RYA YACHTMASTER PREP / EXAM

The RYA Yachtmaster qualification is one of the most respected milestones in recreational sailing. It represents a significant level of practical sailing, navigation, seamanship and skippering ability and is recognised by sailors and boating organisations internationally.

Preparing for the Yachtmaster exam is very different from simply completing a sailing course. The focus is on demonstrating that you can take responsibility for a yacht and crew, make sound decisions and manage a wide range of situations that a skipper may encounter.

During Yachtmaster preparation, you will refine your skills across all aspects of yacht handling and skippering. This includes navigation, pilotage, passage planning, weather, tides, boat handling, sail trim, anchoring, mooring, safety procedures, crew management and emergency situations.

Particular attention is given to decision-making and judgement. A Yachtmaster is expected to understand not only what to do, but why a particular decision is appropriate.

You may be asked to plan and execute passages, navigate in unfamiliar waters, conduct pilotage exercises, demonstrate boat handling skills and respond to scenarios that test your ability to manage the yacht and crew.

At Mainstay Sailing, the preparation is focused on giving candidates the opportunity to consolidate their existing experience, identify areas requiring further development and build confidence before undertaking the examination.

The practical Yachtmaster examination is conducted by an independent RYA Yachtmaster Examiner, ensuring that the assessment remains objective.

The Yachtmaster qualification is not simply about proving that you can sail a yacht.

It is about demonstrating that you can take responsibility for the yacht, the crew, the passage and the decisions you make as skipper.

________

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.

RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam pre-requisites

1/ 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.

Before applying for the practical exam you must have a valid first aid certificate and marine radio licence

The exam has a minimum duration of 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.

There is a minimum age requirement of 18.

After  5 days of prep the examiner will come aboard. The cost for the examiner will be shared by the students conducting the exam.

Also check out the following article in the Captain's Log

‍

Watch this video

‍