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• 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.

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How to Become a Yacht Master: A Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a Yacht Master is an exciting and rewarding journey that allows you to combine your passion for sailing with a promising career path. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the essential steps to becoming a Yacht Master, including understanding the role, meeting prerequisites, obtaining certification, gaining practical experience, advancing your career, and tips for success.

How to Become a Yacht Master in the RYA

To become a Yacht Master in the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), you will need to complete a series of courses and gain the necessary experience.

Here are the steps you can take to become a Yacht Master in the RYA:

• Gain experience : You will need to have a certain amount of experience before you can start working towards your Yacht Master qualification. This usually involves logging a minimum number of sea miles and completing a certain number of hours of helm time.
• Complete the Day Skipper course : This course will teach you the basics of navigation, seamanship, and boat handling. It will also give you an introduction to basic weather forecasting and how to plan a passage. You will need to complete this course before you can progress to the Coastal Skipper and Yacht Master courses.
• Complete the Coastal Skipper course : This course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in the Day Skipper course and focuses on more advanced navigation and boat handling. You will learn about night navigation, pilotage, and passage planning.
• Gain more experience : After completing the Coastal Skipper course, you will need to gain more experience before you can start working towards your Yacht Master qualification. This usually involves logging more sea miles and completing more helm time.
• Complete the Yacht Master theory course : This course covers advanced navigation, meteorology, collision regulations, and safety at sea. It is designed to give you the knowledge required to navigate safely in more challenging conditions.
• Complete the Yacht Master practical exam : This is the final step in becoming a Yacht Master in the RYA. The exam consists of a practical assessment of your boat handling skills, navigation ability, and safety knowledge.

Note that there are different types of Yacht Master qualifications available, depending on the type of vessel you want to operate and the waters you want to sail in. Make sure to choose the qualification that is appropriate for your goals and experience level.

Understanding the Role of a Yacht Master

The Yacht Master is a highly skilled professional responsible for the safe operation and overall management of a yacht. To fully grasp the requirements of this role, it is important to examine both the responsibilities and qualifications involved.

Responsibilities and Duties

Being a Yacht Master comes with a significant set of duties and responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, managing all onboard operations, maintaining legal and regulatory compliance, and supervising the maintenance and repair of the yacht. Additionally, Yacht Masters often need to act as navigators, assuring the timely arrival at planned destinations while taking into account the weather, sea conditions, and other potential hazards.

Skills and Qualifications

Aspiring Yacht Masters must possess a wide range of skills in order to excel in this demanding profession. Some key qualifications include excellent communication and leadership skills, a strong background in sailing and seamanship, knowledge of navigation and meteorology, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Prerequisites for Becoming a Yacht Master

Before starting your journey to become a Yacht Master, you should consider the prerequisites to ensure you are on the right path.

Sailing Experience

Hands-on sailing experience is essential for building the foundation of your Yacht Master career. This includes recreational sailing or working on crewed vessels in various capacities. Many aspiring Yacht Masters begin by obtaining entry-level roles within the yachting industry, such as deckhand or mate, to gain valuable experience.

Required Certifications and Licenses

There are several certifications and licenses required to become a Yacht Master. The specific requirements may vary depending on the jurisdiction where you plan to work, but most countries require the completion of various sailing and navigation courses, like the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Yacht Master program. These courses and certifications demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and commitment to the profession.

Physical Fitness and Health Requirements

Being a Yacht Master is a physically demanding profession that requires individuals to maintain a high level of fitness and health. It is important to assess your physical abilities and conditions to ensure you can meet the demands of the job. Additionally, some jurisdictions require a valid seafarer’s medical certificate, attesting to your overall health and fitness for work at sea.

Yacht Master Training and Certification

Once you have met the prerequisites, the next step is to obtain the necessary training and certification to become a Yacht Master.

Choosing the Right Training Program

It is crucial to choose a reputable and accredited training program. Look for programs with experienced instructors, proven success rates, and comprehensive curriculums that cover essential topics. The RYA Yacht Master program is one of the most recognized and respected certification systems worldwide.

Essential Courses and Modules

A typical Yacht Master training program consists of multiple courses and modules. Common subjects include navigation, seamanship, meteorology, safety at sea, engineering, and radio communication. Additionally, practical skills such as boat handling, sail trim, and emergency procedures are also covered extensively.

Preparing for the Yacht Master Examination

To become a certified Yacht Master, you must successfully pass the Yacht Master examination. This comprehensive exam assesses your theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and ability to safely command a yacht. It is crucial to dedicate ample time to studying and practicing before attempting the examination to ensure success.

Gaining Practical Experience

Once you have obtained your Yacht Master certification, the next step is to gain practical experience.

Building Sea Miles

Accumulating sea miles is important for both building your skills and enhancing your employability. You can do this by participating in sailing deliveries, joining yacht races or rallies, and working on crewed charters. Each of these experiences will help you become a more proficient sailor and better prepare you for the demands of being a Yacht Master.

Networking and Finding Opportunities

Networking is crucial for securing opportunities in the yachting industry. Attend industry events, join online forums, and connect with fellow sailors to build relationships and stay informed of job openings. This will not only help you find employment but also provide invaluable support and guidance throughout your career.

Learning from Experienced Yacht Masters

Seek out opportunities to learn from and work closely with experienced Yacht Masters. Building a mentorship relationship with someone who has already achieved success in the profession can provide invaluable insights, advice, and practical tips to help accelerate your own career.

Advancing Your Yacht Master Career

Once you have gained experience and established yourself as a competent Yacht Master, it is important to look for ways to advance your career.

Continuing Education and Professional Development

Investing in your ongoing education and professional development is essential for remaining competitive and staying updated on industry best practices. This can include attending industry conferences, enrolling in additional training courses, and obtaining specialized certifications to expand your skillset and expertise.

Joining Professional Associations

Joining professional associations, such as the RYA or the International Yacht Training (IYT) community, offers numerous benefits. These organizations provide access to networking events, job boards, professional resources, and continuous learning opportunities, all of which can help elevate your career.

Exploring Job Opportunities and Specializations

With experience as a Yacht Master, you can explore various job opportunities and specializations within the yachting industry. Some popular career paths include working as a captain of private or charter yachts, managing yacht operations and maintenance, and serving as a consultant or instructor. Pursuing a specialization can lead to increased job satisfaction, better employment prospects, and higher earning potential.

Tips for Success as a Yacht Master

To ensure a successful and fulfilling career as a Yacht Master, consider the following tips:

Developing Strong Leadership Skills

As a Yacht Master, you are responsible for leading and managing your crew. Developing strong leadership skills, such as effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving, are essential to creating a harmonious and efficient onboard environment.

Staying Updated on Industry Trends and Regulations

The yachting industry is continuously evolving, and staying informed of the latest trends, technologies, and regulations is crucial. Regularly review industry news, engage with your professional network, and attend educational events to keep your knowledge current and maintain your relevancy in the industry.

Balancing Work and Personal Life

Finally, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential to your well-being and long-term success in the yachting industry. Set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and make time for personal interests and relationships to ensure you can enjoy a rewarding and enduring career as a Yacht Master.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore / Yachtmaster Coastal / Master of Yachts 200 Course 300

MPT is the most complete full service private maritime school in the country and has been training mariners since 1983. Our Fort Lauderdale based campuses host over 45,000 square feet of classrooms, deck and engineering training labs, the Ship's Store, and student service facilities.

Preparing for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore / Yachtmaster Coastal / Master...

Course description.

  Yachtmaster Certificate of Competency

The Yachtmaster Qualification is the pinnacle of the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Training and Certification System. It is widely recognized throughout the world as a prestigious accomplishment.

 Holding this credential can:

- Improve your resume for any deck department position on yachts - Serve as prerequisite training for an MCA OOW 3000 GT CoC - Professional Development in your yachting career  - Serve as your Certificate of Competence (CoC) for operators of yachts up to 200 tons

The Yachtmaster Course should be undertaken by crew aspiring to advance to the MCA OOW level up to 3000 tons and by those who are advancing to the command level for Master of Yachts up to 200 tons.

  2 Routes Available – Same Course:

Yachtmaster Coastal Yachtmaster Offshore

Yachting professional candidates are encouraged to start their training and professional development as early in their career as possible. Many will take their STCW Basic Safety Training Program (#140) and then when they qualify, it is recommended to obtain the Yachtmaster Coastal CoC. Candidates wishing to upgrade to the offshore route later can simply examine, without additional required training.

Whether you qualify for the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore, the training is the same. The only difference is your experience and practical skill level. You will be examined towards whichever level you qualify for.

The MPT Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore Course (#300) is taught on a Motor Yacht and the practical training and examination are towards a Motor Certificate of Competence. (If you are applying for a Sail Endorsement, this course will not satisfy your practical training and exam requirements). All sea time must be on a power boat and not on a sail boat under power. The Theory, SRC, PPR, and Basic Training courses are the same for both schemes.

The MPT Yachtmaster advanced level certification is available in a 2 week + exam program combining shore-based theory and practical hands-on techniques for a Motor Vessel and the RYA Practical Examination. The first week of class is in the classroom (theory) and the second week is Practical, out on the boat. In addition, there will be class on Saturday of the first week so please plan accordingly.

YACHTMASTER COASTAL & OFFSHORE Subjects Include:

One week (40 hours) of comprehensive shore-based theory module with written assessment papers including navigation, tidal calculations, international and inland rules of the road, coastal pilotage, meteorology, anchoring and mooring, docking and undocking, buoyage systems, safety, voyage and passage planning, general ship knowledge and seamanship.  A theory examination will be conducted after the completion of the 40-hour theory portion of the program.

One week of Yachtmaster Offshore/Coastal practical training is conducted on board one of MPT’s Yachts. These yachts are up to 48’ and are twin screw motor yachts. This part of the instruction covers seamanship skills such as nautical terms, tides, marlinespike seamanship, anchor work, boat handling, docking, general yachting skills, basic weather, navigation and passage planning. This course will be a preparation course for your final Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Examination. The practical portion of the course will be conducted during daytime, evening and occasionally may include weekend hours.

The Yachtmaster Course #300 is an Advanced Review Course and it is assumed that candidates will have the prerequisite knowledge of the Basics of Navigation and recommended to the level of RYA Day Skipper, and the very least, the level of the Essential Navigation On-line course. To increase your likelihood of success, we recommend taking the online pre-course - ESSENTIAL NAVIGATION. Additionally, flash cards are available in the MPT Ship's Store for rules study in lights and shapes. Also, many Apps are available to assist in these subjects for pre-study. It is also strongly advised that you pick up your study material well in advance of the start of your course. Pre-study is essential for a successful outcome of this course. 

The RYA Yachtmaster course is accredited by the RYA and MCA and recognized for service as Captain or Mate (OOW) up to 200gt up to 150 miles from a safe haven, at the Offshore level or up to 60 miles from safe haven at the Coastal level. 

The Yachtmaster CoC meets the STCW A-V1/1 and section A V1/1-4 when combined with Basic Training Courses. Yachtmaster Offshore fulfills the prerequisite for MCA OOW 500 and 3000 GT and the MCA STCW A-II/2 Command Certificate for Master 200GT.

Sea Service Prerequisites (minimums): Note you must be able to provide proof of your sea service before undertaking the exam. This should be provided at least 2 weeks before the course when possible to allow our team to review it and ensure your eligibility for the course. Speak to your MPT Career Counselor or your instructor for assistance.

 Sea Service can be proven by submitting one or more of the following: 

• Log book (RYA or other acceptable)
• Sea Service Testimonial Letters from captains, owners or operators of vessels outlining vessel specifics, time underway, your capacity served onboard and the location of the service (tidal or non-tidal waters, etc).
• Sea Service Forms (calendar style - provided you can supply all of the additional information such as number of miles, etc.) Method 2 is preferred.

Yachtmaster Coastal: Motor - Option 1

Without RYA Coastal Skipper Practical certificate:

• 2 days as skipper on vessels of less than 24 meters

Note: No more than half of the required miles can be on vessels over 24 meters

Yachmaster Coastal: Motor – Option 2 A & B

  With RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Certificate:

Can be used to enter OOW 3000GT program and modules

A. Mariners with Coastal Skipper Practical Certificate and with more than half of required sea service on vessels less than 24 meters

• 20 days on board
• 2 days as skipper on vessel less than 24 meters

B. Mariners with Coastal Skipper Practical Certificate and with more than half of required sea service on vessels greater than 24 meters

• 30 days on board

Yachtmaster Offshore: Motor  

• 50 days sea time overall on motor vessels
• 5 days in the command position on the vessel (as Master)
• 2500 nautical miles logged with half transiting through tidal waters and half on a vessel of less than 24 meters that is not a tender.
• 5 passages over 60 nautical miles, including 2 overnight and 2 in command (as Master) of vessel.        

Yachtmaster Ocean:

• Obtain Yeachmaster Offshore
• Complete the RYA astro/ocean shorebased theory #306
• Ocean passage of 600 nautical miles or more as captain or mate
• Complete oral exam with RYA examiner successfully

For Commercial Endorsement:

In addition to the SRC and First Aid (must have been taken within 5 years) you will need to obtain an MCA Certificate of Medical Fitness (ENG-1) as well as the Personal Survival Training (4 Modules of STCW 210) and the online Professional Practices & Responsibilities (PPR) Certificate. If you are planning to work commercially, you should simply add the STCW Basic Training Program, which will include the approved Personal Survival and First Aid automatically and will also allow your Yachtmaster CoC to have the STCW endorsement as well. Most boats internationally require this of all crew working commercially. We also recommend the Security Awareness or Designated Security (VPDSD) Course if you are working commercially as well. These are all separate fees from the Yachtmaster Course however MPT offers Package discounts, speak to an MPT RYA Specialist for more information and assistance. There is also a fee candidates will pay to the RYA for the commercial endorsement.

Written & Practical Exam Information:

The written exams are administered at MPT at the end of the shore-based theory segment of your program. They include all of the topics covered in the course. All of the shore-based courses and experience criteria must be fulfilled before the RYA Examiner will conduct the practical assessment. The final exam will be conducted by an independent and unbiased RYA Yachtmaster examiner and takes the form of an extensive oral and practical examination on a motor yacht. Candidates who have taken MPT's Yachtmaster course may use one of the MPT vessels for the exam at no additional fee. The practical exam will take an additional one-two day and is scheduled when the examiner is available and generally immediately after the course, weather permitting.  Once your eligibility has been reviewed (sea time and prerequisites met), the schedule for the practical examination is predicated on several things:

1)The weather as this is a practical underway examination 2)The availability of the RYA Examiner (this is not an MPT employee)

Examinations may need to be scheduled for additional days which may not be consecutive to the dates of the course.

Exam Subjects:

We will review with you the knowledge-based subjects during your shore-based theory week and also fine tune your boat handling skills during your practical course, but you should be familiar with the following areas when you join the class and proficient by the exam date. (Note if you are not already well versed in these subjects when you arrive, you are strongly encouraged to take the Essential Navigation (online course) as there is not sufficient time to cover the basics in the 2-week program. Ask about #333) 

• Knowledge of the International and Inland Rules of the Road.
• Safety. The candidate will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board a yacht.
• Boat Handling, Maneuvering, Docking: Yachtmaster Coastal students will be expected to answer questions & demonstrate ability in simple situations only. Yachtmaster Offshore candidates are expected to demonstrate ability in more complex situations and will also be expected to show a higher level of expertise.
• General seamanship, including maintenance.
• Responsibilities of the skipper
• Navigation, Basic Weather 
• Radio Communication & Signaling
• Command presence, management and direction of crew.
• Essential Navigation (online course)

Practical Exam Fees:

The RYA Examination Fee for the initial examination will be paid by MPT as part of your course tuition. Additional RYA fees are paid by candidate if a subsequent examination is needed.

 If at the end of your course you wish to postpone the practical exam date, you are permitted to return for exam and RYA exam fee paid by MPT, within one calendar year, space permitting.

Additional Recommended or Required Courses:

• Essentials of Navigation (Online Pre-Course) #333
• First Aid & CPR #143 or Take STCW Basic Safety Training #141, 142, 143, 144
• SRC VHF Radio License #303 Required (offered Online) or GMDSS GOC #404
• RYA PPR (Professional Practices & Responsibility) #335 ONLINE COURSE
• MCA Approved Engine Course #440
• USCG Radar Course #148 & ARPA Course #150 or MCA Nav/Radar/ARPA Course #402

If you have three years of yacht service, speak to a career counselor about continuing straight through your OOW or Chief Mate 3000 GT program.

Required Materials

RECOMMEND PRE-STUDY: Essential Navigation online, course #333, COLREGS Study Apps or flashcard, and course notes. AVAILABLE IN MPT SHIPS STORE or bring with you the following: Pencil (mechanical or #2) Paper Chart Eraser (We recommend white- like magic rub or Staedtler), Navigation Tools (parallel rules/Portland plotter/triangles – your choice), Dividers (we recommend two- one as divider and one as compass), Calculator (we recommend the TI-30x), Hand Bearing Compass - optional though recommended (We recommend Weems & Plath #2004). Pick up at MPT when you register or when you check-in: Yachtmaster Shore based Training Manuals & Charts (provided by MPT).

11 day class in Fort Lauderdale

RECOMMENDED PRE-STUDY: Available at MPT Ships Store Complete Course Training DVD Flashcards AVAILABLE IN MPT SHIPS STORE OR BRING WITH YOU: Pencil (mechanical or #2) Paper Chart Eraser (We recommend white - like magic rub or staedtler) Navigation Tools (parallel rules/Portland plotter/triangles - your choice) Dividers (we recommend two - one as divider and one as compass) Calculator (we recommend the TI-30x) Hand Bearing Compass (We recommend Weems & Plath #2004) PICK UP AT SCHOOL WHEN YOU REGISTER OR WHEN YOU CHECK-IN: Yachtmaster Shorebased Training Manuals & Charts (provided by MPT)

Course Photos

Testimonials

Not suggestions. Thanks for letting me be your student! Alejandro, Friday August 2015 RYA Yachtmaster Offshore / Yachtmaster Coastal / Master of Yachts 200

A bit more time would be nice! But Steve was an awesome instructor.Very easy to follow and very thorough. Arthur, Wednesday November 2013 RYA Yachtmaster Offshore / Yachtmaster Coastal / Master of Yachts 200

1915 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, +1-954-525-1014 | +1-888-839-5025 (Toll Free)

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RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

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

Use the global Yachtmaster Offshore Directory to Find a Course Near me (Select any Location)

Page Navigation

• 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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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

How to pass your Yachtmaster exam

• Chris Beeson
• September 16, 2015

The global standard of sailing qualifications is achievable for any experienced, competent skipper. Tom Cunliffe explains how to pass your Yachtmaster exam

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

Tom Cunliffe is an RYA Yachtmaster examiner. He has passed and failed hundreds of Yachtmaster candidates over the years

We in the UK are exceedingly fortunate. Just as the English language is the best bet for a world traveller, our very own RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualification happens to be the global standard for sailing. It’s required for anyone planning to become a professional and, 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. Despite this blessed lack of regulation, the Yachtmaster certificate remains the logical target of many a self-motivated sailor. It also represents the icing on the cake for those looking for the reassurance of an external assessment.

Courses and exams

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 increasingly popular Internet distance learning programmes, ends with a Yachtmaster theory exam. Success in this will help a student in subsequent qualification upgrades, but it is not officially recognised. The only certificates accepted by the authorities are those issued after an at-sea examination – the Yachtmaster Practical . To become a fully-fledged Yachtmaster, this practical test is the one that really counts.

Yachtmaster Prep

Meteorology matters: a favourite with examiners is to produce a weather map and invite you to analyse it. Be ready and know your subject

This is a non-RYA course and, as such, has no official status or syllabus. However, it is run successfully by many RYA sailing schools to prepare candidates for an examination which generally follows on at the end. Up to four students spend several days together on the boat in which they will be examined. The benefits are that they get to know one another and their yacht under the guidance of a highly qualified Yachtmaster Instructor. The general feeling is that these tutors can’t teach you much you don’t already know in a week, but that they are very good at coaching the best out of those skills you already have. Prep courses are great for brushing up on how to jump through the various hoops an examiner may set up. What they can’t do is make someone who doesn’t have suitably constructive mileage into the confident skipper examiners are looking for.

Coastal or Offshore – what’s my level?

Recently, the old Coastal Skipper ticket has been superseded by the new ‘Yachtmaster Coastal’ certificate. The qualifying mileage for this MCA-recognised qualification is 800, with passage and night-hour requirements being relaxed in comparison with ‘Yachtmaster Offshore’, which keeps its 2,500-mile entry level. Either is a proper Yachtmaster qualification and can be described as such. Only the often-dropped suffix distinguishes the two. The syllabi are identical, the variant is the rigour of the examination. 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, which is very different from setting off from Ramsgate towards Norway with five days and potentially serious conditions ahead of you. The implications should be clear: unless you need the Offshore ticket for professional reasons, if in doubt, go for Coastal.

Preparing yourself and the boat

A relaxed candidate with a mug of tea makes a better impression than a harassed-looking one

If you’ve signed on with a sailing school, you’ll be stuck with the boat you’re given. You can be confident that this yacht ticks all the official boxes by being coded for commercial use, but while some are very up-together, others are not. If the boat is generally sloppy and scruffy, you can at least make an effort to stow the mainsheet in a seamanlike manner while you are nominally skipper.

Neatly coiled lines reflect well on the skipper

You can also ensure that fenders are hung at the same level, sharpen up the guardrails and see that things generally look as though somebody knows the difference and cares. Then the examiner won’t hold the ratty lifebuoys and the smelly bilge against you.

Mind that your dress and demeanour don’t make a bad first impression

Try to be ready in good time so that you aren’t involved in a last-minute kerfuffle. If you’re relaxing in the cockpit with a mug of tea when the examiner arrives, he or she will be more impressed than if you’re frantically working out tidal heights and scuffling through the chart table. Wear sensible kit. Don’t worry if it’s not this season’s fashion. My examiner turned up in an old duffel coat back in 1978 and I think I was wearing a canvas smock and a flat cap, but the smock was freshly laundered and the cap was right way round…

The main thing is that you can sail, but an examiner is always pleased to be freed of any hassle with the paperwork. Most of us are no better with admin than you are, so make our lives easy by producing an up-to-date first aid ticket and all the rest, plus a cheque made out to the RYA – not the examiner, perish the thought!

Passage planning

Your passage plan should be realistic. Keep it simple and be ready to adapt and update as things develop

You may be given the opportunity to produce a passage plan before the examiner arrives. If so, make it realistic. Don’t plot every course to the last degree. After all, you don’t know what speed you’ll make or what the wind will really do. Check tidal gates, distances, viable alternatives and the weather. Look at any hazards, sort out a time to leave and have a plan for updating as things develop. That’s about what you’d do if there were no exam, and that’s what I, at least, want to see.

Examination on your own boat

A nicely level line of fenders sends a good signal to the examiner

You don’t have to go to a sailing school to be a Yachtmaster. I love it when a candidate asks to be examined without training on his own boat. Don’t worry if she isn’t coded. There’s no legal requirement that she should be. Most of mine haven’t been either, and I couldn’t care less.

As an examiner, I want to see that your priorities are sound and that you’re thinking clearly and for yourself. On the day, the yacht must be clean, tidy and seamanlike. Waterline crisp, sail covers Bristol fashion, not looking like some poor bird with a broken wing, ropes carefully stowed, a comprehensive chart kit for the waters to be sailed, the makings of a meal plus snacks and, of course, everything that counts should be working.

What the examiner is looking for

Feeling relaxed in close quarters

Competent, confident boathandling counts well in your favour

If there’s one thing that will upset an examiner, it isn’t that you forgot to put on your lifejacket, it’s that he feels insecure when you begin manoeuvring in a marina. Take it from me, there’s nothing worse than sitting at the backstay wondering what you’re going to hit. If the boat slides sweetly out of her berth with everyone knowing what’s required and no shouting, then moves away easily with the examiner confident you’re in charge, that you’ve checked the next alleyway for collision risk, that your choice of speed is sensible and efficient and that it never enters his head to feel anxious, you’re well on the way to a pass after five minutes. No course can teach you this. It can only tick the box confirming you’ve managed it once or twice. The rest is up to you and your sea time.

Wind awareness

You should always be aware of the true wind direction and how it will influence any manoeuvres

Here’s another subject you can’t learn on a prep course. Knowing where the wind is and how it relates your position to any impending manoeuvres is critical. I often ask a candidate where the wind is coming from when he’s approaching a situation we both know will involve some sort of gyration under sail. If he looks instinctively at the masthead or, worse still, an instrument set to apparent wind, he’s dropped a bagful of points. At this stage, his mind should be setting up where the boat will best be placed to make her critical turns. Apparent wind isn’t going to help him much. What he should be doing is glancing at the water and noting the tiny ripples to assess what the true wind is actually doing. I’m often amazed at how many folk have never been shown how to do this. Racing sailors can handle it in their sleep, because they need to predict windshifts, but cruisers tend to get lazy, so make sure you can read the wind.

Good sailing

No need for incessant, race-style tweaking, but pay due attention to sail trim while the yacht is under way. If there’s a mainsheet traveller, use it

Ensure that the genoa sheet leads are properly positioned for the point of sail you’re on

Lovely: both mainsail and genoa set up with the right amounts of tension and twist

All examiners hate to see a yacht sloppily sailed on passage. Make sure that your crew are using the traveller, that genoa fairleads are properly positioned, that the main is well set up with kicker and mainsheet tension for twist. Above all, do not sail over-sheeted. It’s a dead giveaway that you just haven’t been out there enough yet.

Too much staring at the plotter screen betrays nervousness

In the days before GPS set navigators free, people used to fail exams by what we called ‘sailing the chart table’ rather than skippering the yacht. Assuming the test to be all about some sort of imagined ‘correct navigational practice’, candidates nailed themselves to the navigatorium when they should have been up on deck directing operations and watching out for the ship coming up astern that was suddenly looking bigger every moment. Well, guess what? Nothing has changed. This remains a big problem with neophyte Yachtmasters.

Sail the boat, not the chart table

The secret is to plan well, then nip below every so often on passage to keep an eye on what’s going on in the chart department and whizz back on deck pronto to carry on skippering the boat. I’ll lay a pound to a penny it’s what you do when there’s no examiner on board, so have the confidence to back your own usual practices. This is particularly important at night in crowded waters. An unsuccessful candidate often fails himself by allowing disorientation to creep in, simply by not keeping the true perspective on events, which can only be found on deck.

The use of electronic nav-aids such as GPS is not ‘cheating’ – it’s an integral part of navigation

All examiners have their own take on use of electronics. Personally, I want to know my candidate is making modern aids to navigation, including a chart plotter if there one, an integral part of his navigational policy. The idea, as one candidate suggested, that use of GPS is somehow ‘cheating’ is incomprehensible to me. I will almost certainly ask at some stage that the yacht be navigated classically, to see how easy my man is with what, for most people, are now backup skills. If I’m unconvinced by his performance, off he goes to think again.

Your chartwork should be fluid and accurate

Skilled chartwork comes with use, and no amount of last-minute swotting can make up for weeks of doing it as a matter of course. Plotting traditional fixes is a good giveaway these days. With GPS all around us, we only do this for real when electronics fail. I’ve seen a person take 15 minutes to select three objects from a background studded with lights, then plot the results. The yacht had moved over two miles in the meantime…

It’s absolutely vital that you maintain a decent logbook during the exam

It’s absolutely vital, whether navigating with a giant chart plotter or a Walker log, that you maintain a decent log book. Without this, if GPS fails for any reason at all, you’re lost, Mate, so is your exam, and quite right too!

Take command

One of the most important questions on most examiners’ private lists is how good the candidate is at taking charge. If he’s managing well, we probably won’t even notice that he’s in command, that his crew all know what’s expected of them and that their skipper is quietly checking that they’re doing it. Good leadership is seldom about barking orders, and never about ignoring all on board, yet leadership is what being a Yachtmaster is all about. First, you must be sufficiently comfortable with your own skill levels not to have to worry about little things like picking up a mooring. Only then can you consider what may go wrong for the poor soul on the foredeck in a gale at midnight.

The classic skills

These are what most people imagine success in an exam is based upon. Actually, these basic skills merely help an examiner build up an overall picture of the candidate. It’s generally not a hanging matter if one manoeuvre goes a bit haywire. Even a grounding is often more interesting for what the candidate does about it than for the fact that it has happened. After all, nobody is perfect, especially under the stress of an exam.

Man overboard

An effective, confidently executed man overboard drill speaks volumes about a candidate’s boat-handling ability but it’s not necessarily curtains if the manoeuvre goes a bit haywire

Errors in principle are not popular with examiners. Mistakes under pressure may sometimes be forgiven, and man overboard is a case in point. If the boat sails past the dummy with her mainsail full and the examiner asks, ‘What went wrong?’ It won’t get you much of a score if you reply, ‘I was going too fast.’

‘Candidate’s speciality, stating the bleeding obvious,’ the examiner will note on his pad, and move on, downhearted.

However, if you say, ‘I’m kicking myself because I was too far upwind and couldn’t de-power the main. I tried to get onto a close reach but I misjudged my approach,’ he’s more likely to take a lenient view – especially if you’ve opted for ‘Coastal’.

Securing the yacht alongside

When I was examining instructors regularly, I’d often sail up to Poole Quay (a tidal wall) shortly before closing time. I’d hop off the boat as soon as she touched the piling, saying, ‘You sort her out, skipper, I’m off for a quick pint.’ I’d then do just that. When I returned 10 minutes later, if the yacht was neatly snugged down with four lines ashore, ends on the dock, a fender board in place, sails neatly stowed and all hands below cooking and relaxing, the guy was in good shape for a pass. If I found discussions on deck about whether to ‘hand the end back for a spring’, and people blundering about in the dark, things didn’t look so bright for our hero. Have a system and know how to execute it.

… and don’t forget

Mooring and anchoring

Mooring and anchoring under sail should present no challenge to the aspiring Yachtmaster. When in doubt, drop the mainsail

These are Day Skipper skills that should pose no threat to a Yachtmaster candidate. Under sail, just remember first to assess whether the wind is with or against the tide. If you get lucky and it’s against, drop the main and arrive stemming the stream, spilling under headsail or creeping along under bare poles. If wind and tide are at all ambiguous, never forget the old adage – when in doubt, drop the mainsail.

Meteorology

As forecasting has become more comprehensive and accessible, I’ve noticed a reduction in candidates’ capacity to understand what’s going on and to read a bulletin creatively. Anyone who can’t describe the typical cloud sequence on a North Atlantic depression gets nil points from me, and failure to understand the basics of air masses is going to run up a black mark too. A favourite with examiners is to produce a weather map and invite their Yachtmaster to analyse it. Be ready, and know your subject.

Tom sees no reason not to have a chart in the cockpit, but some examiners disapprove of it. Be ready to justify your choice

Many candidates produce excellent pilotage plans for entering a strange harbour. I’m happy with that, and most examiners love it. Personally, I prefer to sketch a few notes on the actual chart and have it in the cockpit held down with a winch handle, yet I’ve met examiners who’d be horrified to see a chart on deck at all. So there you have it. Do what suits you best, then be ready to justify your choice. Actually, this advice is good across the board. The examiner wants to see what you really do, not some fantasy you’ve cooked up because you think he might like it. That is a weak candidate’s policy and it often backfires.

No shortcuts here, 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 he is to be put on the griddle, not to have the regulations burned into his heart. The best way to be exam-proof is to invest in A Seaman’s Guide to the Rule of the Road, available for modest money from all good chandlers or Bookharbour.com. Place it prominently in the heads some months before the exam and devote five minutes of the shining hour each day to digesting its wondrous contents. The book makes it easy and there’s no excuse for disappointing the Board of Trade!

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What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence, your driving license, so to speak, is the aim of most skippers who are looking for reassurance that they have met the highest of standards. The RYA Yachtmaster is a highly regarded qualification and is respected around the world.

Becoming an RYA Yachtmaster allows the holder to work in the maritime industry as a professional skipper, Superyacht Crew, RYA instructor, plus so much more.

As a professional skipper, you can take charge (skipper) of a vessel up to 24 meters in length on a coastal, offshore, or ocean passage, depending on the qualification achieved. Qualifying as a Yachtmaster is a gateway to employment as a professional skipper. It shows that you are an experienced and competent skipper.

Becoming a Yachtmaster requires no format training, provided you have the correct experience and sea time, you can put yourself forward for the exam. You will need to provide your own boat and crew of course. You can  contact the RYA  who can put you in touch with an RYA Yachtmaster examiner.

Most people choose complete some training before sitting the RYA Yachtmaster exam. There is a structured route from beginner to RYA Yachtmaster so getting your Yachtmaster

Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean

There are three qualification paths depending on whether you like to potter around the coast or sail across an ocean.

Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate

The Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate is for anyone who sail in coastal or protected waters, say no more than 20 miles from the coast. If you would like to learn more about navigation, sailing at night, rules of the road, safety, mooring, pilotage, and passage planning then the Yachtmaster Coastal is for you.

Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate

The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence has been the certificate that most people gravitate to. A Yachtmaster Offshore will have all the knowledge of Yachtmaster Coastal but would also have extensive experience crewing and skippering offshore. Skippers who want confirmation they have the experience and competence to take a yacht offshore choose this option. Once qualified as a Yachtmaster, the certificate allows the holder to skipper a vessel up to 150 miles from shore. The Yachtmaster Offshore is the gateway to employment, most employers ask for the Offshore or Ocean qualification.

Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate

You would sit your Yachtmaster Ocean exam if you wanted to sail a yacht around the world. The main difference between Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean is Celestial Navigation. Celestial Navigation for Yachtmaster Ocean is the knowledge to navigate by the sun and stars. The theory being, if you lose all your electronic equipment on board, you can fix your position using a  sextant .

To sit the Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam you would have already passed the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam. In addition to the knowledge gained as a Yachtmaster Offshore you are required to complete an ocean passage of more than 600 miles. During the ocean passage will need to have the ability to use a sextant to fix your position.

Yachtmaster Power or Sail?

You can qualify as a Yachtmaster Power or Yachtmaster Sail, depending on what type of boat you like to spend your time on.

Working as a professional Yachtmaster

As mentioned above once you have qualified as an RYA Yachtmaster then you are able to seek work as a professional skipper. There are hundreds of qualified skippers out there that have turned their passion into a job.

The Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, Power or Sail is now considered necessary if you are looking for a job as a Lead Deckhand on a  Superyacht .

Becoming a Yachtmaster

If you are considering getting an RYA Yachtmaster Qualification and don’t know where to start then there are training courses that can help you achieve your goal.

There are fast-track and  zero to hero yachtmaster courses , to get you up to the level you need to be.

The training courses offered will provide all the theory and practical experience required to qualify as an RYA Yachtmaster. Here at Flying Fish, we offer courses for a beginner Yachtmaster to Coastal,  Offshore  or  Ocean .

Chieftain Training

RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

How to Pass the Yachtmaster Exam

Yachtmaster certificate of competence exam top tips, which yachtmaster.

First we need to be clear which Yachtmaster exam we are talking about. Leaving things like the Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner Qualifications aside there are no less than 8 separate RYA certificates that are called “Yachtmaster”. This includes the 3 independently examined levels of Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence, (coastal, offshore and ocean).

RYA MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course

( Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased for short). This is a 6 day course which includes three written papers. It is assumed knowledge for all of the certificates that follow, so we will assume for the purposes of this article that you have already completed this course.

Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence (power or sail)

This certificate follows the successful completion of a practical exam which is discussed in this article. The exam can be taken on board a sailing yacht or motor boat, (and the qualification is endorsed for the relative type of craft). The Yachtmaster Coastal CoC certifies skippers to operate  up-to 20 miles from a safe haven on board commercial vessels up-to 24m, carrying up-to 12 passengers. It can also be used as an entry requirement for super yacht Officer Training ( OOW 3000 ).

Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (power or sail)

A higher level practical exam, also discussed in this article. This certifies skippers to operate up-to 150 miles from a safe haven on board commercial vessels up-to 2000 tonnes, (again with up-to 12 passengers). It can also be used as an entry requirement for super yacht officer training and is a requirement to progress onto Yachtmaster Ocean CoC (below) and/or  MCA Master 200 .

RYA MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Certificate

aka Ocean Shorebased . This is a 5 day (or 40 hour online) course which includes one written paper. It is assumed knowledge for the oral exam that follows and beyond the scope of this article. You can read all about the Ocean Yachtmaster Course and Exam here .

Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence (power or sail)

An even higher level certificate that qualifies the holder to skipper beyond the 150 mile from a safe haven limit of the Yachtmaster Offshore CoC. The Yachtmaster Ocean exam is an oral exam and one of its pre requisites is the Yachtmaster Offshore CoC (above).The Yachtmaster Ocean Exam is beyond the scope of this article, but by popular request we have written a separate article about it,   MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence .

RYA MCA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore Certificate of Competence Practical Exam

Getting back on topic this article specifically relates to the two practical exams (Coastal and Offshore), each can be taken onboard a sailing yacht or motor boat.

The exam for the Yachtmaster Coastal CoC and the Yachtmaster Offshore CoC is very similar and in fact different candidates can be examined together even if they are not taking the same level.

Exams are conducted with 1-4 candidates on board the vessel.

You can take the Yachtmaster exam on a sailing yacht or motorboat, and you will become a Sail or Power Yachtmaster as appropriate. This article covers sail and power exams as much of the advice is generic.

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualification is the global standard for sailing and motor boating. The definition of a Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore is: ‘A yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astro navigation.’

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence remains the logical target of many a self-motivated sailor. It also represents the icing on the cake for those looking for the reassurance of an external assessment.

How long is the Yachtmaster Exam?

There can be up to 4 candidates on the boat with the examiner. A examiner will not conduct more than 4 exams at once and will not plan to examine more than 2 candidates in a 24 hour period. He/she will need to see each candidate skipper the boat underway by night.

Yachtmaster Coastal Exam Duration

• 1 Candidate – 6 to 10 hours
• More than one candidate  – 4 to 8 hours each

Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Duration

• 1 Candidate – 8 to 12 hours
• More than one candidate  – 5 to 9 hours each

For many candidates this means there will be a pause mid-exam while they and the examiner get some sleep before restarting in the morning. It is not unknown for exams to span two nights if there are 4 candidates (for example Friday evening 1800- Sunday morning 1100)

Listed below are some top tips to help you prepare for your RYA/MCA Yachtmaster exam.

Prepare early for your yachtmaster exam.

Most candidates spend some time with an Instructor, whether this is a 5-day preparation course with a sea school or some bespoke tuition on board their own boat. A half decent Yachtmaster Instructor will take you through many of the exercises that an Examiner will expect you to demonstrate and will put you in the mind-set of an exam candidate.

On the day  of the exam make sure you are ready in good time so that you aren’t involved in a last-minute faff. If you’re relaxing in the cockpit with a cup of tea when the examiner arrives, the examiner will be more impressed than if you’ve put yourself under stress attempting to work out the day’s tidal heights or secondary ports last minute!

When given a navigation task, prepare fully, make notes, prepare pilotage sketches and plan well! Nip below every so often en route to keep an eye on what’s going on in the chart department and whizz back on deck pronto to carry on skippering the boat. Don’t panic and don’t spend all your time sat behind the chart table, taking no notice of what’s going on around you, this is an obvious sign of someone who is ill prepared for the passage they are skippering.

HAVE YOUR YACHTMASTER EXAM PAPERWORK READY (and the kettle boiling)

The very first part of the exam will be paperwork. Before the examiner can proceed he/she will;

• Ask for your completed exam application form, be sure it is completed in advance and details your qualifying sea time.
• Ask for payment, (the examiner can not proceed if you do not pay up front)
• Ask for sight of your Short Range Certificate , (or a pass form if you have recently taken the course and exam and are awaiting the actual certificate). Higher level GMDSS certificates are acceptable.
• Request a passport photo of you (write your name on the back).
• Chat with you about your yachting background and qualifying sea time
• Outline what he/she expect from you over the coming day(s).

If you are applying for a commercial endorsement at the same time you will also require as a minimum;

• PPR Certificate
• Sea Survival Certificate
• Seafarers Medical Certificate
• Commercial endorsement form and payment

You will also need to hold an in date  First Aid Certificate .

BE TIDY AND ORGANISED THROUGHOUT YOUR YACHTMASTER EXAM

First impressions count! Make yourself presentable and ensure you’re looking professional. That’s you and the boat!

Make sure the yacht is clean, tidy and seamanlike. The waterline crisp, sail covers looking ship shape, ropes coiled neatly and carefully stowed and fenders aligned. An experienced skipper once told me, you should know your boat so well that you should be able to find anything you need at any moment in time, including at night during power failure! A tidy boat is a sure sign of a safe boat.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT PREPARATION, FOR YOUR YACHTMASTER EXAM

Repetition, repetition, repetition. There is no point in having sailed (or motored) thousands and thousands of nautical miles if you can’t carry out Day Skipper tasks. If you can not confidently demonstrate all boat handling or seamanship skills, such as picking up a mooring buoy or putting a reef in, then you’re not ready for the exam yet!

There is nothing worse than entering or leaving a marina, wondering if you’re going to hit something. Brief your crew, make sure everyone knows what they are doing, and proceed with confidence. If the boat slides smoothly out of her berth with crew briefed and knowing what’s expected you will look good. Your calm manner, and a sensible amount of revs for power handling will immediately put the examiner’s mind at ease and give no reason for concern. If Plan A fails, take a breath, and start over. The examiner understands that mistakes can be made under exam conditions, he/she will be more impressed if you stop, recompose yourself and get the manoeuvre right, rather than continue to try and complete a bodged first attempt. There is no such things as a perfect exam, every candidate will make small mistakes, the stronger candidates will spot them, themselves and do something about them.

Without a doubt, you will be quizzed on COLREGS . There’s no reason for a candidate, not to have these regulations engrained into their brain. A good way of ensuring you have these nailed, is to study ‘A Seaman’s Guide to the Rule of the Road.’

YACHTMASTER EXAM IRPCS

There is no need to learn the collision regulation parrot fashion but you should have a working knowledge of every rule and you should be able to;

• Identify any vessel at night by lights
• Describe the day shape for any vessel
• Describe the fog signal for any vessel
• Explain any rule
• Apply the collision regulations practically through the exam
• Explain what actions you would take in fog if you have detected another vessel by radar alone.

Candidates who forget a particular rule such as “ what does a vessel constrained by night display at night? ” MAY still pass if they know the rest of the rules and are otherwise strong, however a candidate who fails to apply the rules correctly when he/she is skippering will fail. If a large vessel sounds 5 horns at you during your exam you are going to have to work very hard to recover! Do not put yourself in a position where this might occur.

YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE SHOREBASED KNOWLEDGE

Be ready, know your subject.

You can be quizzed on anything within the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course,  you will also be expected to put the navigation, IRPCS, passage planning and forecast skills from this course into practice. If you don’t have this knowledge then you are waisting your exam fee as you will fail. You will also be tested on a basic understanding of Radar and Diesel engines . I am a strong believer that all Yachtmaster candidates as well as having passed the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course should also have attended the following courses before taking their practical exam as you can be tested on any and all of these areas.

• RYA Short Range Certificate , it is likely you will each be quizzed on VHF procedures, distress alerting, the mayday call or other calls during the exam. You may also need to make a routine call to a marina or harbour during the exam.
• RYA Sea Survival . The safety brief that you deliver will include lots of content from this course, (i.e flares, EPIRB, life raft and life jackets), you can expect to be questioned on more detail on these and other areas.
• RYA Diesel . Typically candidates will be examined on engine checks and they will also be given a part of the engine to talk about or a common problem to solve, for example, “ Can you talk me through how you would bleed the full system on this engine ,” or “ Show me the components of the cooling system and explain which part of it may need servicing at sea if the system has run dry for a brief period’ “
• RYA Radar.  If the vessel is fitted with a radar you will be tested on its basic set up and use. You should be able to fix position by radar, find a spot on the chart by radar and identify when a risk of collision exists by radar. If there is not a radar set on board, any of this can be tested theoretically. All candidates should be tested on radar and motor candidate tend to be pushed a little further on this area, (while they escape the sailing part of the assessment).
• RYA First Aid . While you are required to hold a First Aid Certificate, Yachtmaster examiners will not test First Aid beyond the treatment for hypothermia, the effects of cold shock, calling for medical assistance and discussing evacuation by helicopter.

TAKE CHARGE DURING YOUR YACHTMASTER EXAM

One of the key things an examiner is looking for, is to see how good the candidates are at taking charge. This is more than just a sailing (or motoring) exam it is a skippering exam. Can you manage your boat? Can you manage your crew? Clear, decisive and safe briefings followed by ongoing directions to the crew are required.

Good leadership and seamanship alike, do not involve barking orders, it is about being in control in a calm, effective and efficient manner while showing you can skipper (lead). Demonstrate your organisational and methodical thinking.

Play to your strengths. There is no definitive way to be a skipper, so don’t change your tried and tested methods to try and impress. Stick with what you know and carry them out smoothly and confidently. Don’t rush and panic. “Go slow like a pro.”

YACHMASTER EXAM MAN OVERBOARD

It is almost a, “dead cert,” that each candidate will be asked to demonstrate a MOB drill at some point during the exam. This is typically done using a fender or similar attached to a small weight, (never a real person). There is a myth that Yachtmaster Examiners expect the drill to be carried out by the “RYA method,” and this is true, what is not true however is the various myths of what constitutes the RYA method!

Yachtmaster Exam – Man Overboard RYA Method

Your examiner will expect you to a take charge, not to loose sight of the MOB (fender), to get back to it safely without endangering other crew and to get the boat stopped alongside the casualty with the casualty somewhere safe (i.e near the leeward shroud on a sail boat and not too close to the props on a motor exam), ready for pick up back on board.

Man Overboard Exam Tips

If you are training with other candidates agree a method that works for all of you. When you are the skipper under assessment you want your crew to react and know what is expected of them. If each candidate on the same boat opts for a different MOB method it can lead to confusion.

Along the way you should simulate/say everything relevant to the casualties survival (mention throwing the MOB gear overboard, appoint a spotter, press the MOB function on the GPS, tell the examiner you would assign a crew members to issue a distress alert and Mayday call).

Man Overboard Exam Tips (for sail candidates)

In addition to the tick list in the above paragraph, use the engine! The exact drill of how you reach/tack, slow down, speed up etc. will vary from candidate to candidate and boat to boat. The important thing is that the method you opt to use works and is safe. I advise against gybing during your MOB drill in medium and stronger winds.

A sail candidate who opts to approach the casualty from upwind (where the mainsail will be filled as you sail or motor downwind) would be demonstrating a gross misunderstanding of how to control speed and how to stop a sailing yacht.

Man Overboard Exam Tips (for power candidates)

In addition to the tick list two paragraphs above be mindful of the rest of the crew. If at high speed when the MOB occurs, don’t turn suddenly, instead slow the boat down and ensure crew know if you intend to make a sharp turn. We don’t want  a crew ember (or the examiner) to fall over or worse overboard! On many boats in light and moderate conditions you can turn the boat and follow your wake to return to the MOB, in rougher sea states this might not work. There are basically three steps.

• Dont loose the MOB’s position
• Get back to the MOB
• Get alongside the MOB for pick up, without running him over

On many motor boats having got the boat back to the vicinity of the MOB, it pays to orientate yourself beam onto the wind and upwind of the MOB and allow the vessel to be blown sideways towards the MOB, this protects him/her from the risk of the bow and engine and is often referred to as the drift down method. As with sailing there are lost of variations on this method and what is important is the method that you use is safe and that it works.

YACHMASTER EXAM SAILING MANOUVERS

It is likely that you will be asked to either sail onto or sail off a swinging mooring (mooring bouy), an anchor or a pontoon. Make sure you are comfortable and competent at all before your exam. By way of example I will focus here on the mooring buoy. In non tidal waters the boat will lie on the mooring head to wind so the approach will be on a close reach under mainsail. In tidal waters certain combination of wind against tide may dictate an approach under headsail on a different point of sail.

The examiner will expect to see you;

• Brief the crew on how the manoeuvre will be performed
• Helm throughout the manoeuvre
• Prepare the boat for the manoeuvre (using the crew)
• Select the correct direction and angle of approach
• Select the correct sail combination for this approach
• Control the boat speed on the approach bringing the boat to a stop in a controlled manner
• Picking up and secure to the mooring bouy safely

If at any point the manoeuvre is not working the examiner will expect you to make the decision to bail-out and to have an escape plan in mind. Remember it will be your call to bail out not his.

YACHTMASTER EXAM, BOAT HANDLING UNDER POWER

During the exam you will have to demonstrate some boat handling under power. This may be a natural part of a passage you are skippering (i.e. at the start and end of the passage) or may be a specific boat handling session. Most candidates will demonstrate they can moor up, depart a berth and turn the boat in a confined space. You may be asked to demonstrate more than one berth so the examiner can see how you respond to different states of wind and tide. Some times an examiner will be specific (for example ask you to berth starboard side to, stern first on pontoon XYZ), other times he will leave some of the decision making to you and simply say berth on pontoon ABC. In the second  example he will expect to see you make a sensible decision as to whether to moor bow or stern first and from where to approach. If you are asked to repeat a manoeuvre performed by another candidate do not make the mistake of blindly copying the last candidate, take a minute to consider if they did it well or if an alternative approach would work better. Every boat manouvers differently but there are some givens for close quarter handling;

• Slow is Pro!
• Approaching down forces i.e. down tide (or down wind if no tide) is poor seamanship if you have the option not to
• Using excessive engine revs in confined space demonstrates a lack of experience and control
• Turning against prop walk should be avoided if possible.
• Using wind, tide, pivot points, momentum and prop walk to assist you will all make your manoeuvring easier and, “score you points” in the examiner’s mind.

If the manoeuvre is not working, bailing out safely is far better than perceiving trying to a make the best of a bad job. I can assure you that if you are half way through a manoeuvre and suddenly realise you have selected the wrong approach the examiner has spotted this several minutes earlier. He/she will be quietly hoping you opt to rectify the error rather than compounding it by continuing. Don’t disappoint him by continuing an approach that is clearly too fast or not going to work.

Just like the sailing manoeuvres described above you need to helm the boat through these manoeuvres, brief the crew and perform the manoeuvre well. You should not rely on crew jumping ashore with lines to stop the boat, you as helm should stop the boat so that crew can step ashore safely. If a spring line is appropriate to depart a berth then use it, but don’t over complicate things. It is quite embarrassing when a candidate opts to “spring off” a “wind off” berth when they could have simply just let the lines go. If manoeuvring in close quarters still phases you then you are not ready for the Yachtmaster exam and need some more boat handling practice first.

YACHTMASTER EXAM SUMMARY

There are many more components to the exam (pilotage, blind pilotage, voyage planning etc.) and the above is just a taster. If I have not scared you off yet, you have your own boat and require bespoke training (power or sail) I can be contacted through this site.

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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.

Skipper licenses: what they are

It is not easy for a beginner to understand skipper licenses, why they are needed, and what is behind the mysterious abbreviations like IYT or ISSA. Let’s try to systematize this confusing topic.

Anastasiia Mosina

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All about skipper licenses

A skipper license — do you need it.

This is a reasonable question. Let’s just say that in most countries you need licenses if you charter a yacht. If you own a yacht, then in many cases no one will ask you for a license: you can manage your boat without it, though most likely you will not be able to insure it. In this article, we will consider the first option when you need a license to charter a yacht.

How to get a skipper license

Well, firstly, you need to study. If you studied in a driving school, then you understand the process — there is theory and practice. The situation is similar with yachts, but there are two main approaches. In the first case, you study the theory and all issues related to yachting — from what’s inside a yacht to navigation at sea, usually this happens in your own city with a class schedule several times a week and / or on weekends, which is a big advantage of this training option. Then you need to practice. The practice usually lasts 7-10 days. If you pass it successfully, the instructor will issue you a license. The second approach is usually a two-week intensive course, where the practice begins a few days after you start learning theory and then alternates with the continuation of the theory (often half a day theory, half a day practice). The disadvantage of this approach is the need to learn a huge amount of theoretical material in a very short time, however, you will be able to immediately practice the theory and this is a big advantage.

What kind of skipper licenses are there?

Unfortunately, there are no uniform international sailing licenses, so you need to consider the region in which you plan to sail. However, there are training and licensing systems for skippers that are recognized in most countries of the world, and the International Certificate of Competence, an ICC certificate, is the most common standard.

International systems that are subject to ICC certification are IYT, ISSA, and RYA. Now let’s talk about each of the systems in more detail.

International Yacht Training (IYT) appeared in Canada in 1988. Even though studying is conducted in your native language, you must know the terminology in English. Until 2013, IYT licenses were perpetual. Now, every 5 years you need to update them (the cost of updating is from $ 125). Studying an IYT theory costs between $ 500 and $ 1,300; the practice is about the same price.

The International Sailing School Association (ISSA) appeared earlier — in 1969. ISSA licenses, unlike IYT, are perpetual. Training can also take place in your own language.

Finally, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the oldest international system. The British Royal Yachting Association was founded in 1875. The difference from the previous two systems is that the training is conducted in English. The price of theoretical courses is 500-600 euros.

The categories of licenses

Yacht licenses are somewhat similar to car licenses — there is also a gradation into different categories. However, in practice, it’s more important not what category of license you have, but what your practical experience is and how many miles there are in your logbook.

In fact, Bareboat Skipper (IYT) / Inshore Skipper (ISSA) / Day Skipper (RYA) license may be enough to charter a yacht in Europe. This is the beginner category that gives you the right to sail 20 miles offshore in the daytime in fine weather. In practice, this means that if you, having such a license, sail further than 20 miles and something breaks on your yacht, then the insurance company most likely will not recognize this as an insurance case. Otherwise, until recently, with such licenses, it was possible to charter a yacht anywhere in the world. However, since last year, some countries, such as Greece, began to impose restrictions on the chartering of yachts for skippers with «day licenses».

The next category is the Coastal Skipper / Offshore Skipper . With this category, you can sail at night 60 miles offshore, also in fine weather.

The highest category of yacht skipper is Yachtmaster / Master of Yacht. Having a license of this category, you can go on difficult sailing expeditions, for example, across the Atlantic. This license is the most honorable among yacht owners.

In general, you need to understand that even charter companies will sometimes look at the miles in your logbook, indicating your experience. So, start your logbook as soon as you seriously think about yachting. But most importantly, of course, responsibly approach the choice of training courses. The study system or what abbreviation will be displayed on your license is not so important, it is important who your teacher will be. On our platform, there are only proven schools and courses in which you can not only get the right license but also gain real practical experience.

Photo materials for the article were provided by the «Sila Vetra» sailing school The author of the article: Rodion Karneev, editor: Anastasia Mosina

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All about the Yachtmaster qualification

Rupert Holmes looks at the benefits the knowledge gained though completing the Yachtmaster exam can bring to offshore racing and talks to three top sailor’s attempting to pass the exam.

For Rupert’s full guide to the Yachtmaster qualification pick up a copy of Yachts & Yachting Decembe r.

There are three levels of Yachtmaster qualification – Coastal, Offshore and Ocean. The former is the old Coastal Skipper ticket, which covers the skills needed to be a safe skipper on coastal and offshore passages by day and night. Yachtmaster (Offshore) is the key qualification, requiring a great deal more experience, and qualifies the holder to skipper a vessel on any passage that’s within 150 miles of the nearest port. This distance covers iconic offshore races including the Rolex Fastnet, Round Britain and Ireland, and Round Ireland. The Yachtmaster Ocean covers the skills and knowledge to skipper passages of any length anywhere in the world and is effectively an endorsement to the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

Some are driven to take their Yachtmaster solely through seeking a sense of satisfaction, to improve knowledge and check there are no gaping gaps in their skill set that might otherwise only come to light in less than ideal circumstances. For many sailors, however, the spur to get the qualification is determined by work requirements. Whether you’re a young and upcoming professional sailor, or are looking to move into a more satisfying lifestyle at a later stage in life, the Yachtmaster is often the biggest single step towards being able to earn a living afloat.

With the qualification now being a requirement for participation in the Volvo Ocean Race, there were a number of sailors who had to pass the exam in order to secure their places in the race.

Minimum experience

Before taking the Yachtmaster Offshore exam you must have the following time at sea,  gained within the last 10 years and at least half of it in tidal waters:

• 50 days and 2,500 miles at sea.
• At least five passages over 60 miles, two of which must be overnight and two as skipper.
• Five days total experience as skipper.
• Marine VHF operator’s license: GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC)
• RYA approved first aid certificate.

Candidates for the Yachtmaster (Coastal) exam need minimum sea time of only 800 miles, including two days as skipper and 12 night hours. The mileage requirement is halved for holders of the RYA Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate.

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25/50 or 100 Ton Masters General Information

What is a general overview of the 25/50/100 Ton Masters?  

The USCG  Masters  license is the highest-level license that you can acquire. This license allows you to operate inspected vessels (7 passengers or more – like a water taxi or dive boat) or uninspected vessels. 

The USCG does not require that you get a Six-Pack license before you get your Masters, so if you qualify, you can skip the Six-Pack and go straight to your Masters! 

Where can the Masters captain’s license be issued for operation?    

  The Masters license can be issued for operation on the Great Lakes, Inland, and on Near Coastal waterways. The license comes in three versions: 25, 50, or 100 ton. Both the amount of sea service time and the size of the vessels you have been on will influence the license you are eligible for.   

Here is our one-minute guide on How to Get Your 25/50/100 Ton Master License .

How does the Coast Guard determine where and tonnage of the captain’s license I get?    

Both the amount of sea service time and the size of the vessels you have been on will influence the license you are eligible for.   

The Coast Guard will look at your  submitted sea service form  and base the license off your experience.     

Which tonnage Masters license do I qualify for?   

As for the size of the Masters license you will receive that will be dependent on you experience.   

• If you have a minimum of 360 days on a 17 gross ton vessel you will receive a 50 Ton Masters level license
• If you have a minimum of 360 days on a 34 gross ton vessel you will receive a 100 Ton Masters level license
• And if you have a minimum of 360 days on vessels less than 17 gross ton vessel you will receive a 25 Ton Masters level license

The Coast Guard will review your entire sea service form to determine the tonnage.  

What are examples of inspected vessels?    

Ferry boats, harbor tour boats, sailing schooners, dive boats, and whale watching boats are all examples of inspected vessels that require a Masters license.  Many of your commercial vessels will be inspected with a Certificate of Inspection (COI). 

How big is a 25/50/100 Ton vessel?    

These are generalizations but are useful guides:

• A 25-ton vessel can be 40-65 feet depending on how its built.
• A 50-ton vessel can be 50-70 feet depending on the type of vessel and material it is built with
• A 100-ton vessel can be 65 feet or more depending on its construction and commercial uses

How do I upgrade from a 50 Ton to a 100 Ton Masters license?    

To upgrade from a 50 to 100 Ton Masters inland license, you need to be able to document either or of the following sea service requirements: 90 days (25%) of service on vessels of 51 GRT or above OR 180 days (50%) of service on vessels of 34 GRT or above.  

To upgrade from a 50 to 100 Ton Masters near coastal license, you need to be able to document either or of the following sea service requirements: 180 days (25%) of service on vessels of 51 GRT or above OR 360 days (50%) of service on vessels of 34 GRT or above. 

How to upgrade from an Inland Masters to Near Coastal Masters license?    

There is no written requirement if you are increasing tonnage within your scope of operation of the Masters level license.   

There  IS  a written requirement if you plan to go from an Inland Masters to a Near Coastal Masters.   

If your current license is an OUPV Inland, you must increase to an OUPV Near Coastal prior to increasing the Masters Inland to Near Coastal. An OUPV Inland license can be upgraded to a OUPV Near Coastal license with 90 days experience seawards of the boundary line. In addition, there is an extra testing you will need to take. We do not offer this, but if you call the Coast Guard at (888) 427-5662, they will be able to help you.   

You can complete these two steps the same time OR just take care of the OUPV first, then Masters later.   

Once your OUPV is a near coastal, you need to take the Masters Upgrade course and exam again. In additional, you must provide the additional sea time to the Coast Guard.   

Can I get a 25 Ton Masters if I don’t have time on that size vessel?    

You need time on at least a 5 HP engine and no greater than 200 GRT. You can get a 25 Ton Masters even if you do not have time on a 25 Ton vessel.   

What endorsements can I attach to my Masters captain’s license?    

You can attach the  Assistance Towing Endorsement  and/or the  Auxiliary Sailing Endorsement  to a  Masters  license.  

Is the Masters captain’s license internationally recognized?    

The Masters captain’s license is internationally recognized. This means you can use this license when operating in international waters. However, you must start and end your trip within United States waters with the same paying passengers. This is an extremely important note to remember.

TIP: Reach out to the other countries you plan on operating in to see if they have additional licenses you must get. 

Here is a short video that will give you additional information on this license.  

Which USCG Captain's License Should You Choose?

OUPV or Master License? Your choice depends on vessel size and passenger count. Learn the requirements and how to upgrade later.

The first step you need to take to get your captain’s license is to decide which type of license you’re going to pursue.

There are two main types of Coast Guard licenses:

License Type #1 - 25 ton, 50 ton, or 100 ton Master License

License Type #2 - Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV or Six Pack)

The type of license you choose depends on the size and type of vessel and the number of passengers aboard. You can always upgrade your captain’s license and add endorsements along the way.

OUPV/Six-Pack

The OUPV/Six-Pack license is the USCG license that many recreational boaters choose. It’s called the six-pack license because it allows you to take up to six paying passengers and crew members. This allows you to do small fishing trips, sightseeing tours, dive boats, or sail boats.

The OUPV license is also limited to vessels that are 100 gross tons (about 80 feet long).

Many boaters will get their OUPV license even if they have no intention of doing commercial boating. You don’t need to be licensed by the Coast Guard to use your personal boat, unless you’re taking paying customers out on the water.

Getting your license is still valuable because you’ll brush up on your navigation and safety skills. Plus, having your license gives you the option to captain in a commercial setting.

The OUPV qualifies you to captain uninspected vessels. USCG uninspected vessels can carry up to six passengers and aren’t required to be inspected by the Coast Guard. The uninspected vessel must comply with minimal federal standards for safety, navigation, and pollution prevention .

Inland, Great Lakes, and Near Coastal OUPV

There are three types of OUPV licenses that dictate the bodies of water you can operate on commercially.

The Inland OUPV license allows you to captain on U.S. Inland waters . This includes bays, rivers, and lakes (excluding the Great Lakes).

The Near Coastal license allows you to operate on Inland waters and Near Coastal, which is typically up to 100 miles offshore.

The third license type is Near Coastal with Great Lakes. This license allows you to operate on Inland, Near Coastal, and the Great Lakes .

OUPV license requirements

To qualify for your OUPV license, you’ll need to have 360 days of documented sea days. At least 90 of those days must be within the past 3 years. To attain the Great Lakes or Near Coastal license, you’ll need 90+ sea days on the respective waters.

The Small Vessel Sea Service Form CG-719S is used to record your sea days—the number of days that you were on the water (for 4+ hours in a day) in any given month and year.

Once you have the required sea time, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Get your TWIC card
• Be a U.S. citizen (or show permanent residency)
• Have a valid First Aid/CPR Card
• Pass a basic physical exam
• Pass a drug test
• Complete a USCG-approved course

Read more about How to Get Your OUPV License

25/50/100 Master

The Master Captain’s License is required to captain any USCG inspected vessel, or vessels carrying 7 or more paying passengers. Larger tour boats, finishing boats, sailboats, and water taxis with more than 6 paying passengers on board require a Master License.

This license also allows you to captain uninspected vessels with fewer passengers. You don’t need to get a lower level license prior to this, or start at the lowest level. Your first license can be a 100 GT Master.

Similarly to the six-pack license, there are different Master licenses based on the size of the vessel, and the water you’re on.

To start, there are 25, 50, and 100-ton licenses. The 25-ton Master license qualifies you to captain vessels up to 25 tons. The 50-ton lets you captain 50-ton vessels. And the 100-ton lets you captain 100-ton vessels.

The license you qualify for depends on your documented sea days and the tonnage of the vessels you were serving on.

25 Ton Master = You have a minimum of 360 days on vessels less than 17 gross tons (GRT).

50 Ton Master = You have 180 days on vessels 26 GRT or larger, or 360 days on vessels 17 GRT or larger.

100 Ton Master = You have 180 days on vessels 51 GRT or larger, or 360 days on vessels 34 GRT or larger.

The Coast Guard will decide which license you’re qualified for based on your documented sea days on your license application. And if you get more sea time on larger vessels, you can always apply for an upgrade, so it’s best to focus on getting the license for the work you’re currently doing.

It only takes 90 days of additional sea service to remove tonnage limitations. For example, after 90 days of sea service, you can apply to upgrade from 50 Ton Master to 100-Ton Master. Note: The Coast Guard won’t automatically update this for you—you’ll need to apply for it.

Just like the OUPV, there are Great Lakes, Inland, and Near Coastal Master Licenses, and your qualification depends on the location of your sea days.

How big is a 25/50/100 Ton vessel?

A 25 GRT vessel doesn’t mean the vessel weighs 25 tons. There are specific formulas to measure GRT outlined in the Coast Guard’s Tonnage Guide .

To give you a general idea of the different vessel sizes:

• A 25-ton vessel can be 40-60 feet depending on how it's built.
• A 50-ton vessel can be 60-70 feet depending on the type of vessel and material
• A 100-ton vessel can be upwards of 200 feet, depending on its construction and uses

25/50/100 Master general requirements

In addition to the required sea days, there are general requirements for your Master License that are similar to the OUPV requirements. These include age, experience, character, physical health, citizenship, approved training, professional competence, a drug test, and more, including:

• Obtaining your TWIC card
• You must demonstrate an ability to speak and understand English.
• You must have at least 90 days of required service on vessels of appropriate tonnage or horsepower within the past 3 years of your application date.
• You must be at least 19 years old (21+ for ocean-going vessels).
• You must have had a physical done within the past 12 months.
• You must get a background check done.
• You must have a valid CPR and First Aid certificate .
• You must complete the appropriate USCG-approved course.

Master license endorsements

In addition to the USCG Master License, there are additional endorsements that qualify you for activities. These include the Assistance Towing Endorsement and Auxiliary Sailing Endorsement.

To operate an inspected (more than six paying passengers) sailing vessel, you need a U.S. Coast Guard auxiliary sail license endorsement attached to your Master License.

You’ll need at least 180 sea days on a sail or auxiliary sail vessel for a Sailing Endorsement onto a Master Inland/Great Lakes Captain’s License, and 360 sea days on a sail or auxiliary sail vessel to add the endorsement onto a Master Near Coastal License. You also need to pass a USCG-approved auxiliary sail course.

Both the OUPV and Master License can be endorsed for commercial assistance towing of disabled vessels—within the scope of the license.

No documented experience is required for the towing endorsement. You must pass a written examination or complete a Coast Guard-approved course demonstrating your knowledge of towing safety, equipment, and procedures.

The validity of the endorsements are the same as your license or MMC on which they’re included, and will be renewed with your MMC.

We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Pro inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application, you can choose to have the MM-SEAS staff create a perfect application, handle the USCG application fees and work with the USCG on your behalf to resolve any issues for a flat fee of $349 or you can choose to submit on your own.

Pro MM-SEAS members get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. We've found that answering questions live with screen sharing in a video call makes both of our lives easier. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of MM-SEAS under License Guidance.

Need to renew, upgrade or get your first USCG license? We're here to help.

About the author.

Sam Mckay is a NOAA Corps Veteran working on his PhD in Nuclear Fusion

• Master of Yachts Limited (Power or Sail)

Master of Yachts Limited Training (Power or Sail)

Iyt master of yachts courses have been recognised by the british maritime & coastguard agency (mca) since 1998 for use on board all red ensign registered yachts up to 200 gross tons. although the courses were specifically designed for use on red ensign yachts, they are now accepted by many other flag states because of their prestigious mca recognition. it is imperative that holders of iyt certificates check with the flag state for which they wish to work or the port authority/maritime authority in which they wish to operate to ensure they will accept your certificate..

It is important to understand that an IYT certificate is a qualification that can be used across the globe. Unlike other training organisations, IYT insists on an understanding of IALA Regulations in Areas A & B, weather systems in the northern & southern hemispheres, tidal calculations for the Mediterranean and North America and the effects of tropical revolving storms. Note: To obtain a power certificate/endorsement, training and examination may not take place on a sailboat under auxiliary engine. “Critical Information – Please do not disregard this note – MCA/IYT no longer certifying candidates who are color blind”

The MCA are no longer allowing Deckhands, Officers of the Watch, Mates or Masters who have color blindness to hold MCA certification. In the past, those who were diagnosed with color blindness were issued certificates with the endorsement” no solo watch” or “dual watch only”.

Because the IYT/MCA Master of Yachts certificates are commercial in nature, IYT will be complying with the same MCA requirements and will be unable to issue any commercial certificates to those who have color blindness.   It is imperative that students undertake a color blindness test BEFORE they enroll in any IYT/MCA commercial courses as we will not be able to certify them.

Also, it is important to note that a ‘lantern test’ for color blindness is no longer accepted.  The test must be an Ishihara or CAD test. 

Those who already hold IYT/MCA commercial certificates with a color blindness endorsement “no solo watch” will be able to renew with the same endorsement”.  

If you hold the Master of Yachts Limited certificate you are qualified to work as:

• Master of 200 ton vessel up to 150 nautical miles offshore
• Chief Mate of 500 ton vessel up to 150 nautical miles offshore
• Chief Mate of 200 ton vessel all oceans
• OOW (Officer of the Watch) of a 500 ton vessel all oceans.

What are the minimum entry requirements to complete the IYT Master of Yachts Limited course?

• Candidates should be 18 years of age or older.
• One must hold or obtain a Marine Communications VHF-SRC Radio Operators certificate. * Please note that we do not accept ISSA VHF qualifications. (I f you are unsure if your radio license will be accepted, please send a scanned copy of the front and back of your license to [email protected] . We will verify that your license is sufficient to receive the IYT Master of Yachts Limited license).  
• STCW certificates must be valid (not expired).
• STCW certificates must be issued by nations found on the IMO “White List” .
• STCW EFA, PST, and BFF components cannot be taken online whereas STCW PSSR and PMSA components can be taken online.
• If STCW Safety Training is taken after January 1, 2014, new Proficiency in Maritime Security Awareness (PMSA) is also required.

• Sea time must be on a yacht (at least 10m in length) which can be defined as a non-cargo carrying vessel for recreational or commercial charter purposes.
• We do not accept ship yard service and stand-by service as sea time.
• The term “at sea” is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbour – natural or artificial – in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period.
• The nautical miles must be on genuine cruises or passages, not short-day trips. The candidate must have considerable time of actual vessel handling.
• The minimum 1,500 nm for the power endorsement cannot include sea time on any monohull sailing vessel driven under power.
• If you have a sea time logbook, please scan copies of pages, and send them to us in one PDF document; make sure your name is at the top of each page prior to scanning.
• iyt testimonial for sea service
• iyt candidate sea time form
• A current medical fitness examination and a colour blindness eyesight examination, which allows the participant to safely perform the relevant duties on a yacht. Medical/eyesight examinations must be performed within the last two years from the time the certificate is being issued .

Please Note: A candidate may take both endorsements, however, it is highly recommended that he or she have some hands-on practical experience and sea time on both power and sailing vessels before attempting the exam. The practical exam is not the forum for learning basic skills. Candidates may sit the shore-based course prior to having all the above requirements. Verification of the above yachting experience must be original and signed by the skipper of the yacht in which the candidate was sailing. Candidates claiming sea time during times when they were acting as skipper may sign their own entries but independent verification may be required.

Note: We will also accept military letters stating service days for seatime, however, each will be reviewed to ensure they have sufficient experience for the level of certificate they are requesting.

What does the programme consist of?

The programme consists of a theory course and a liveaboard practical course. Each course stands alone and can be taken individually, however, the theory course must be successfully completed prior to taking the practical liveaboard course. They may be taken with any of our participating partner schools and do not necessarily have to be completed in immediate succession, however, it is recommended in order to retain as much information as possible before the final on-board examination.

The theory course is a six-day comprehensive high-level shore based course with assessment papers and written examinations. Candidates are advised that a considerable amount of private study and varied cruising experience is required in addition to the formal instruction provided.

The liveaboard (power or sail) practical course is a five-day course covering seamanship skills including ability to command and situational awareness. As fatigue can adversely affect one’s ability to perform/command, the liveaboard aspect of the course is critical to ensuring candidates are indeed prepared to command. This will be a preparation course for your final IYT Master of Yachts Limited Examination.

Course Syllabus

• Chartwork instruments
• Charts, latitude and longitude
• Distance, speed, time & direction
• The magnetic compass, variation& deviation
• Position lines and position fixes
• Dead reckoning and estimated positions
• Course to steer to counteract a current
• Meteorology
• Passage planning
• Electronic navigation aids
• International regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)
• Ships construction
• Ship stability & drydocking
• Emergency procedures
• Ships power plant
• General maritime law

What does the final exam consist of?

The final exam will be conducted by an independent IYT Master of Yachts examiner and takes the form of an extensive oral and practical test on a yacht (power or sail). Candidates can expect to be examined on any subject covered by the syllabus of the shore based or practical courses and to be questioned on any aspect of their yachting experience to date. You must successfully complete:

• A power examination on a power vessel in order to obtain certification for power vessels.
• A sail examination on a sailing vessel in order to obtain certification for sailing vessels.
• To obtain both a sail and power certification, two examinations will be required, one on a sailing vessel and another on a power vessel.

In the event that the examiner considers a candidate not to have achieved the required standards and/or the candidate’s ability as Captain does not reach the required standard, and/or the prerequisites have not been met for the IYT Master of Yachts Limited, a Master of Yachts Coastal certificate may be issued in the interim. In this case, and if requested, a personal report will be sent to the candidate outlining the reason or reasons for failure and suggesting remedial action prior to re sitting the exam. Completion of the Master of Yachts Limited certification course is not a guarantee of passing the examination and receiving your certificate.

How do I apply or how do I get a power or sail endorsement on an existing certificate?

How do i get a power or sail endorsement on an existing master of yachts limited certificate.

To obtain an additional endorsement for either power or sail on your existing Master of Yachts Limited certificate you must be examined on board by an IYT examiner at an approved IYT school.

How do I apply for enrollment?

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

In order to apply for the IYT Master of Yachts certification courses, a detailed yachting resume must be sent to your IYT partner training school for evaluation.

Acceptance into the course does not automatically guarantee obtaining an IYT Master of Yachts certificate. All the prerequisites must be fulfilled and satisfactory standards achieved.

Dual U.S.C.G. Recognition and Certification?

The IYT Master of Yachts Limited is recognised as dual certification by the U.S. Coastguard as long as the courses, including STCW Basic Safety Training, were taken in the U.S. with an IYT school approved to teach the Master of Yachts Limited Course. Upon completion the candidate may submit their paperwork to the U.S. Coastguard for their equivalent 200 ton license PROVIDED they have the proper sea time to fulfill the U.S.C.G. requirements for Master of Vessels not more that 200 tons. This dual certification is available only for U.S. citizens.

For a U.S.C.G. license, the entire course, including STCW modules, must be taken at an IYT school that has approval to offer the course and is USCG approved. In addition to the above Master of Yachts courses, two additional modules and examinations will need to be taken to satisfy US Coastguard requirements:

• Six hours of basic Stability familiarising students with basic principles of ship construction stability and structural members.
• Six hours of General Ships Knowledge covering Aids to navigation, Marlinspike seamanship and the USCG Codes of Federal Regulations.

What happens if I am color blind, hearing impaired or have other medical issue?

Because the IYT/MCA Master of Yachts certificates are commercial in nature, IYT will be complying with the same MCA requirements and will be unable to issue any commercial certificates to those who have color blindness.    It is imperative that students undertake a color blindness test  BEFORE  they enroll in any IYT/MCA commercial course as we will not be able to certify them.

Also, it is important to note that a ‘lantern test’ for color blindness is no longer accepted.  The test must be an Ishihara or CAD test.

Those who already hold IYT/MCA commercial certificates with a color blindness endorsement “no solo watch” will be able to renew with the same endorsement”.

For those candidates who are hearing impaired, hearing loss should not exceed 20 decibels for the frequencies of 500Hz, and 1000Hz and 2000Hz. When hearing level does not meet these standards, hearing aids may be accepted providing the above standards can be reached when using the aid and watch keeping duties at sea can be adequately performed.

Candidates with Type 1 Diabetes may receive the IYT Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate and Limited Certificates of Competency.  However, please know that the MCA may not allow you to progress to the OOW or 500 and > Master Certification. 

Please note that the MCA will not issue an STCW qualification to candidates who do not pass the “ENG1 Medical Fitness Examination”.  The MCA will not allow you to progress to the OOW or 500 and > Master Certification.

How much time do I have to submit all required paperwork after completing the course?

Click here for information on time submission requirements for MOY Mate/Coastal, Limited and Unlimited.

As a professional in the yachting industry you are required to update and learn new skills on a regular basis. As you move up the chain of command or look for new opportunities your qualifications are essential. Please make sure they do not expire.

IYT plays a leading role in your professional training with 250 + schools in 56 countries around the world. We facilitate theoretical and practical training through our network of partner schools globally.

We are dedicating our efforts to better serve students and schools as we continue to improve our database and system and are working diligently to create new e-learning courses.

IYT is proud to be an ISO 9001:2015 Standard approved company.

View our course progression for an understanding of what is possible when you train professionally with IYT.

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Do You Need a License to Drive a Yacht?

Owning a yacht embodies luxury, freedom, and adventure on the open waters. However, amid the allure of yacht ownership, there's a critical aspect often overlooked—the necessity of possessing a valid yacht license. This article delves into why having a license to drive a yacht is indispensable for aspiring owners. But do you need a license to drive a yacht? The team at Yacht Management , a leading provider of yacht maintenance services, provides all the information you need to know here.

What to Know About Yacht Ownership

What to Know About Yacht Ownership As a leading yacht maintenance company, we understand that yacht ownership represents the epitome of luxury and an unparalleled sense of freedom in the realm of maritime indulgence. It embodies an aspirational lifestyle coveted by many, symbolizing not just a possession but being amid a world of opulence and unparalleled experiences.

The allure of owning a yacht extends beyond mere ownership. It encapsulates the spirit of adventure and the thrill of exploration on the open seas. Picture the sheer liberation of charting your course, unfettered by land-bound constraints, navigating through pristine waters to your chosen destinations. It's a lifestyle that harmonizes luxury with the freedom to explore remote coves, pristine islands, and exotic locales, all within the sanctum of your private vessel.

Yacht ownership is more than a status symbol; it's a gateway to a unique way of life where one can escape the ordinary and immerse oneself in the extraordinary. The sensation of being surrounded by boundless azure horizons, the sun painting the sky in hues of gold during sunset cruises, and the gentle rhythm of waves against the hull—all contribute to an unmatched sense of liberation and tranquility.

Owning a yacht brings unparalleled freedom, allowing one to embrace the spontaneity of travel and the luxury of seafaring without limitations. It's an embodiment of personal expression, where the yacht becomes an extension of one's identity, reflecting individual tastes and desires amidst the vast expanse of the ocean.

Being a yacht owner is not solely about possessing a magnificent vessel; it's an invitation to a lifestyle where luxury, adventure, and the boundless freedom of the seas converge, creating an experience that transcends the ordinary and defines the extraordinary. But do you need a license to drive a yacht and make the lifestyle your everyday experience?

Why Having a License for a Yacht Is So Important

There is more to know beyond answering the question, "Do you need a license to drive a yacht?" Knowing why you want one to be in your possession is important. Below are some of the main points our yacht service experts want you to remember. 

Legal Compliance and Regulations of a Florida Boating License

The operation of a yacht demands meticulous adherence to a myriad of legal frameworks and maritime regulations. These encompass licensing requirements, registration obligations, and adherence to safety standards stipulated by international and regional maritime bodies. Understanding and complying with these legal mandates is not merely a formality. It is the cornerstone of responsible yachting. Moreover, a profound comprehension of maritime laws ensures the safety of all onboard, mitigating risks and fostering a secure environment for crew and passengers alike.

Mastery of Navigation at Sea

Navigating a yacht presents unique challenges that demand a comprehensive grasp of navigation techniques. Unlike land-based travel, yachting requires proficiency in understanding nautical charts, interpreting weather patterns, and employing navigation tools specific to maritime environments. Mastering these skills is imperative for ensuring safe passage, efficient handling of the vessel, and the ability to navigate diverse and often unpredictable waterways.

Handling Emergencies at Sea The vastness of the seas brings with it the potential for unforeseen emergencies. From inclement weather conditions to mechanical failures, being equipped to address these difficulties is non-negotiable. A thorough understanding of emergency protocols, swift decision-making in crisis scenarios, and possessing the skill set to manage emergencies effectively are paramount. Whether it involves first aid proficiency, knowledge of distress signals, or executing evacuation procedures, preparedness is vital to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone aboard. Do you need a license to drive a yacht and handle these emergencies? The experience comes with the practice that only a license will present to you.

Obtaining a license to drive a yacht extends far beyond a legal requirement. It embodies a commitment to safety, proficiency, and responsible seamanship. Mastery of maritime laws, navigation skills, and preparedness in handling emergencies form the bedrock of a conscientious and adept yacht operator, ensuring not just compliance but also the safety and security of all involved in the yachting experience.

The Process of Obtaining a Florida Yacht License  "Do you need a license to drive a yacht?" This question often marks the outset of one's journey toward navigating the world's waters aboard one's own vessel. Addressing this query initiates a multifaceted process involving stringent prerequisites and comprehensive training to ensure the mastery of essential skills integral to responsible yacht operation. Our yacht care professionals are masters in all things related to navigation. Here, they present things you must know when you are undergoing the process of obtaining your license.

Florida Boat License Requirement and Training Acquiring a yacht license requires fulfilling specific prerequisites that vary depending on the region and the license type sought. Typically, applicants must meet age requirements, undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure physical fitness and complete a specified number of logged sea hours. A fundamental understanding of maritime laws and navigation principles is also essential through formal education or training courses.

Training programs for yacht licensing encompass a comprehensive curriculum covering seamanship, navigation techniques, safety protocols, and emergency procedures. These programs, often conducted by certified maritime institutions or accredited training centers, offer theoretical instruction complemented by practical, hands-on experience aboard vessels. They equip aspiring yacht operators with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate, operate, and manage a yacht proficiently and safely.

Variations of the License for Boating in Florida  Yacht licenses vary in scope and designation, catering to different yacht sizes, navigational zones, and purposes. Common categories include licenses for recreational yachts, commercial vessels, and specific endorsements for operating in coastal or open waters. Licenses may also differ based on propulsion systems, accommodating both sail and motor yachts. The scope ranges from inland waterways to unrestricted navigation in international waters, reflecting varying degrees of competency and experience required for each category.

Beyond the fundamental yacht license, endorsements or supplementary certifications augment an operator's skill set. These endorsements often focus on specialized areas such as offshore sailing, handling specific types of vessels, or certifications in advanced navigation techniques. Additionally, safety and first aid, radio operation, or environmental stewardship certifications further enhance an operator's capabilities and preparedness, ensuring a comprehensive skill set for navigating diverse yachting scenarios.

Obtaining a yacht license involves meeting prerequisites, undergoing rigorous training, and selecting the appropriate license category tailored to one's yachting ambitions. Furthermore, pursuing endorsements and supplementary certifications enriches an operator's proficiency and preparedness, ensuring a well-rounded skill set for navigating the complexities of yachting.

Get in Touch With a Leader Among Yacht Maintenance Companies

Do you need a license to drive a yacht? Yes! It won't only prove essential in legal and regulatory matters. It will also provide the necessary experience and practice to captain a vessel confidently.

But if you're seeking a partner to care for your watercraft, don't settle for just any South Florida yacht maintenance company. Team up with the experts at Yacht Management for unmatched care. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to reach out to our team today or call our team directly to speak with a representative today.

Be sure to also take a look at our yachting blog for a deep dive into several topics our professionals regularly cover. Take your yachting experience to the next level with the help of seasoned experts who call the ocean home and their clients a commitment to excellence that will be met.

Related Readings:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Boat Navigation
• The Art of Luxury Yacht Provisioning
• Reasons to Hire a Boat Captain

For all inquiries, fill out the form below and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible

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Yacht Crew Licenses & Certifications: Q & A

Captain Mark Fry, of International Yacht Training , answers your questions.

Q : How does one substantiate the requirement of actual cruising time as a qualification for the "6 Pak" license? I have been boating for at least the last 15 years and have substantial hours, however I never maintained a log. I am afraid that this requirement has and will keep guys like me from going for their licenses. Thanks, Dick B.

A : To substantiate sea time for the US Coastguard "6 pack" license on your own vessel, you are required to complete the "small vessel service form" from the USCG. As the owner of the yacht you can sign off your own sea time and have it notorised from someone who can substantiate it such as a dock master, yacht club commodore or such like. If you are not the owner of the boat(s) where you have done your sea time, you must, unfortunately, have each individual boat owner sign each form; then each form must be notarized. Needless to say, this can be a very difficult and tedious task.

____________________________

Q : I am interested in starting a crewed charter business either based in BVI or AVI 1) Is their any captain licence that covers both or do I need two Licences? I am currently located in Newark, DE. USA. 2) Do you have any sugestions for me as far as schools or study guide courses? 3) I have plenty of sea time but mostly on smaller yachets. How can I gain my tonnage ratings for large sailing vessels 100 - 200 Ton Master? David M.

A : It is very interesting that you have brought up this question at this time. The British Virgin Islands passed a law on Feb 1st 2005, that any vessel chartering in their waters must have a qualified Captain on board with a qualification recognised by the BVI. Here at IYT, we issue dual certification for American citizens. That is a 200 Ton Yachtmaster Offshore certificate and a USCG 200 Ton Masters license. This helps satisfy both administrations so you can work in both the BVI and the USVI. IYT holds the dual Yachtmaster course once a month in our Ft Lauderdale facility. Details of entry level requirements, course schedule and pricing can be found on our website.

Q : Is it true that boat insurance goes up dramatically when one obtains a Captains License? We have heard this, but would think that the opposite should be true - that a licensed captain should be a lower risk. Rebecca V.

A : You are absolutely correct, there are a number of companies that will give you a reduction in your boat insurance if you hold a Captain license or a recognized certificate of competency. But like car insurance, you should shop around for the best deal.

Q: How do I get an International Certificate of Competency (ICC) to charter in Spain? William C.

Here at IYT in Ft Lauderdale, we are licensed to issue ICC's on behalf of both the U.K. and the Irish Governments. Generally speaking however, you must be a resident of one of these countries in order to obtain an ICC. We are trying to find out how we can issue ICC's on behalf of the US Coastguards but so far have been unable to get a satisfactory reply. We have also requested permission from the Irish Government to issue ICC's to non-Irish residents and are currently awaiting a reply. If we get permission to issue ICC's in the US from the Irish Government, then as part of the EU this certificate will be good to charter anywhere in Europe. You will be able to obtain this certificate here is the USA. As soon as we get an answer we will update you.

Q : I'm a bit confused...."Yachtmaster" is a registered Trade Mark of the UK's Royal Yachting Association. Your website doesnt even mention the RYA and you seem to have no affiliation with it!! As a long term holder of RYA certification, I would not like to see my qualifications degraded or indeed the Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean tickets confused with anything other than the "real thing"! Tony N-W

A - Hi Tony, International Yachtmaster Training ( IYT ) is a U.S. Corporation and has absolutely nothing to do with the British recreational yachting organisation called the Royal Yachting Association or RYA. This is why there is no mention of it on our website. The term "Yachtmaster" actually belongs to the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who were the first to coin the phrase and issue yachtmaster certificates as the Board of Trade as far back as 1932. In 1973, RYA were given permission to issue "Yachtmaster " certificates by the MCA. In 1999, International Yachtmaster Training was also given permission by the MCA to issue "MCA Recognised Yachtmaster certificates. Yachtmaster certificates are also issued by the Australian Yachting Federation, the Irish Sailing Association, the Cruising Association of South Africa and the Canadian Yachting Association although their certificates are not recognised by the MCA. All of these organisations are recreational yachting associations run by recreational yachtsmen and they issue recreational yachtmaster certificates. Some of these organisations issue yachtmaster certificates with a "commercial endorsement", and certain administrations question the authority of recreational yachting organisations to issue "commercial" certificates.

International Yachtmaster Training on the other hand, is a professional yachting organisation, fully approved by Det Norske Veritas as a Maritime Training Center of Excellence. It is run by professional yachtsmen and we issue professional, commercial Yachtmaster certificates. Our standards are higher than the other organisations including the RYA, as they are fully compliant with the International Maritime Organisation rules for the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeepers, or STCW as it is commonly known. IYT does not allow "direct entry" into its examination system as the RYA do, one has to actually sit our courses to obtain our certification. All of our examiners worldwide are professional mariners, not so with the RYA.

The IYT Yachtmaster program is so successful, it is now recognized by 24 Governments worldwide including not only the MCA but also the U.S. Coastguard among others. The demand for our certification as a standard of excellence is such that we now have 33 licensed schools in 20 different countries and this is growing every week. With regard to the RYA registered trademark in the U.K., it is interesting to note that the MCA, who coined the phrase, refuse to recognise the RYA registration. The "International Yachtmaster Training" name and logo, is however a federally registered trademark in the United States.

In conclusion, the IYT Yachtmaster Certificates have become the certificates of choice throughout both the professional international yachting community and recreational yachtsmen. Their compliance with the STCW convention for Basic Safety Training and insistence on completion of all aspects of the training courses ensures a well qualified individual trained to professional international standards. So Tony, when you are ready for the "real thing", contact us, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Q - I keep my boat in Belize. We plan to cruise the Caribbean in a few years (live aboard). Is there any good reason to get my 6-pack license in this case? Mark P.

A - The U.S. is the only country in the world that issues a "license" to drive a boat. All other countries issue a "certificate of competency" which includes a practical examination to prove that you are competent to command a boat. There is no reason to get your six-pack license unless you intend to operate your boat as a commercial charter boat in the US Virgin Islands. The Coast Guard License is only a requirement is you wish to carry passengers for hire or reward in the U.S. or U.S. territories. It consists of a series of multiple choice questions. It is also largely unaccepted overseas as there is no practical component to the training and no "on the water" examination. The most internationally recognised qualification for yachting is the IYT Yachtmaster certificate which also carries a reduction in your insurance if you hold such a certificate.

Q - I intend to operate a charter boat on the USVI. I heard that the USVI have special regulations, different from the USA. What kind of license is needed in those islands? Does the boat have to be US flagged? Knowing that I will be based from the USVI, am I allowed to do charterers pick ups in the BVI? Thank you very much. Joe S.

A - If you are going to be chartering in the USVI, you need to be qualified to US Coastguard standards. This would mean a "Six-Pack" license or similar to take paying passengers aboard your vessel. It is always in the best interests of your qualifications to complete the 5 day Basic STCW training courses (not the 3-day version), which will be acceptable to the BVI. With regard to where you flag the vessel, the best people to talk to are the US Virgin Islands Charter League. You can contact Pamela Wilson at 1.800.524.2061. With regards to being able to pick up charterers in the British Virgin Islands, there have been some changes recently so I would suggest you contact the British Virgin Islands Maritime Authorities for their most recent update.

Q - As a professional skipper, I have been asked several times if I could perform a wedding on my boat, which is based in US waters. If I do, can I deliver a valid wedding license? What is the real validity of this whole thing and how does it REALLY work? Or is it just a gimmick? Please elaborate since it could be an interesting marketing tool for my business. Sincerely, Capt. Gene

A - It was once possible for a ship Captain to marry people at sea. However, this is no longer the case. There are extreme cases where a couple could be married in dire circumstances such as a sinking vessel or someone about to die. But this could only be done in International waters. It is however possible to marry someone on your boat inside territorial waters (3 miles ) provided the person giving the ceremony is duly qualified to do so by the State, such as a public notary. I was married aboard a yacht 7 years ago here in Ft Lauderdale. I would suggest contacting the State authorities to find out how this could be done, it is rather good fun to do so.

Q - I am starting a Skippered Yacht Charter business in St. Vincent & the Grenadines later this year and I see a lot of comments about the "6-pak" license requirements. I am qualified to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. Do I need any further qualifications (over the YM) to operate the business in SVG ? Graham

A - The "six-pack" license that you refer to is a U.S. Coastguard license which is required for operating vessels that carry up to six people in U.S Territorial waters. This includes the United States mainland and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It can only be taken by U.S Citizens and will be of little or no value to you in St Vincent and Grenadines.

Q - What are the qualifications needed by the different Caribbean countries to run a crewed charter yacht?

A - This is a matter for the Flag State Authority or Maritime Authority on each Island. The problem is there are many different countries involved. There are U.S. British, Dutch, French, Bahamas and all the independent islands who make their own decisions on what qualifications are acceptable for which yachts.

The qualifications will depend on the status of the yacht, whether it is private or commercial (this means engaged in trade or accepting money for a charter), the Flag State or where the yacht is registered, the tonnage of the yacht, whether it complies with a classification society for safety and construction, the number of guests it will carry, whether it is power or sail, its compliance with the code of safe working practices and sometimes the nationality of the crew and / or the number of crew it will carry.

There is also the issue of work permits from the various islands. For instance, one might be suitably qualified to run a charter yacht out of the British Virgin Islands but without a Work Permit from the V.I. Government to do so, it could mean big trouble. The same applies from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A lot of people think that they can buy a yacht and suddenly start a charter business in the Caribbean. Having spent 6 years running commercial yachts throughout all the islands, I would strongly recommend conducting some research before embarking on such a venture.

Lastly, with regard to RYA Yachtmaster certificates, I would caution that a number of Flag States (including the French Islands) will not accept the RYA Yachtmaster certificates even with a commercial endorsement as they do not believe that a recreational sailing organisation with no quality management system and no auditing requirements in place should have the authority to issue commercial certificates. They also do not comply with the STCW convention as laid down by the International Maritime Organisation.

Before deciding to run a commercial yacht in the Caribbean, I would strongly suggest contacting the Government of the Island to find out as many rules and regulations as possible. The number of yachts doing so is strictly governed, otherwise there would be a "free for all" with no controls in place.

Q - I have limited (almost none) sailing experience. I would love to bareboat charter. How much experience is needed before a bareboat charter company will turn the boat over to you. Were do you get experience? I know a course would be in order but if I go to the expense of a course that leads to a bareboat certification is that enough?

Depending on where you live, approach a reputable sailing school (there is no other way to do this). I recommend Offshore Sailing School ( http://www.offshore-sailing.com ). They have many outlets all around the country. Or any Certified ASA school.

Q - A quetion about lowering flag from a yacht club yard arm has arisen here in Marblehead, MA. Specifically, the Canadian flag was flown from the yardarm before and during the Marblehead-to-Halifax ocean race recently. Clearly, the U.S. ensign is the last to be lowered ceremoniously, as you say. But which of the other two that flew should be lowered first, the Canadian flag or the yacht club's burgee? Bud P.

A - The flags should be lowered as follows 1) Club burgee first 2) Canadian flag second 3) US Flag last

Q - I understand that with a US flagged vessel I could operate a charter vessel outside US territorial waters without the need of the "six-pack" license, am I correct? And in the event the charter is based in one of the "non US" Caribbean Islands, is it the authority of the starting island of the charter that gives permission to Charter or do I need a permit from every other "island country" on the way, if it is different than the one at the start of the charter??

A - To run a charter yacht, you are required to comply with Flag State regulations irrespective of where in the world you operate. To operate a US flagged yacht, you would need to be US Coastguard qualified such as a 50 ton or "6 pack". Other islands have the authority to confine a charter boat to harbor if the Captain is not properly licensed. I would also doubt very much if an insurance company would insure you to operate a charter yacht without the proper license as the insurance would probably be void if there was an accident.

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Yachting qualifications essentials

Marine Order 74 (Master and deck officers – yachts) 2015 came into force on 1 January 2016. This marine order allows us to issue certificates of competency for service on yachts.

Under  Marine Order 74 (Master and deck officers – yachts) 2015   we can  issue four new certificates of competency:

• Watchkeeper deck less than 3000 GT (yachts)
• Chief mate less than 3000 GT (yachts)
• Master less than 500 GT (yachts)
• Master less than 3000 GT (yachts)

The marine order defines yacht as a vessel that:

• is less than 3000 GT
• is for commercial use for sport or pleasure
• does not carry cargo
• does not carry more than 12 passengers.

A yacht does not need to be designed to carry sail and may be a training vessel, sail training vessel or a short range yacht. The full definition provides additional information on training vessels, sail training vessels, sailing vessels and short range yacht. Marine Order 74 should be consulted if further clarification is needed.

See the flow chart in Appendix 1—Pathway diagrams .

Certificates of Recognition

Marine Order 70 – Seafarer Certification (2014) allows us to issue certificates of recognition to holders of an equivalent certificate of competency issued by a national marine administration that we have a formal agreement with. Read more about options available to holders of primary certificates issued by foreign countries .

A Certificate of recognition for an equivalent yacht will only be valid for service on Australian registered vessels that meet the definition of yacht contained in Marine Order 74.

For issue of a certificate of recognition the applicant must demonstrate that they meet the same sea service requirements for issue of an equivalent AMSA certificate of competency.

Sea service

Sea service must be valid and appropriate, and meet the requirements of schedule 3 in Marine Order 74.

We do not accept evidence of sea service based on discharge certificates or letters originating from vessels without supporting letters from employers or owners confirming the sea service.

We consider sea service (work experience) very important and part of the training program for issue of a seafarer qualification or license. Service on vessels that spend considerable time in port will not be accepted.

We spend considerable time confirming and validating sea service and must be satisfied the service claimed, meets the requirements in schedule 3 of Marine Order 74.

Our training requirements

We believe your career progression is very important. If you have already undertaken training, this should be recognised. All units of competency for the approved course of study for a yacht certificate of competency come from the AMSA approved diploma course (see Appendix 1—Pathway diagrams ).

If you want to gain a certificate of competency for yachts issued in compliance with Marine Order 74, you have the opportunity to complete the diploma course in two or more blocks of study.

Holders of a certificate of competency—yachts issued by a national administration we recognise, who wish to obtain an AMSA certificate of competency, will need to complete the full diploma course. Any prior learning granted by an AMSA approved training provider will be recognised.

Service on sailing vessels

We issue two sailing vessel endorsements one valid for sailing vessels—fore and aft and the other for sailing vessels—square rigged (see schedule 2 of Marine Order 70).

Holders of any AMSA certificate of competency or certificate of recognition for Master cannot sail as a:

• Master on a sailing vessel unless they hold a current sailing vessel endorsement .
• Officer in charge of a navigation watch on a sailing vessel unless they have completed training required by the vessel’s safety management policies and procedures and have been considered competent by the Master.

Final assessment

For issue of an AMSA certificate of competency (yacht) or AMSA certificate of recognition applicants will need to undertake an oral examination .

Comparison between Marine Order 71 and Marine Order 74

Holders of an AMSA certificate of competency that were issued under Marine Order 71 meet the following requirements for issue of a Marine Order 74 certificate as listed in the table:

Appendix 1—Pathway diagrams

Certificate of competency as deck watchkeeper less than 3000 gt (yachts).

Certificate of competency as chief mate less than 3000 GT (yachts)

Prerequisite: Meet all requirements, except final assessment, for issue of certificate of competency as deck watchkeeper less than 3000 GT (yachts).

If the applicant meets sea service requirements of Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2014 and has completed the unit of competency titled MARA010 Manage loading, unloading and unloading and stowage of cargo, they may undertake final assessment for issue of Certificate of competency as deck watchkeeper (STCW II/1).

Certificate of competency as master less than 500 GT (yachts)

Prerequisite—Hold certificate of competency as deck watchkeeper less than 3000 GT (yachts) plus meet all the additional training requirements for issue of a Certificate of competency as chief mate less than 3000 GT (yachts).

If the applicant meets the sea service requirements of Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2014 and has completed the unit of competency titled MARA010 Manage loading, unloading and unloading and stowage of cargo, they may undertake final assessment for issue of Certificate of competency as master less than 500 GT (STCW II/1 and II/2).

Certificate of competency as master less than 3000 GT (yachts)

Prerequisite—Hold a Certificate of competency as aster less than 500 GT (yachts).

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