RYA Yachtmaster
The Yachtmaster Power (Coastal and Offshore) Certificates of Competence Courses are run together. Whilst the syllabus for each is very similar, the Offshore candidate requires more logged sea time and will be pushed harder in the exam. If you’re unsure as to exactly which level you should aim for, we are happy for you to book the preparation course and decide part way through, once you have seen the kind of exercises involved. PLEASE NOTE THE PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE
Description
The preparation part of the week is intended to act as a refresher on pilotage, boat handling, safety, skippering and passage planning. In particular, skills like blind navigation, electronic navigation (radar and GPS), night pilotage and MOB procedure are practiced. This is not the time to be learning these skills from scratch. During the exam, candidates will be set various skipper tasks to demonstrate their ability as a Yachtmaster. They can be asked questions on any part of the syllabus from all practical and shorebased courses up to Yachtmaster level.
RYA/MCA YACHTMASTER POWER COURSE RATIO & VESSEL:
The RYA set a maximum Motor Cruising ratio of 5 students to 1 instructor (5:1). Some UK centres reduce this to 4:1, but we go further, 3:1. This means you spend at least a third of the time on the wheel, with considerable opportunity to navigate and skipper. You will not sit through long periods of your course watching other candidates, “have a go.” We do NOT cancel this course due to low numbers, if you are the only candidate booked it still goes ahead.
How do we do this? We run a sensible sized (8.5m) motor boat which can be operated safely by just 2 crew. If you want to train on a larger, twin engine motor yacht then we are probably the wrong school for you! Be aware, you are unlikely to be guaranteed such a good Student : Instructor ratio elsewhere! Click here for information about our training vessel(s).
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Up to 5-days shared use of our motor cruiser
- 4-days of instruction (or 3 days if you are the only candidate that has booked).
- Diesel and on board consumables
- Loan of a life jacket
- Lunch, tea/coffee and snacks onboard
- Three evening meals on board
- Free berthing at the home port
- Free parking (on street)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
- Wet weather gear (£5 day to hire)
- RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Exam Fee (paid to the RYA)
- Overnight accommodation
- Meals ashore
Prerequisites
YACHTMASTER COASTAL
- MINIMUM AGE 18
- SEATIME (of which at least 50% is logged in tidal waters)*
- 30 days motor cruising (at least 50% on board vessels less than 80 grt and between 7 LWL and 24m LOA)
- 800 miles logged (at least 50% on board vessels less than 80 grt and between 7 LWL and 24m LOA)
- 12 night hours (at least 50% on board vessels less than 80 grt and between 7 LWL and 24m LOA)
- 2 days as skipper (at least 50% on board vessels less than 80 grt and between 7 LWL and 24m LOA)
- KNOWLEDGE
- CERTIFICATES
- RYA First Aid OR STCW Elementary First Aid
- RYA Short Range Certificate or higher level GMDSS
- RYA Sea Survival Course OR STCW Personal Survival Techniques (recommended for everyone, compulsory if you are seeking a MCA / RYA Commercial Endorsement)
* For holders of the RYA Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate, Sea Time is reduced to 20 days, 400 miles, 12 night hours and 2 days as skipper.
YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE
- MINIMUM AGE 18
- SEATIME (of which at least 50% is logged in tidal waters)
- 50 days motor cruising on vessels upto 500 gt (at least 50% on board vessels less than 24m LOA)
- 5 days as skipper on power vessels less than 24m LOA
- 2,500 miles logged on power vessels upto 500 gt (at least 50% on board vessels between less than 24m LOA)
- QUALIFYING PASSAGES
- 5 passages of 60 miles or more (of which at least 3 were logged in tidal waters)
- At least 3 of those passages on power vessels under 24m
- At least 2 of those passages as skipper
- At least 2 of those passages being overnight
- KNOWLEDGE
- CERTIFICATES
- RYA First Aid OR STCW Elementary First Aid
- RYA Short Range Certificate or higher level GMDSS
- RYA Sea Survival Course OR STCW Personal Survival Techniques (recommended for everyone, compulsory if you are seeking a MCA / RYA Commercial Endorsement)