RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is a recognition of excellent skippering ability, sound knowledge of safety and advanced navigation skills.

During the intensive five-day prep week you will focus on boat handling techniques, pilotage, navigation and man over board, as well as night sailing to familiarise yourself with the local waters and improve your night pilotage skills. You will receive continual feedback to help build your confidence and prepare you for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam.

An external RYA Yachtmaster Examiner will step on board on the Friday evening and assessment will continue throughout Saturday. You will be assessed as you skipper the yacht on short passages and demonstrate various skippering techniques.

Format

Join the yacht in Port Hamble Marina on Sunday 7pm, ready to set sail on Monday morning. Stay on board and return briefly to Port Hamble on Friday evening to meet the examiner and start the exam. Exam finishes Saturday, exact exam duration depends on number of candidates.

Pre-Requisites

Before you can undertake the exam, please ensure that you have completed all of the pre-course requirements;

• 50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 
• 5 days experience as skipper. 
• At least half this mileage and passages must be conducted in tidal waters.
• All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.
• Hold a VHF license
• First Aid Certificate 
• Your theory knowledge will also be tested during the exam so please ensure you remind yourself of the RYA Yachtmaster/Coastal Theory Course content.
• Minimum age – 18
• Sea Survival Certificate (for comercial endorsement )
• Professional Practices and Responsibilities (for comercial endorsement)
• ENG1 or ML5 medical (for comercial endorsement)

What’s not included

RYA Exam Fee – Payable direct to the RYA