The content of the prep course will depend on the needs of the candidates, but you should expect to spend a lot of time cruising at night and carrying out various challenging boat handling exercises. The course will be based around the exam syllabus shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158) or click on our link to a PDF. It is intended for fine-tuning existing skills rather than teaching new ones. The examiner will step on board on the Friday afternoon, and you will be assessed on day six.

Duration

6 days

How the course works‍

Meet at Port Hamble Marina at 7pm the evening before the course. This gives you a chance to meet your fellow crew and allows us time to discuss and brief everyone on the plan for the course.

What’s included

• Accommodation on board for the duration of the course
• All breakfasts & lunches
• 2 dinners on board
• Tuition from our RYA Yachtmaster Instructors
• Wet weather sailing gear loan
• All yacht costs and mooring fees

‍Requirements from you

Prior the prep course, read the exam syllabus (see link) and give yourself an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses. Try to address any shortfalls beforehand and then be open with your instructor about your abilities and what you need to work on so the correct training package can be created.

‍Cost

£999 plus the RYA examination fee (currently £224)

Course dates

TBC

‍RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore is competent to skipper a sailing yacht/motor cruiser on any passage during which the vessel is in no more than 150 miles from harbour

Exam duration

The exam will take about 8 to 12 hours for one candidate and between 5 and 9 hours per candidate where more than one candidate is being examined no more than two candidates may be examined in any 24-hour period.

Candidates will be set tasks to allow them to demonstrate their ability as skipper of an offshore cruising yacht/motor cruiser and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus.

‍Pre exam requirements

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

·        A radio operators qualification – A GMDSS Short RangeCertificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate

·        A valid First Aid Certificate, visit www.rya.org.uk for information about suitable first date certificates

·        Seatime 50 days, 2,500 miles within 10 years prior to examination, including at least five passages over 60 miles, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experiences skipper. At least half the qualifying seatime must have been accrued in tidal waters.

For holders of the Coastal Skipper course completion certificate the seatime requirement is reduced to 400 miles, 20-days living on board, 12 night hours, & 2-days as skipper.

Qualifying passages for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore must be non-stop, by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. Passages such as recognised races which may not comply exactly with these requirements may be submitted to the RYA for approval before the voyage.

Trainee skippers undertaking 60-mile passages are strongly advised to take a Coastal Skipper Course first

Visitwww.rya.org.uk for further information on the definition of qualifying passages.

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