The RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence is well known and highly respected worldwide, proving your experience as a skipper. Unlike the other courses in the RYA Sail Training Scheme, there is no formal syllabus to complete in order to attain an RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence.
We highly recommend attending our RYA Yachtmaster™ preparation course to fine tune your sailing skills and focus your knowledge base before the exam.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence – Coastal or Offshore?
The RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal means that you have knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises. You do not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages. The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology and signals. You will be set tasks to demonstrate your ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and theory courses up to Yachtmaster™ Coastal level.
The RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore deems you competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. 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. You will be set tasks to demonstrate your ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and theory courses up to Yachtmaster™ Offshore level.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence Commercial Endorsement
RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificates of Competence can be commercially endorsed in order to work on board British flagged vessels, subject to the MCA’s codes of practice for small commercial vessels. A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement. We offer the online RYA Personal Practices and Responsibilities course – email us to book.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Mile/Experience Building Charters
If you do not have the required experience and sea time, we recommend booking on our Bluewater Sailing mile/experience building cruises. We offer these adventurous training trips throughout the year in the Caribbean.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Preparation Course
Many RYA Yachtmaster™ candidates choose to complete our Yachtmaster™ preparation course for the benefit of tailor-made sailing tuition prior to the examination. Provided that you have sufficient experience and sea time, you are then put forward immediately as a candidate for the Yachtmaster™ exam. Click here for helpful information from the RYA on passing your exam.
Working with a Yachtmaster™ Coastal Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster™ Coastal Certificate of Competence will enable you to skipper vessels up to 24 metres in length, operating in category 3,4,5, and 6 waters – up to 20 miles from a safe haven.
Working with a Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence will enable you to work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters – that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven. This Certificate of Competence can used commercially in its own right, or as a prerequisite for the MCA’s Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.
Working with a Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence will enable you to work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt. This Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a prerequisite for the MCA’s Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Exam Prerequisites
| Pre-course experience for Yachtmaster™ Coastal Exam | Documented minimum sea time1 completed on a seagoing sailing or motor yacht (as appropriate) in the last 10 years: 30 days at sea on a vessel less than 24m LOA, which may be reduced to 20 days at sea on vessels less than 24m LOA or substituted with 30 days at sea on yachts under 500gt2 if an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate is held; 2 days as skipper on a vessel less than 24m LOA; 800 miles, which may be reduced to 400 miles on vessels less than 24m LOA or substituted with 800 miles at sea on yachts under 500gt2 if an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate is held; 12 night hours A GMDSS compliant Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate or higher. An RYA First Aid certificate or another valid first aid certificate, as detailed on the RYA website. RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate, ONLY IF claiming reduced sea time detailed above. See: Information on qualifying passages. 1 At least half the qualifying sea time should be gain in tidal waters. 2 Contact training@rya.org.uk if your sea time is on a yacht greater than 24m and 500gt. |
Pre-course experience for Yachtmaster™ Offshore Exam | Documented minimum sea time1 completed on a seagoing sailing yacht in the last 10 years: 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500gt2; 5 days as skipper on vessels less than 24m LOA; 2500 miles on yachts up to 500gt2, half of which must be on vessels less than 24m LOA; 5 passages over 60 miles long, which must include 2 overnight passages and 2 as skipper. A GMDSS compliant Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate or higher. Theoretical knowledge to the level of RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore. An RYA First Aid certificate or another valid first aid certificate, as detailed on the RYA website. See: Information on qualifying passages 1 At least half the qualifying sea time should be gained in tidal waters. 2 Contact training@rya.org.uk if your sea time is on a yacht greater than 24m and 500gt. |
Minimum 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. |
| Minimum age | RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal: 17 RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore: 18 |
RYA Yachtmaster™ Exam Details
| Included | Accommodation on yacht during your prep course/exams, mooring fees, water and diesel used. Preparation course and exam as booked with course reference materials available in our extensive library. Fully insured and RYA inspected training vessel, with experienced RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructor and RYA Examiner. All safety equipment as required by RYA Standards. RYA exam fee. |
| Excluded | Flights, transfers and food. Candidates will share examiner’s expenses. |
| Yacht options | Join our group prep course and exams (maximum 4 students). |
| Cabin options | Private ensuite cabin with double sized bed (suitable for a couple or a single). Single saloon berth (non private and shared heads). |
RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate of Competence
Holders of the Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate of Competence are experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world.
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster™ Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158). The exam consists of an oral and written test.
Oral
The candidate must provide the examiner with the following information 48 hours prior to the exam:
- A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage providing all relevant details.
- Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passage, out of sight of land showing that the candidate has navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids. The records must include as a minimum, planning, reduction and plotting of a sun run meridian altitude sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet.
During the oral test the candidate will be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.
Written
The written exam will include questions on sights and sight reduction and worldwide meteorology.
Candidates who hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory Course Completion Certificate (final exam must have been invigilated at an RYA RTC), or a MCA issued full STCW Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer (Unlimited) will be exempt from the written examination.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
- have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
- have read the syllabus in RYA Logbook (G158)
- have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.
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.
Please note: Only those who hold the RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence are eligible to receive the Yachtmaster™ Ocean Certificate of Competence on passing the oral exam. Those holding OOW (Yacht 3000gt) will receive a pass confirmation certificate.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Ocean Exam Prerequisites
| Minimum seatime | Have completed a qualifying passage on board a sailing or motor yacht up to 500gt1 which meets the following criteria: 600M including at least 200M more than 50 miles from land or charted objects capable of being used for navigation; Duration of at least 96 hours; The candidate must have taken a full part in the planning and preparation of the passage, including: navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment; storing with spare gear, fuel, water and victuals. Throughout the passage, the candidate must have acted in a responsible capacity, either in sole charge of a watch or as skipper. Candidates must have successfully navigated a yacht at sea by astro navigation. As a minimum this should include the planning, reduction, and plotting of a sun-run-meridian altitude or sun-run-sun sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet. The minimum qualifying passage must have been accrued within 10 years of the examination date.1 Candidates must hold OOW (Yacht 3000gt) to claim qualifying passages on vessels greater than 24m LOA. Contact training@rya.org.uk if your passage is on a vessel greater than 500gt.See: Information on qualifying passages. |
| Form of exam | Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea. |
| Certification required | Hold either: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence, or MCA issued Certificate of Competence as officer in charge of a navigational watch (OOW), Yachts less than 3000gt, unlimited area, Reg II/1. |
| Minimum exam duration | Approximately 1.5 hours |