rya yachtmaster offshore certificate of competence

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What is an rya yachtmaster offshore exam.

The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is a much sought after qualification for skippers.

This qualification is respected worldwide.

One will be able to acquire the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate if they are able to demonstrate that they have sufficient sea-time, experience and certification in order to sit for an exam.

There are also courses that can help one to be properly prepared for the exam.

Sea Time Experience

Course duration, course content, converting from offshore sail to offshore power, qualifying passages, all my sea time was on superyachts over 24m - is that ok, how to log miles for your rya yachtmaster exam, do i need any first aid qualifications, what about commercial endorsement, stcw basic safety training endorsement, is rya yachtmaster theory required, how do i become a yacht captain, do rya yachtmaster qualified yacht captains make much money, rya yachtmaster offshore course overview.

Sea time experience is one of the most important prerequisites.

You would need to have completed the following within the last ten years:

• At least 2500 miles logged.
• Spent 50 days at sea on yachts of up to 500GT.
• At least half the sea time must have been spent in tidal waters.
• Have completed five passages of over 60 miles, of which two passages were as a skipper, and two carried out at night.
• Have at least five days experience working as a skipper.
• Hold a valid First Aid Certificate. In the case of a STCW Elementary First Aid it needs to have been issued within the last five years, whereas in the case of an RYA First Aid it needs to be issued within the past three years.
• Be in possession of a GMDSS short-range VHF radio certificate.

The course duration is generally 5 days, including the exam.

The course content will comprise key areas that will allow one to be properly prepared for the exam.

The instructor will focus on areas where one needs to improve.

Notably, night sailing and blind navigation will be practiced.

There will be an overview of the lights, signals and collision regulations, among others.

Since different ports and harbours will be visited, you will be able to get tested in different waters, and your strengths and weaknesses will be better tackled in preparation for the exam.

The Yachtmaster Offshore Exam itself will take anywhere between 8 to 12 hours for a single candidate, or between 10 to 18 hours for two.

Candidates will be met onboard by examiners who will outline what will happen during the test.

Tasks will be set for the candidates to demonstrate their abilities as skippers of offshore cruising yachts.

Candidates should be well prepared as questions on any part of the syllabus can be asked at any stage.

Examiners will be independent assessors who evaluate candidates on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency .

In order to convert from Yachtmaster offshore sail to Offshore Power the following will need to have been completed within the past 10 years:

• At least 1250 miles on a vessel that was between 7m and 24m in length.
• Have spent 25 days living onboard.
• Have spent 3 days as a skipper.
• Have carried out 3 passages exceeding 60 miles, of which one was as a skipper and one overnight.

There are a number of rules that need to be followed when it comes to passages that can be deemed as qualifying.

An applicant will need to have completed at least five passages which exceed 60 miles.

These five passages must have been completed on a vessel that is less than 24 metres in length.

Two of these passages need to have been overnight passages.

In addition, two of them will need to have been where one acted as a skipper.

It’s important to mention that a 60 mile qualifying passage is one where the voyage has been non-stop from the departure port A to departure port B, where A and B cannot be the same place.

The 60 mile distance has to be measured as a straight line from A to B.

The RYA will accept passages that were on board yachts over 24m in length.

However, only 50% of the qualifying sea time can be derived from such passages.

Thus, not more than 2500 miles in all, and one would need to provide a testimonial or a discharge book to confirm them.

The remaining 50% of the qualifying sea time must have been carried out on vessels which ranged between 7m and 24m.

Since so much importance is placed on passages, it’s crucial to record the miles.

Recording miles can be carried out in a RYA logbook G158, or using an Excel spreadsheet.

It’s also good to have a CV detailing one’s sea time.

When logging miles it’s important to take note of key details, including the dates of the passage or trip, the miles sailed on the various passages, the name and type of vessel, and any night hours.

Yes, you must have a valid first aid qualification in order to sit for the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam.

There are different types of first aid qualifications that are accepted, including:

• The RYA First Aid
• The STCW Elementary First Aid
• Seafish First Aid

It’s common to choose to commercially endorse the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam qualification once the exam has been successfully completed.

In this case, besides holding a valid first aid and VHF certificate, one will also need an STCW or RYA Sea Survival certificate, as well as either an ENG1 medical certificate or an ML5 medical certificate .

One will also need to complete the RYA’s online PPR course.

Subsequently, one can apply for commercial endorsement through the RYA.

Following STCW Basic Safety Training , the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate can be endorsed in order to allow the holder to be a skipper both on commercial as well as privately owned vessels.

This includes those exceeding 24m in length.

Yes, in order to become an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore it is highly recommended to know specific aspects of navigation and being able to handle a vessel at sea.

Thus, following a Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course is advisable to improve one’s abilities and competence.

This will inevitably improve one’s chances of successfully achieving the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

Becoming a yacht captain takes several years of training, experience and qualifications.

Like many careers, you’ll need to start life on a vessel working your way up.

From humble beginnings like being a deckhand to a junior crew member, the journey towards becoming a yacht captain takes years of dedication and hard work.

Our guide to becoming a yacht captain explains this process in greater detail.

Yes, the potential to make a very lucrative income is high.

A lesser experienced yacht captain can expect to make in the region of $48,000 to $98,000 per annum, whilst a more seasoned captain can make an impressive $150,000 gross per year.

So the time and effort it takes to become a skipper on a vessel has its rewards.

Furthermore, if your time at sea exceeds 183 days each calendar year, there’s the strong possibility that you could qualify for the seafarers earnings deduction which means you are not obliged to pay any income tax on your earnings.

So the above salary figures could be your final take home.

A good yacht captain will lead the crew, be a good communicator and instil confidence.

Acquiring the RYA Certificate is a demonstration that one has shown such skills along with the necessary experience.

Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.

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• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation & Exam

National Yachting School  » RYA Sail Crusing Courses  » RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation & Exam

Yachtmaster Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during where astronavigation is not necessary.

An RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper.

To attain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore candidates must pass a practical examination of their skippering ability. A Yachtmaster Offshore is capable of skippering the yacht on extended offshore passages by day or night. He or she will essentially be a much more experienced Yachtmaster Coastal and can do the same things more smoothly, for longer periods and in more arduous conditions. The theory knowledge required for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is the same as that for Yachtmaster Coastal, but considerably more practical experience and skill is required.

The 4 days prior to the exam is run along the same lines as the Yachtmaster Coastal preparation. Your instructor will asses your skills and address any areas over weakness. A high level of boat handling under various conditions of wind and tide is required. Navigation skills should be at the level of Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper theory and a thorough knowledge of collision regulations is expected. Your instructor will tailor the course to suit your individual needs in order to prepare you for when the examiner steps on board.

After 4 days your instructor will give you a thorough debrief and you should feel confident in your ability to take the exam should you feel ready to do so.

During the exam, your RYA examiner will meet you onboard and talk you through the plan for the day. They understand that you could be nervous and will do their best to allay your fears and make sure you are clear about what they want you to do. They are there to find out what you can do, rather than pick holes. You will be asked to undertake a short passage, but you may have to plan a longer one. In general, you should skipper the yacht in your normal style. If this means putting the kettle on every half hour, then do it!

Your examiner isn’t looking for first-time-every-time success, but you will need to demonstrate competence and a good understanding of how the boat reacts at various situations. Don’t hesitate to change sails or reef, if you think it is necessary for the task.

Whether you are fully in command of the yacht is the most important assessment that your examiner will make. Especially with Yachtmaster Offshore the examiner will be looking for high level of proficiency based on broad experience.

Course Duration: 4 days for the course and 2 days for the exam. Most courses start on Saturday evening and finish on Wednesday afternoon, the exam starts the same evening or the next morning after the end of the course.

Previous Experience Required: 50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged (min. half of it MUST be in tidal waters!), 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. VHF radio operators certificate (SRC or higher) and a valid First Aid Certificate recognised by the RYA. click here for the list of acceptable first aid certificates

Course Overview: Preparation and brush up for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Revision of advanced skippering techniques, close quarters handling under power and sail, navigation and pilotage by day and night, man overboard recovery and overall yacht management skills.

Minimum age: 18

Course price DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• exam fee paid directly to the RYA (205 GBP for YM Offshore, 177 GBP for YM Coastal)
• examiner's travel expenses from/to th UK (estimated approx. 400–500 Euro, shared between exam participants)
• food, harbour fees and diesel used for the boat

There are currently no available dates.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, we are canceling all practical courses in Croatia until further notice. For new course dates, please keep an eye on our website.

Winter courses on Canaries

In NYS we believe that there’s no such a thing as winter in sailing and you can always find a good place to enjoy your hobby any time throught the year. So we offer popular winter courses again, this time on Canary Islands, starting from Tenerife because of the best flight connections.

RYA Sailing Accreditation Rated as the World’s Best

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing qualifications have been voted the premiere sailing accreditation for excellence and global reputation following a recent survey targeting 200 professional yacht and motorboat charter companies. The professional charter companies that were surveyed own and manage in excess of 6,000 charter boats across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia.

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Phone: +420 731 745 273 Phone: +421 902 896 099

Web: www.skolajachtingu.cz E-mail: [email protected]

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• What is RYA?
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• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Preparation & Exam
• Shorebased Theory Courses
• RYA Basic Sea Survival / World Sailing Personal Offshore Survival course
• Short Range Certificate

Certificates of Competence - Overview

Commercial practical courses are built on the foundations of the rya courses, such as powerboat 2 and day skipper , to which are added a number of endorsements for commercial purposes. we can arrange all of the necessary theory and practical courses for you (other than the medical exam). , you & sea’s team has considerable experience of training staff for commercial organisations and public bodies throughout scotland, including police forces, wind farms, fish farms and marinas. we are focused on meeting customer needs and will happily design a purpose-built rya/mca training program, tailored to your requirements and timetable..

Use these flowcharts to work out w hich Certificate of Competence is best for you

RYA Advanced Powerboat CofC.  

1 candidate: 4 to 5 hours, 2 candidates: 5 to 6 hours, 3 candidates: 6 to 7 hours. No more than three candidates can be examined in one session.

Cost: Course fee of £385, plus exam fee of £208. Customers can pay on the RYA's online system or sen d a cheque or card details with the application form

2 days as skipper. 

800 miles (this reduces to 400 if you have completed the Advanced Powerboat course). 

Certificates required – 

A valid First Aid certificate

A VHF license

Minimum age – 17

Click here to go to the course page

 Pay for the cours

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal CofC

This is the exam that will allow you to complete your Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence and work commercially under MGN 280 up to 20nm from a safe haven.

Dates can be arranged to coincide with the completion of your Yachtmaster Exam Prep Course . Click for Dates & Booking or contact us to discuss

6-10 hours for 1 candidate, 4-8 hours per candidate where there is more than 1.

Exam Fee: £208 , C ustomers can pay on the RYA's online system or send a cheque or card details with the application form

Pre-Requisites:

2 days as skipper

800 miles (this reduces to 400 if you have completed the Coastal Skippers course)

At least half the qualifying seatime must have been accrued in tidal waters.

Knowledge to the level of Yachtmaster Coastal Shorebased.

A VHF License.

Minimum age – 

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination is, for many boaters, the ultimate qualification when working commercially. For a leisure boater it may simply be a confirmation of the level that you have attained in your boating. Passing the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence means that you are considered competent ‘to skipper a motor cruiser on any passage during which the boat is no more than 150 miles from a safe haven.’

The exam will last approximately 8 to 12 hours for one candidate and 5 - 9 hours per candidate where two or more are being examined.

Cost: Exam fee is £241. C ustomers can pay on the RYA's online system or send a cheque or card details with the application form

This is the exam that will allow you to complete your Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence and work commercially under MGN 280 up to 150nm from a safe haven. 

Dates can be arranged to coincide with the completion of your Yachtmaster Prep Course . Click for Dates & Booking or contact us to discuss

5 days as skipper

2500 miles, at least 5 passages over 60 miles, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two of which have involved overnight passages

Knowledge to Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased level.

Certificates – 

A valid First Aid Certificate

Minimum Age – 

Conversion from Sail to Power

We can offer these exams as part of a full Yachtmaster Prep course or a shortened prep course. Please contact us to discuss your requirements for this exam.

Note, only 50% of the mileage is required.

• Certificates of Competence

Arranging your exam

You can arrange your exam in a number of ways. here's our helpful guide on everything you need to know..

Before arranging an exam, please make sure you read through the requirements for your intended examination . Once read, confirm that you satisfy the requirements and only book when ready to proceed.

Exams in the UK

You can book your exam through your nearest RYA Recognised Training centre, by using the links below. Just click ‘Change your selection’ to enter your specific location:

Centres able to arrange Yachtmaster exams

Centres able to arrange Powerboat Advanced exams

Requesting an examiner

You can also request an examiner for specific dates in the UK by clicking on the links below. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days for an examiner to be allocated to you. Whilst we will do our best to meet your request, we cannot guarantee an examiner will be available in your location or on the date you have requested. If you are arranging a Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam outside of the framework of an RYA Recognised Training Centre, you will need to provide a suitable vessel and crew.  

Request an Advanced Powerboat, Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Request a Yachtmaster Ocean exam

Exams outside the UK

Exams outside the UK must be organised through an RYA training centre recognised for practical cruising courses or advanced powerboat courses (as appropriate). To find your nearest centre please use the links below, click ‘Change your selection’ to refine your search by location.

Yachtmaster exams

Powerboat Advanced

Exams in New Zealand

For details of exams and fees in New Zealand, please contact Coastguard Boating Education on [email protected]

Prior to your exam

Ensure you have completed an application form. In most cases this should be done through the online exam payment service. This produces a pre-populated application form where you can complete the additional pore-requisite information. However, if your exam is being paid by your training centre on their RYA account, please ensure you complete the appropriate exam application form below, with the centre name and account number. This form can also be used by those wishing to pay by cheque.

Application for an Advanced Powerboat, Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Application for a Yachtmaster Ocean exam

Cancellations

If you decide to cancel your exam, please directly contact the Training Centre you booked with or your examiner. If you booked your exam via the online service and have not yet been provided with the examiners contact details but wish to cancel, please contact [email protected] .

Exam requirements

Please make sure you read the full requirements before booking your exam:

• Advanced Powerboat  exam requirements
• Yachtmaster Coastal   exam requirements
• Yachtmaster Offshore  exam requirements
• Yachtmaster Ocean  exam requirements
• Conversion  exam requirements

rya yachtmaster certificate

RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 2 - Yachtmaster Coastal

Sailing qualification recognised around the world as a clear mark of your sailing ability.

By Marcin Wojtyczka

In this article in series about RYA certifications we reveal how to pass the RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal Certificate of Competence.

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on any coastal cruise.

The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven.

Don’t treat the examination just as an exam. This is a great opportunity to get feedback on your skills and become a better sailor.

Requirements

You can find the official requirements here .

To pass the exam you need ample experience and be able to navigate as well as handle the boat at sea in sight of land. You can take the exam without holding previous certifications from the ladder (e.g. daily or coastal skipper) or doing any course before as long as you have enough knowledge and experience.

Prior to the Yachtmaster Coastal examination, you must have a minimum of 30 days at sea, with 2 days as a skipper and at least 800 miles logged, including 12 night hours. If you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate already then this is reduced to 20 days at sea with 2 days as skipper, 400 miles logged and 12 night hours. Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters. You will also need to hold a GMDSS short-range radio certificate.

Preparation

Before taking the practical exam at sea, it is recommended to take Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course especially if you have not sat at the chart table for a while. Holding the RYA Yachtmaster Theory is also required if your long-term goal is to become the Officer of the Watch 3000GT.

You should also consider taking a practical preparation course. There is no official RYA prep course, but many sailing schools offer on-the-water preparation courses. Our trips are focused on training based on the RYA syllabus and can get you prepared for the exam as well. We can evaluate whether you are at the right level to pass the exam and identify gaps in your knowledge. Many of our participants passed the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam and keep returning year after year to us in order to become yet more confident and experienced. Our practical on-the-water training builds confidence, teaching you everything from basic terminology and safety tips to how to skipper a yacht and manage its crew.

Exam Syllabus

This is a broad description of the topics that will be covered during the practical exam. You are supposed to demonstrate knowledge of competence in many areas listed below. In each section, the examiner will expect to see that you can take full responsibility for the management of the yacht and crew.

1. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)

Questions will be covering the International Regulations. You must be aware of the existence of Local Regulations, but they will not be expected to memorise specific local regulations.

• General rules (1-3)
• Steering and Rules of the Road (4-19)
• Lights and shapes (20-31)
• Sound and light signals (32-37)
• Signals for vessels fishing in close proximity (Annex II)
• Distress signals (Annex IV)

You will be expected to deliver a safety briefing and know what safety equipment should be carried on board a yacht, based either on the recommendations in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook (C8) , the ISAF Special Regulations or the Codes of Practice for the safety of Small Commercial Vessels MGN 280 (M) . It should cover the following areas including the responsibilities of a skipper:

• Safety briefing
• Life jackets
• Safety harnesses
• Lifejackets
• Distress signalling (flares and electronic means)
• Fire prevention and fighting
• Boat stability
• Knowledge of rescue and emergency procedures
• Helicopter rescue

3. Boat Handling

You will be expected to answer questions or demonstrate ability in simple situations only. Topics can include:

• Coming to and weighing anchor under power in various conditions of wind and tide
• Simple berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide
• Recovery of man overboard and being able to describe the effects of cold-water shock and the aftercare requirements of a casualty who has been in the water
• Boat handling in confined areas under sail
• Boat handling in heavy weather
• Helmsmanship and sail trim to sail to the best advantage (point of sails)
• Use of warps for securing in an alongside berth and for shifting berth or winding

4. General Seamanship, including maintenance

• Properties, use and care of synthetic-fibre lines
• General deck work at sea and in the harbour
• Engine operations and routine checks and troubleshooting
• Improvisation of jury rigs following gear failure

5. Responsibilities of skipper

• Can skipper a yacht safely and manage the crew
• Communication with crew
• Delegation of responsibility and watch-keeping organisation
• Preparing yacht for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Victualling for a cruise and nutrition at sea
• Customs procedures
• Standards of behaviour and courtesy

6. Navigation

• Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
• Chartwork including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tidal stream and leeway
• Tide and tidal stream calculations for standard and secondary ports
• Buoyage and visual aids for navigation
• Instruments including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navaids and chartwork instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Pilotage techniques
• Keeping navigational records
• Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
• Lee shore dangers
• Use of electronic navigation aids for passage planning and passage navigation
• Use of waypoints and electronic routeing
• Position fixing with and without the use of GPS
• Course to steer and estimated position
• Coming in and out of the harbour during the day and/or night
• Knowledge of Radar and how to use it for collision avoidance and restricted visibility
• General understanding of AIS for restricted visibility

7. Meteorology

• Definition of terms
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Weather systems (frontal depressions and highs in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere)
• Local weather effects (sea breeze, fog, wind funnel effect)
• Interpretation of weather forecasts and synoptic charts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
• Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information

You must hold the SRC Certificate of Competence (VHF) in radiotelephony or a higher grade of certificate in radiotelephony

Learning materials

• Insightful blog series on the Yachtmaster exams from the perspective of RYA examinator.
• The Complete Yachtmaster - Bestseller since first publication that has established itself as the standard reference for Yachtmaster students as well as skippers of all levels of experience.
• RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Notes - Highly illustrated book on all aspects of the RYA Yachtmaster syllabus.
• The RYA Navigation Exercises - This is one of the best books about navigation. It accompanies all RYA training courses and includes two training charts (RYA Training Charts 3 & 4).
• RYA Certificates of Competence
• Certificates

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