Visual Aids to Navigation
• Electronic Aids to Navigation
• Passage Planning
• Meteorology (including interpreting surface pressure charts)
• The Collision Regulations
• Safety & Protection of The Environment

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

14-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

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

Embedded quizzes with instant feedback in each lesson.

14 self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers.

Over 50 downloadable or linked resources.

Videos covering: updating paper charts, engine checks, dismasting, jury rig, flood control, firefighting, gas explosions, capsize, lifejacket checks, how to put on a lifejacket and what happens when it inflates, man-overboard recovery, launching and boarding a liferaft.

Free Radar course.

RYA Student Pack (including 2 training charts, training almanac & course handbook).

Mock exams to prepare you for the real thing and give you the confidence to pass. 

3 final online exams with detailed instructor feedback and free repeat attempts if requried.

RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Course Completion Certificate.

12 months access to study with instructor support and exams - you can extend this if you want.

Lifetime access to training materials once you’ve completed the course.

Optional Extras

Plotter and divider You’ll need a course plotter and chart-dividers to complete the chartwork exercises - if you don’t already have these you can purchase a top quality set from us for £28 when you place your order.

Delivery UK delivery is free.  European delivery is £20, outside Europe delivery is £40.

You can start studying immediately as many of the lessons don’t rely on the printed support materials.

This course is accessed online with no additional software required.

Lessons are accompanied by optional professional narration, and notes. 

They are intuitive and easy to follow, whilst more complex subjects are accompanied by interactive animations and graphics to help you gain a full knowledge of each subject in the course syllabus.

Detailed step-by-step workings for navigational or tidal calculations make it easy for you to follow along as we show you how to plot positions, make tidal height and stream calculations, etc

You can go over these again and again, and test your knowledge with regular quizzes throughout each lesson. 

At the end of each lesson there is an excercise containg similar questions to the exam, with detailed and illustrated answers sent to you immediately to confirm your progress and fully prepare you for your mock and final exams.

You can repeat entire lessons and excercises as often as you wish until you are confident that you fully understand each subject.

When you have completed the course you can request mock and then final exams.

These are assessed by our RYA Instructors and detailed feedback is provided in any areas that may require further study within the course.

If you pass the final exams you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Certificate , which will be posted to you.

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

Call us for advice on 0238 218 2604

Course reviews.

Laura Anderson

Very enjoyable and informative

Impressively prompt and thorough feedback on all queries, tests, mock and real exams. Very high standards and you feel you have earned the Yachtmaster certificate.

Ciaran McIntyre

Comprehensive and well delivered

Excellent course materials and high quality delivery. Very responsive and excellent instructor feedback

Andrew Harvey

Excellent Yachtmaster theory course - I’d definitely recommend it.

Does what it says on the tin and more. I was impressed how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.

Oliver Fleming

Well put together course.

I found the Yachtmaster theory course to be really well structured and covered all of the syllabus in great detail. I was impressed by how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.

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

Free Navathome Diesel Engine course with RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Yachtmaster theory online courses!

• Where Do I Start ?
• RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship
• RYA Day Skipper
• RYA Coastal Yachtmaster
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
• Fastrack To RYA Coastal Yachtmaster
• RYA CEVNI Test
• Navathome Basic Training
• Navathome Diesel Engine Course
• Navathome ICC Theory Course
• Upgrade From Navathome ICC to RYA Day Skipper
• Book A Course
• Vouchers & Gifts
• Extend Your Course
• Ways To Pay
• Other Payments

Welcome to Navathome

Join The Leading RYA Online Training School With More Than 20,000 Students

Get Instant Access To All Of Our Courses

FIND OUT MORE

Navathome Basic Theory Course

Learn The Basics In Boating and Navigating

RYA Day Skipper theory

Start Your RYA Journey and Learn How To Navigate With Confidence Includes a free diesel engine course

RYA Coastal Skipper/ Yachtmaster

Enhance Your Knowledge of Navigation & Passage Planning Includes a free diesel engine course

Try our free Navathome App available from your app store

Try the 'Navathome' app free from your app store. We have courses for all experience levels, from beginners looking for an introduction to navigation, to experienced sailors and professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills.

CHOOSE YOUR COURSE

All courses are completed online, study at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.

Day Skipper

• Includes a free diesel engine course
• No Previous Experience Necessary
• Learn Basic Navigation & Seamanship

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster

• Knowledge To Day Skipper Theory Level Required
• Enhance Your Knowledge of Navigation & Passage Planning

Yachtmaster Ocean

• Knowledge to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Level Required
• The Ultimate In Navigation

Fastrack to RYA Coastal Skipper/ Yachtmaster

• Formal Theory Qualifications Necessary
• Complete Day Skipper Revision and Coastal Yachtmaster Theory in one course

MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ...

Years experience

TrustPilot reviews

Hours studied online

WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING ...

With over 2,500 5 Star Reviews on TrustPilot, it was hard to narrow it down.

customer Carolyn

Great Course

Day skipper theory course was very good - well explained and clear. There was help on hand when needed but working it out for yourself was great instruction in itself! I would certainly do another course with Navathome and would recommend it to others.

Comprehensive course with helpful feedback

I recently took the Coastal/Yachtmaster theory course with Navathome, and happily I passed. There is a great deal of information to cover, and trying to fit this round a day job meant I needed an extension to the time to go through the course, but they kindly granted me this, and provided helpful and constructive feedback at every point. The exam itself probably needs several days, especially if you are as slow at plotting fixes as I am. Think of a number and double it is useful in terms of time needed. The final paper is really an all-day job, so make sure to allow yourself a clear block of time when you can drop everything else and give it your undivided attention. Overall, this has been a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience, and I now feel far more confident that I have decent knowledge to back up the practicalities of sailing.

Navathome Day Skipper Theory

Just completed and passed the RYA Day Skipper Theory course with Navathome. It was a really great experience and I was pleased to discover that I am still capable of learning lots of new things. The content is excellent at delivered at your own pace so you can go back over things that you don't understand as many times as you want.

Tom, Cardiff

Well laid out lessons/resources

Well laid out lessons/resources. Excellent practice questions covering all scenarios. Instant feedback. Very helpful and patient instructors!!! Thank you All at Navathome

The day skipper theory course from…

The day skipper theory course from Navathome is really good. It is well laid out and easy to follow. It is simple to see your progress. The website works very well, I didn’t have any issues with it. I didn’t need to ask many questions, as the online course is so well structured, but when I did they were answered quickly and clearly.

Graham Foster

Comprehensive and high quality on line learning

A very comprehensive course giving time to complete all the exercises at your own pace, build confidence and commit everything to long term memory. I found this far better than creaming everything in over several weekends but be warned this is not the easy option. Fortunately great instructors available when required and instant feedback aids learning. Highly recommended.

Great course

Great course, super concise and well structured. I was able to sail through my practical assessment without any issues. (Dayskipper and Diesel Engine)

One of the best online courses ever!

One of the best online courses I’ve done, in any field. A great combination of text, diagrams, videos/animations, use of practical and physical components (charts, books, almanacs), quizzes, tests and full-on assessments. And there is always help from real people, who care about getting you where you want to be.

Very nice and helpful instructors

well structured course, with explanations for everyone. the instructors who are there for the student, helping him whenever he needs it.

Steve SP REPAIRS

Great Day skipper theory course fit in with my spare time.

Working so many hours I was able to fit the course in around my spare time.. the lessons were great and explained well with videos and graphics. The language was straightforward and although required some good concentration at times it was made even easier with how quick the reply to email questions would be.. I mean, literally a few minutes! This is a real professional set up with a real family/ kind feeling and atmosphere. Obviously you never meet the teachers apart from email but you can get a good sense that NavAtHome.com want you to pass vs just doing their jobs.. thank you NavAtHome.com, Jackie, Salomon and others that came back to my questions over the last months, look forward to doing the coastal course next year!

A very enjoyable course to do

The course was very easy to navigate and friendly to do. There are a few typos, but nothing to make anything ambiguous. I restarted the course this year after having to suspend doing it when I started caring for my mother a few years ago. The staff couldn't have been more helpful. I certainly will do another course in the future if I think it necessary for my level of sailing.

WHY NAVATHOME ?

Full support to pass, multi device support, highest rated school, free navathome app.

EXPERT RYA INSTRUCTORS

Fully animated lessons, group discounts, exceeds expectations, 6 months to complete with lifetime access to revision material.

Get 6 months initial access to complete the course, which may be extended, if required. After completing the course, you will receive lifetime access to our Revision Material to ensure you maintain the skills and knowledge you have learnt with us.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our goal is to assist you by addressing common questions and providing valuable information about our courses and services. If you’re unable to find the specific answer you’re seeking, we encourage you to reach out to our dedicated team. We are always ready to provide further assistance and support.

NEED TO CONTACT US?

Ideal for candidates for the Coastal Skipper practical course & Yachmaster Offshore exam. Some revision of the Day Skipper shorebased course plus more advanced skills in offshore & coastal navigation by day & night, pilotage & meteorology.

Knowledge to the level of Day Skipper Shorebased.

40 hours plus exam time

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.

Background knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day & night.

This is a shorebased course that can be taken in the classroom, online or by distance learning.

RYA Navigation Handbook 2nd Edition

£19.99

RYA Navigation Exercises

£22.99