yachtmaster passage planning exam

• Certificates of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158), which is available from the RYA webshop.

The exam consists of an oral and written test.

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.

The written exam will include questions on sights and sight reduction and worldwide meteorology.

Candidates who hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased 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 - see 'Related articles'.

Please note: Only those who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence are eligible to receive the RYA 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 pre-requisites

Yachtmaster – How to Prepare.

How to Prepare for the RYA/YA Yachtmaster Exam

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification is widely acknowledged as the highest yachting qualification worldwide and allows the holder (with MCA Commercial endorsement) to skipper yachts commercially to 24 meters LOA. To maintain this standard the examination process must be thorough and give the candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their ability in all areas. The exam is designed as a practical assessment of the candidate’s ability as well as some searching of underpinning knowledge of theoretical subjects. Candidates may be required to demonstrate their ability in any of the subjects listed in the RYA/YA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shore based course and the Coastal Skipper practical course (Listed in the Sail Cruising Scheme Logbook and the Yachtmaster course notes book). It is advised that candidates take a preparation course with an RYA Training Centre before the Exam.

How is the Exam Structured? The exam is a practical assessment of the candidate’s ability to skipper a yacht/motor vessel at sea. Each candidate is examined for 8-12 hours. Typically candidates will be required to complete a short passage, as skipper, by day and by night, as well as complete specific tasks to demonstrate particular skills (such as boat handling, pilotage, man overboard recovery etc). Wherever possible, the night passage will include entry into a port or anchorage that the candidate has not done before. The candidate will also be required to plan a longer passage on a specific given date. This will be done using the RYA Practice Charts RYA Charts and the Practice Navigation Tables. The candidate should have this plan prepared BEFORE the exam and the Examiner will go through the passage plan with the candidate during the exam. Examples of passage plans are listed at the end of this document.

The Main Areas to be examined are (please take note of the relevant sections depending on whether you are planning to sit a Yachtmaster power or sail.)

1/ Navigation and Pilotage. The Skipper must know the position of the vessel throughout the exam. Good skippers plan well then spend time on deck executing their plan – not rushing back and forward to the chart. You are skipper – not just the navigator. Remember you are navigating a yacht not a chart table! A typical mistake is to over navigate the yacht – spending too much time below plotting fixes when a transit or clearing bearing would confirm the yachts position.

The examiner will be assessing your ability to navigate both by traditional methods (3 point fix, soundings , lights dipping and rising etc) and a safe and common sense use of GPS. Confirm with the examiner, before each nav exercise, if GPS is to be used. The examiner may set tasks to assess specific elements of navigation, such as ‘Blind Nav’ for DR and EP and restricted visibility, finding an unlit buoy or a specific spot on the chart to demonstrate pilotage. Knowledge of tidal heights and streams will be assessed, and if suitable tides are not available, these may be in the form of theoretical questions or exercises. A knowledge of UK tidal methodology (particularly secondary ports) is essential. The Examiner will discuss appropriate methods with you before hand. If you are unsure what the examiner is looking for then ask for clarification.

2 /Boat handling and Seamanship A Yachtmaster must be proficient in boat handling, both under sail and power(Yachtmaster Sail). To assess this, the candidate may be set tasks such us mooring the yacht in a variety of situations under power (marina berth, pile mooring, anchoring etc) and under sail (such as sailing to/off anchor, mooring buoy, dock etc). The examiner will not just be looking at the candidates helming ability, but all aspects of the manoeuvre – engine control, speed, sail selection, preparation and correct use of warps and fenders, crew briefing, tide and wind effects etc). The candidate will be expected to complete these manoeuvres in a reasonable time period, with the yacht and the crew under control at all times. Remember we all get it wrong sometimes, and the best boat handlers realise when a plan is not working, back off and review the plan.

3/ IRPCS A Yachtmaster must have a complete working knowledge of the Col Regs – not just the steering and sailing rules but Lights, Shapes and Sounds. For instance a Yachtmaster should be able to explain terms such as “Shall not impede or Constrained by draft”. This is one area that candidates should study before the exam – insufficient understanding of the Col Regs is one of the most common areas that result in failure. Hit the books and if possible have someone assess you BEFORE the exam. The Rules will be assessed as you encounter situations during a passage and as a test of your theoretical knowledge.

4/ Meteorology You will be expected to obtain and have studied the weather report BEFORE the exam and take this into account in planing your passages. A Yachtmaster must be able to read a weather map, understand standard Meteorological terminology and use a Barometer on passage. As the RYA Yachtmaster certificate is a global qualification, Candidates should have a basic understanding of weather in both the northern and southern hemispheres. A Yachtmaster should have sufficient knowledge to be able to skipper a yacht across the English Channel or Bass Strait! Find out the sources of weather information, as you will be expected to update the forecast during the exam.

5/ Safety and emergency situations. A complete knowledge of the safety equipment carried on board is required. Candidates must be able to brief the crew, and cope with a variety of situations including MOB, loss of engine, dismasting, abandonment and grounding to name a few. You need to have an action plan for all situations that may befall a yacht at sea. You will also need a working knowledge of search and rescue procedures, helicopter rescue, life raft deployment and heavy weather strategies. Your ability to recover a man overboard WILL BE assessed and you must have a plan prepared. You will be assessed not just on getting the yacht safely back along side the person, but how to recover them from the water and the immediate care they may require.

6/ Ability as Skipper The most important assessment of all is the ability to take command of the Vessel. This is not about standing behind the helm barking a series of commands at the crew, nor is it about rushing around doing everything yourself, whilst the crew look on. It is about leading the crew, communicating with them, making sure they understand what is happening and what is expected of them, and listening to their input. Shouting at the crew, lack of briefing or blaming the crew when things go wrong will result in failure. Even the best Skippers make mistakes but the overall impression good skippers leave is one of quiet confidence. Good skippering techniques don’t come in books, they can only be developed by experience and time in charge, and hence the requirement for skippered passages before taking the exam. Remember skippering has nothing to do with steering the yacht; so don’t get stuck behind the helm. A good skipper gives himself a roving commission to move around the yacht to assist and advise the crew when needed. On the day ,skipper the yacht in your own way, and if that means putting the kettle on every ½ hour then do it!

Overall remember there is rarely a RYA method of doing things, examiners are looking for common sense approach when taking charge of the yacht. Skipper the boat in your own way, try to forget the examiner is there, and don’t try to do things just to impress the examiner. Just get on with it in your own way. Examiners realise that this is a nerve-wracking experience and take this into account when making their decisions about each candidate. Examiners take a holistic view of the candidate’s ability so if something goes wrong during the exam, put it behind you and get on with it! Rarely does a candidate fail because of one indiscretion (unless of course it places the yacht in an unsafe situation.) If you are unsure what the examiner wants at any time, then ask for clarification. Remember the examiner is looking to see you sail the yacht in an efficient manner at all times and it is a sailing yacht so motoring for excessive periods or sailing with 2 reefs in 15 knots will not result in passing.

Be you, enjoy the sail and plan well. Good Luck!

Michael Job RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Examiner.

Can you please pass onto the candidates, and remind them that they can be asked to answer questions from any part of the syllabus, from Competent Crew to Yachtmaster.

I expect to not see blank faces when I ask about the following. a. coll regs rule 5, 6, 12. and annexe 4, narrow channels with respect to a 12m sailing vessel b. light and sound signals for a 12m sailing vessel, including angles, designed distances etc c. The same for those large ships over 50m that we expect to encounter off Mooloolaba and in Moreton Bay. d. man overboard e. how to check the compass of the vessel f. course to steer to counteract current. g. I expect to see some current weather information provided h. I expect to see some current navigational information provided with respect to the port from which we intend to navigate i. safety equipment onboard, how it works, how to use it, when to use it, ranges of visibility j. epirbs….current information about the system and how they work, and frequencies of operation. k. DSC vhf, how it works, how to use it. l. prop wash/prop effect m. springing off, running a slip n. a passage plan will be asked to be presented at some time on the trip. o. calculating tidal heights at a secondary port. p. prepare the vessel for an extended coastal passage.

Geoff Folliott RYA Yachtmaster Examiner

Examples of Passage Plan exercises

Use RYA training Charts 5 & 6 and the information from the RYA Training Almanac (southern hemisphere).

The yacht for the voyage is a well-found 11 meter sloop capable of 7 knots upwind and 8 knots on a reach. Draft 2.3 metres. You may plan to leave any time after midnight on 18/2/07.

Victoria Marina to Dawson Harbour. Weather SW 15 – 20 knots

Chidham Marina in Namley Harbour to Jackson Bay Weather SE 15 – 20 knots

Yachtmaster Preparation & Exam - One week prep & assessment

This intensive coaching session will help prepare you for the examination which gives you the most respected yachting qualification in the world. You must arrive fully prepared in your sailing ability and with a full knowledge of navigational theory. Practice complex sailing skills with guidance from one of our senior instructors and gain confidence from working under pressure. Our 6 day course means you will receive 4 days full exam preparation/practice time prior to commencement of your exam. Prepare a theoretical passage plan for presentation to your RYA examiner who will independently assess your theory and practical knowledge and skills.

Note: We offer a “ Boat Handling ” combined with advanced sailing skills course in the week preceding this preparation and exam week.

1 week (6 full days sailing)

Pre Course Experience

We will send you a document listing all the disciplines that can be tested by the examiner. For YM Offshore you will be tested on a) MOB under sail & b) Navigation tactics in fog (blind navigation).

Assumed Knowledge

Yachtmaster theory knowledge including IRPCS!!! Ideally you have successfully completed RYA Tidal Coastal Skipper Practical completion certificate - this course teaches you the sailing skills & techniques required to further practice & pass an RYA exam.

Course Content

6 days - 4 days preparation time followed by exam (depending on number of candidates). Drilling and honing the skills. Execute theoretical passage plan (supplied by us!) for presentation to your examiner

Saloon berth/Shared, panel divided cabin €1290 (one person)

Single Cabin €1390 (one person)

Double cabin €2590 (two sharing)

Availability

Contact us for availability

Yachtmaster for Sail and Power (Only available on Amazon) Yachtmaster Exercises for Sail and Power (Only available on Amazon)

Click here for local weather links

Course content

Below is a list of the disciplines you will practice leading to your RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore or Coastal Yachtmaster Exam with Canary Sail

• Passage planning
• Man Over Board
• Managing yacht and crew
• Navigation in poor visibility
• Position fixing/finding
• Yacht handling
• Sailing on/off bouys, berth and anchor

Typical Itinerary for Week

We will meet and welcome you at the San Miguel Marina in Tenerife and settle you onto your yacht. Ideally, you will start preparations and safety brief in the evening in preparation for an early start the following morning. You are then invited to join us for drinks to meet the team, your instructors and fellow students or crew who start their full week courses. You will be made very welcome by the Canary Sail team and we can advise the best restaurants for you to sample!

You will participate in the safety briefing on board, you will be asked to prepare the boat for departure and almost always be taken out for a sailing/MOB session in the wind acceleration zone (WAZ) just off he harbour wall. You will also be given an opportunity to get used to handling your yacht in confined spaces.

Boat handling in and around the marina before making the first passage through the Wind Zone to Marinas and ports in your area.

Plenty of yacht handling and sailing exercises including passage making, pilotage at day and at night, blind navigation, MOB, sailing on/off with the opportunity to work on your passage plan in preparation for presentation to the examiner.

Tuesday evening or Wednesday, your instructor will introduce you to your examiner and leave the yacht. The rest is then up to you – good luck with your exam!

Leave the yacht at 09.00 latest please for your return home or to continue your holiday in Tenerife. Please see our stay page for accommodation .

Exclusive Course Yacht option for couples, families or groups on 36 to 50ft cruise yachts – now also including our Lagoon 38 C2 Catamaran option!

This Yachtmaster Exam assessment week is not a course! The Yachtmaster Prep & Exam week offers just 4 days of exam preparation, comprising of intense “Drills & Skills” practice of the sailing a docking exercises. Theory is also tested – not taught! There is no time for teaching new techniques. These should be covered before one arrives – fully prepared for the Exam week.

The prerequisites for this exam week are a total of 2500 sea miles covered under sail in the last 10 years, half of which must be conducted in tidal waters. At Offshore level, 5 x 60NM or longer passages are required, 2 as skipper and 2 overnight. Ideally, some formal sail training using traditional methods of chart navigation is a significant advantage to the candidate. Very sound knowledge of Navigational Theory and Collision Regulations is a must!

This Yachtmaster Exam Prep & Exam is run over a 6-day period. For the prep practice and testing of knowledge, drills and skills, your RYA Instructor has just 4 days with a max of 4 candidates on board to prepare for the remaining 2 days of assessment when your Prep instructor steps off the yacht and is replaced by an independent RYA Examiner.

Whether the candidate is successful or not in passing the exam, one gains great benefit from participation in such an intense training week. On passing the Exam, the resultant Certificate will help reduce yacht insurance premiums, both privately and for Yacht Charter. This certificate is the International “door opener” into the prestigious world of the Super Yacht and Professional Sailing Industry.

Yes, the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, and in particular Offshore Certificate is widely accepted internationally, both by Yacht Charter Companies and in the pursuit of a Professional Sailing Career.

A theoretical Passage Plan will be presented to each candidate, comprising of Almanac, Charts, Weather Synopsis and all the material necessary to pre-prepare a Passage Plan. For those training in the week(s) leading to this exam week, these will be handed out early. During the exam, passage plans will be presented by each candidate to the examiner. In addition, the examiner will test depth of knowledge of any aspect of navigational theory, and Collision Regulations – e.g. Buoyage, Lights Shapes, Sounds, etc. 

Contact us for further details

A wide range of practical and theory courses offered all year round

Choose from a variety of sail cruises around the Canary Islands and beyond

From Bareboat to skippered charter, we have an option to suit your needs

ACCOMMODATION

Recommended accommodation options in La Gomera and Tenerife

Phone any time on our UK Divert No. (UK call cost): 0044 1252 837648 Phone (USA): 001 855 866-5566 Phone (Spain): 0034 922 141 967

[email protected]

Company Address: Marina San Miguel Urbanizacion Amarilla Golf 38639 San Miguel de Abona Santa Cruz de Tenerife Islas Canarias Spain

Office opening hours:

Monday-Closed

Tuesday-Friday: 08.30-15.30

Calls diverted outside of office hours, excluding Mondays. Please send us an email and your enquiry will be dealt with promptly.

Office opening hours: Monday-Closed Tuesday-Friday 08.30-15.30

Please use the form below to email us with your enquiry

• Why Choose Canary Sail?
• Accommodation
• Flight Advice
• Terms & Conditions
• RYA Practical Sailing Courses
• RYA Theory Courses
• Yachtmaster Fastrack
• RYA Competent Crew Practical
• RYA Tidal Coastal Skipper
• Dedicated Boat Handling
• Just Sailing
• Four Seasons
• Lava Charter

Take a look at our feed

Take a look at our feed across the canary sail world, our most recent social media posts, canary sail s.l, recent posts.

• Wildlife Watching Guide for Sailors in the Canary Islands 12th March 2024
• What to Expect from Your RYA Practical Course 16th February 2024
• Sailing Courses: Cost Comparison Between the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands 8th February 2024
• Weather Insights for Sailing for the Canary Islands 3rd January 2024
• Embark on an Unforgettable Catamaran Adventure 6th December 2023
• Meet the Canary Sail Team 17th November 2023
• Hidden Gems of Tenerife and Lanzarote 1st November 2023
• Packing Guide for Your Sailing Holiday 5th October 2023
• Catamaran Cruise Sailing/Training!! 29th September 2023
• Reasons to Book a Yacht Charter Holiday 21st September 2023

Looking to hire a yacht, take sailing courses or maybe just relax on a boat in the Canaries? With over 20 years experience we offer an unrivalled range of RYA Courses.

Web Design by Green Tornado

RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 5 - Yachtmaster Ocean

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® Ocean Certificate of Competence.

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge and experience needed to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world. The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean is the highest certification level at RYA.

The holder of a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) anywhere in the World (Category 0 waters - unlimited).

The assessment is done by oral interrogation (~1.5 hours). You also need to pass the written (~1.5 hours) exam if you did not complete the Ocean Theory course, complete a qualifying passage, and prepare narrative account and navigational records. You have to stand to attention before seasoned RYA-appointed examiner and convince him that you sailed as skipper or first mate and that you know the job. To be honest, there is probably no better way of doing it.

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 .

• Hold an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• Have completed a qualifying passage which meets the following criteria: You were fully involved with the planning of the passage, including a selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, spare gear, victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine. Throughout the passage you must have acted in a responsible capacity either in sole charge of a watch or as a skipper. Qualifying passage should be non-stop by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. During the qualifying passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land or any charted navigational object while sailing a distance of 200 miles. You can find the exact requirements of the qualifying passage here . If you have any doubts about whether your chosen route qualifies, you can always contact RYA at [email protected] During the qualifying passage you should take some sights to prove that you are actually capable of navigating out of sight of land by astro navigation. If circumstances prevent astro sights from being taken on the ocean-qualifying passage you can also take them on another shorter passage. You just have to make sure to be enough far from shore so that the sights are taken out of sight of land.

Preparation

Before taking the oral exam, it is recommended to take Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course . If you complete the course, you will be exempted from the written examination.

Please also take a look at our routes . On all our offshore passages we are navigating using celestial navigation. Some of our passages qualify for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certification where you can be a watch leader to meet the qualifying passage requirements. Many of our participants passed the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Ocean 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

During the oral exam, the questions should generally be related to your qualifying passage but may also refer to longer passages if needed to find out if you are capable of an ocean crossing. You may 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.

After booking the exam and at least 1 week before the exam date you must provide the examiner with:

• A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage.
• Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passage, out of sight of land, showing that you navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids. 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, star or planet.

The examiner will not be hard on you if you provide a good narrative account and lots of navigational records. You should show him or her that you thought about many aspects of voyage planning and execution, and that you care about the safety of the yacht and the crew. You will definitely fail if you show a cavalier altitude.

The narrative should include the following:

• Brief description of the chosen vessel and suitability for the voyage
• Crew selection
• Pre-checks on the condition of the yacht, including hull, rigging, engine, electrics and fittings checks
• Navigational passage planning: route selection, sources of information to decide on a strategy, expected and possible durations of the passage if no wind/rig failure/divert to the port of refuge etc.
• Navigational equipment: electronic and manuals
• Weather: source of information pre-departure, weather forecasting sources on passage, actual weather experienced
• Harbours planned: pilotage, reporting, berthing, customs and immigrations procedures
• Ports of refuge
• Watchkeeping rota
• Consumables provisioning: victualling (water and food) and fueling/bunkering - estimating daily usage, the amount carried, allowance for delays, calms and emergencies, preparation for what-if scenarios (e.g. contamination of water, fridge failure etc.)
• Consumables monitoring en route: fuel, gas, food, water, battery
• Methods of charging batteries, battery capacity and electrical consumption calculations
• Medical kit carried and preparation for medical emergencies (e.g. availability of suitable courses)
• Standing orders
• Safety briefing conducted
• Routine equipment checks and maintenance, precautionary replacements
• Drills practices before departure and during the passage
• Fire precautions
• VHF / HF / MF channels monitored
• Communications equipment carried
• Position reporting to shore stations
• Navigational hazards including shipping lanes and shallows
• Expected shipping traffic and other vessels encountered (e.g. fishing fleets)
• Use of courtesy ensigns and Q flag
• Emergency (contingency) plans: MOB, rig failure, hull breach, steering failure, port/hatch failure, engine failure, abandon ship, divert to the port of refuge, heavy weather preparation and tactics, emergency repairs (e.g. jury-rigging, repairing damage to the hull, jury-steering)
• Spare gear and tools required, carried and used
• Deck safety: clipping on and numbers of the crew on deck
• Charts and publications used
• Copy of ship’s log and charts
• Navigation by sextant: all written sight reduction, compass check and plotting sheets completed at sea (not tidied up ashore)
• Procedure for cleaning and securing the yacht at the end of the passage

Example of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean narrative.

The written exam will include questions on celestial navigation (sights and sight reduction) and worldwide meteorology.

If you hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased course completion certificate you will be exempted from the written examination.

Learning materials

• Celestial Navigation in practice - Astro navigation primer.
• Celestial Navigation - With the Sight Reduction Tables with Pub. No 249 - This book gives the clearest explanation of how celestial navigation works and how to use it without bogging down in theory.
• How to use sextant (PDF) , Video
• RYA Certificates of Competence
• Certificates

Join our newsletter to get the news about new routes

Neptune Maritime Training Sail & Power

Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, using a sextant, ocean passage making, worldwide meteorology and electronic navigation aids.

This course is for those aspiring to blue water cruising and is ideal for holders of theYachtmaster Offshore certificate who are preparing for their first ocean passage.

Topics covered include:

• The earth and the celestial sphere
• Practical guide to use and care of sextant at sea
• Meridian altitudes
• Sun, star and other sights
• Ocean passage planning

Prior to the course your navigation skills should be at the standard of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course.

If you are working towards your Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence, completion of this shorebased course exempts you from the written exam.

The course is taught over 40 hours with one exam paper. It can be covered as a series of short sessions, as an intensive week-long course.

Ocean Yachtmaster Practical

We regularly organise practical experience in taking sights and plotting positions on board. We can also help you achive your quallifing passage.

We will work with you through the process and review your documentation before submitting for assessment.

you are welcome to borrow one of our sextants and almanacs to help you develop your skills before the practical passage.

A person holding a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world.

Details of Courses and Prices

The Yachtmaster Ocean exam is an oral and written test of your knowledge of ocean passage making including planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management, yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs. You will also be questioned on your sights taken at sea during an ocean passage.

We hold regular Yachtmaster ocean theory courses . these cover the essencial knowledge as well as practice in taking sights and plotting positions while sailing.

Course costs

• RYA yachtmaster ocean course 790e
• practical trip for celestial sights 450e (2 days)
• RYA exam fees for ocean oral 250e (£200 direct to RYA)

What is include

• Course material
• use of a sextant during the course
• RYA course completion certificates
• teas, coffee soft drinks

What is not included

• flights and travel to course
• accomodation ashore
• meals and drinks ashore
• personal travel insurance
• any RYA examination fees for certification

The candidate must provide the examiner with:

• A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage
• Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passages, 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 may be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, astro navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.

The written exam will include questions on star sight planning and reduction and worldwide meteorology. Candidates who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased certificate, Royal Navy Ocean Navigation Certificate or a DoT Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer 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
• hold a VHF Radio Operators License or Short Range Certificate
• hold a valid first aid certificate
• have read the syllabus in RYA publications: G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
• have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

If you need a Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA’s codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed – see left. You can then work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.

The Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA’s Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.

Contact details

• $ 0.00 0 items

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

IMPORTANT : **** WE DO NOT OFFER THE ORAL EXAM (USUALLY DONE IN THE UK OR AUSTRALIA) ****

WE ONLY OFFER THE OCEAN THEORY COURSE ( click here for details ).

A person holding a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean qualification is 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’s Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) which we can supply.

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean exam is a two part exam (oral and written) where you will be tested on your knowledge of ocean passage making including planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management, yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.  You will also be questioned on your sights taken at sea during an ocean passage.

Those who have passed the RYA/MCA Ocean Theory course are exempt from the written test.

For an idea of how the exam will be run, take a look at our  Notes for Examiners .

What to Bring

Definition of a Passage :

• Qualifying passages for Yachtmaster Ocean and Offshore should 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 obtain a Coastal Skipper qualification first.
• For Ocean passages the following definition will apply. “Throughout the passage the candidate must have acted in a responsible capacity either in sole charge of a watch or as a skipper”.
• Ocean candidates may take their sights on a shorter passage than the qualifying passage. The examiner will determine whether the candidate is competent at astro navigation.

Examiners are responsible for establishing the level of a candidate’s competence during the exam.

Where a candidate’s qualifying mileage is doubtful examiners will question the candidate carefully.

Passage planning documentation.

Sights taken on passage.

We don’t currently offer this exam.

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

How to plan and sail an offshore passage

• Chris Beeson
• July 8, 2015

James Stevens stands by as Becca Morley steps up to plan and sail her first big offshore passage as skipper

Mid-Channel, away from the hazards, the sailing is carefree and easy Credit: Pete Oswald/YM

James Stevens, author of the Yachtmaster Handbook, spent 10 years as the RYA’s Training Manager and Yachtmaster Chief Examiner

Crossing the English Channel, North or Irish Seas for the first time as skipper is a daunting prospect. You’ll be sailing out of sight of land, crossing busy shipping lanes and tackling ripping tides before you arrive. These are challenges, but not insurmountable ones. A competent coastal skipper handles those situations most weekends. Crossing the Channel is about doing the same things on a bigger scale. If your preparation is good – passage plan, weather, tides and boat checks – there’s no reason you shouldn’t succeed. And, as a first-time skipper, the sense of achievement of arriving safely in another country is like nothing else.

Confidence is a hurdle, but as soon as you have one crossing under your keel, you’ll be ready to go again and again. The aim of this article is to help build that confidence by explaining what’s involved in making a successful crossing. To do this, we needed a first-time skipper, so Yachting Monthly asked Becca Morley, 24, an experienced crew studying for her RYA Yachtmaster qualification, to skipper a boat from Cowes to St Vaast on the Cherbourg peninsula. The boat under her command would be Tamora, a Hallberg-Rassy 34 with Tamora’s owner, James Stevens, Sophie, who had some crewing experience, and Pete, the photographer, as crew.

Why would I want to cross the Channel?

We’ll steer clear of the obvious – pretty harbours, lovely anchorages, a bilge full of keenly-priced wine and a fridge bursting with cheese – and look at the challenge itself. I think the best part of cruising is arriving – and it’s even better if the arrival is in a foreign port. You feel like you’ve actually gone somewhere and achieved something.

If things go wrong, it’s the skipper’s fault, so when they go right the skipper can justifiably bask in having planned and executed a passage that gets boat and crew to a foreign destination. It’s a thorough examination of your judgement and ability as a skipper, and to pass it will boost your confidence in your own abilities and leave you with an immense sense of self-sufficiency.

Skippering is not crewing

A crew may have crossed oceans, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be any good as a skipper

There is a huge difference between being the crew and being the skipper. Most crew have very little idea of how much is involved in taking charge of an offshore passage. They stow their bags and they’re ready to go, whereas the skipper started passage planning a month ago and has spent the last week scanning the internet for forecasts, fretting about the drip from the stern gland and wondering about the state of the jib clew.

The paperwork

You’ll need the right paperwork if you’re planning to arrive in a foreign country

It’s the skipper’s job to make sure the paperwork for the boat and the crew is in order. The chances are it will go unexamined but if an official does ask for it and you can’t deliver, you could be in a world of bureaucratic and potentially financial pain. Add it to your winter checklist, when there is plenty of time for updating any certificates.

• SSR Registration
• Bill of Sale, as the SSR does not technically prove ownership
• Invoice showing that VAT was paid in the EU
• Insurance certificate
• Ship’s VHF Radio Licence
• Short Range Certificate – authority to operate VHF radio
• Certificate of Competence (not actually required in coastal France but well worth having)
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC – the successor to the old E111)
• Courtesy ensign

Navigation essentials

You’ll need the right charts and reference books for the passage. For our passage, we made sure we had:

• Electronic chartplotter with C-map charts and a back-up GPS unit
• The Solent Admiralty Small Craft Folio for Solent pilotage
• The Channel Islands Admiralty small craft folio passage chart
• The Mid Channel Admiralty passage chart as back-up
• Imray C32 pilotage chart for St Vaast
• Reeds Nautical Almanac
• Shell Channel Pilot
• Admiralty Channel tidal stream atlas
• An RYA plastic chart plotter
• Dividers, 18 inch ruler, lots of pencils and an eraser

Our first time skipper – Becca Morley

Becca Morley

‘This isn’t my first crossing,’ said Becca, 24. ‘I have crossed the Channel dozens of times: it comes with my job. What made this trip so special, and slightly terrifying, is that this time I was in charge!’

After graduating from the University of Sheffield, Becca volunteered as bosun on Provident, a 70 ft sailing trawler that operates sail training for young people. This not only fulfils Becca’s enthusiasm for sailing but also provides challenge and adventure for young people, some of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Becca has completed the RYA courses up to Yachtmaster Coastal with financial assistance from the Association of Sail Training Organisations and a grant from Trinity House.

Although she lives afloat she has very little opportunity to skipper and practice taking command on small boats.

Preparation and planning

St Vaast, with its locked basin surrounded by oyster beds, is one of the most interesting landfalls on the French Channel coast

This breaks down into three stages: passage planning, which can be tackled a month or more beforehand; checking forecasts from three days out; and boat preparation, which takes place the day before. As this was her first time skippering, Becca and I went through each stage together.

Becca planned a passage from Cowes to St Vaast

One month before

The proposed trip is from Tamora’s home port of Cowes to St Vaast, on the east side of the Cherbourg peninsula. The best day for the crew is 28 April, if the weather suits.

First, look at the passage chart to get an idea of the whole trip. I prefer a paper chart for this. The shortest route is via the eastern Solent: 69 miles from the Nab Tower to St Vaast. Our destination is a locked basin and there are strong tidal streams near the headland of Barfleur, up to 5.6 knots at springs (28 April is two days before), so it’s important to arrive with a favourable, easterly stream to St Vaast. Fortunately that’s also a flood tide, so we should not have to wait too long for the lock gates to open.

The tidal stream atlas gives favourable east-going tide at Barfleur from six hours before HW Dover (2243 UT, or 2343 BST) on 28 April, so from 1730 BST. It is also favourable the next morning from 0600 but we want a daylight trip.

On average Tamora cruises at 5-6 knots, so from the entrance of the Eastern Solent to 10 miles off Barfleur, 50 miles, will take 8-10 hours. We need to leave the Solent around 0600. The stream east down the Solent is with us four hours after HW Portsmouth (2207 UT, or 2307 BST, the previous day) so from 0300 BST. Wake early and we have favourable tide for the 11 miles to Bembridge Ledge buoy.

The almanac tells us St Vaast lock is open HW-2hr 15 to +3hr 30, or 1915-0100 BST. Note that the tide table for the French standard port Cherbourg is UT-1, which is BST. British tide tables are in UT (GMT). I prefer to stay in BST until we find we have arrived at a restaurant one hour late for dinner, French local time being one hour ahead. If we arrive off Barfleur at about 1730, we should cover the last 15 miles or so at 7 knots with a fair tide and arrive in time for the lock to open. If we miss the tide off Barfleur, or St Vaast looks exposed, we can divert to Cherbourg. The pilot book gives useful hints about the dangers off Barfleur and advice on approaching and berthing in the harbour.

How Becca planned her passage

The key is arriving at Barfleur with favourable tide, so Becca plans back from that

Plan to arrive off Barfleur with a favourable easterly stream

Find HW for the reference port to find out when the easterly stream begins

Leaving via the Eastern Solent is shorter and a fair tide would be helpful

The reference port shows that an early start gives a favourable stream

You’ll find the information you need, lock opening times for instance, in your Reeds almanac

First time skipper’s thoughts

While planning, an unexpected problem was which time zone to use. I have been taught to do all my calculations in UT, amending for British Summer Time at the end. This works well in home waters. I wasn’t expecting the confusion that arose when working out tides and heights in French Summer Time to ensure I’d get the lock timings right at St Vaast, but I also wanted to convert all my results into BST so that I would be working in one time zone on the day. Cue pages of scribbles and a tide-related headache.

Three days before

Look for a stable forecast. If it keeps changing, the outlook is unsettled. A reliable forecast doesn’t change. For this trip, you need to know the weather for at least 12 hours and preferably beyond. There are plenty of forecasts on the internet but, if in doubt, use the Met Office. It’s the one that is used by the enquiries and disciplinary panels, as I remind my crew.

The forecast is north-east Force 4, becoming variable, not ideal but no reason to delay – we can always motor if the wind dies. Visibility is moderate becoming good – again, it could be better but not a cancelling issue. Had the wind been south-westerly, I might have planned to leave via the Western Solent for a more comfortable wind angle, but it looks like we’ve got lucky!

One day before

With four crew aboard and fading winds forecast, Becca victualled for two days

Becca victualled for four crew for two days. None of the meals requires much prep, and we could eat from bowls if it’s rough. We have snacks and hot drinks too, and topped up the gas because Tamora’s 4.5kg butane cylinders are difficult to buy in France.

Top up your fuel and water tanks and make sure there’s enough gas on board

We filled water and fuel tanks, and carried emergency jerry cans of fuel and bottles of water and spares for the engine. Tamora has a decent toolkit and sail repair kit. We checked engine oil, gearbox oil, fresh water in the header tank, drive belt tension, saltwater filter and, once started, that there was cooling water in the exhaust.

Go through all the basic engine checks while you’re still alongside

The rig was checked a couple of days earlier, the winches had recently been serviced but we missed the broken drive belt in the self-steering system. With four aboard it shouldn’t be a problem but it does need adding to the maintenance list.

We haven’t formally post a passage plan but Tamora’s nominated contact, whose name and number was given to Falmouth Coastguard when her EPIRB was registered, knew when and where we were going and we’d call them when we arrived. Tamora is registered under the Coastguard CG66 scheme.

It looks like an early start so Becca needs to get the crew onboard the night before, talk them through her passage plan and give a safety briefing. As it’s a daylight crossing the watch system is fairly informal: one hour each on the helm in rotation, with another crew on hand. Becca needs to listen to the forecast, estimate passage time and therefore finalise when we need to leave the Solent.

Becca briefs the crew on her plans for the crossing, including shipping lanes and landfall

The crew needs to know where the safety kit is and how it works. Walk through the boat and show them

I’m sure I’ve thought of everything, but as I chat through my plan with James I’m worried he’ll think I’ve never sailed before. I talk the crew through the safety briefing, explain our passage plan and that we are to leave at 0530 the following morning, then I’ll settle down to share a relaxed dinner with my crew before an early night.

The crossing – first time skipper’s thoughts

After successfully springing out of Tamora’s tight Cowes berth, the passage begins

After what feels like 10 minutes in bed, it’s 0500 and the kettle’s on. It’s misty on deck but we can see far enough so, after checking today’s weather, we get ready to go. At 0530, racked with nerves, I spring Tamora out of her berth.

A tense Becca helms Tamora out of Cowes and into the Solent

I’m so focussed that small details like setting sails almost escape me. I have courses to steer from buoy to buoy and I’ve made sure there’s enough water outside the channel in case Something Big comes along. Right on cue a pilot boat passes, indicating Something Big. We move out of the main channel and a car carrier steams west up the Solent.

We’re exactly where I planned at 0730. At 5 knots we should be in St Vaast for a late dinner but I’m unfamiliar with Tamora’s performance. If we’re faster, we’ll anchor off until the lock opens; if slower, we have a long tide window but will arrive in the dark.

Once past the Bembridge Ledge buoy, I didn’t spend long plotting a course to steer and just aimed slightly uptide of Pointe de Barfleur. I’ll monitor progress and adjust as necessary. My course takes us into a roadstead of tankers and one starts moving erratically ahead of us. Five hoots of Tamora’s squeaky little horn probably won’t cut it.

In the roadstead east of Wight, Becca hails a ship manoeuvring unpredictably and arranges a safe passage past

The tanker is fine on our starboard bow, making way slowly on the same heading as us. If he turns to port, avoiding action will be tricky under spinnaker. We call him on channel 16, then switch to 72. I identify Tamora and ask if he’s happy for us to overtake to port. A guttural accent says yes, so I thank him and we continue.

Though I’m sick with nerves playing tanker avoidance, the crew needs breakfast. Bacon butties arrive as we pass the last tanker and the ‘fun sailing’ can begin.

Once south of the island, Tamora’s course to steer is west of south, to counter the east-running tide

The wind is perfect. Tamora makes 6 knots under spinnaker and my crew seems happy in the sun. Each takes an hour on the helm and keeps a lookout. All seems well, so I rest below decks before we reach the traffic separation scheme. Though tired, I don’t sleep. I listen for talk of shipping on deck, worry about Barfleur, or the wind veering. I go back on deck to find that we’ve slowed to under 4 knots. It’s time to take the spinnaker down and put the engine on.

We have lunch and numerous cups of tea. I’m pleased with how it’s going and starting to enjoy it. However, it’s cooler now, the novelty is fading as the engine rattles on and we’re all fidgety.

As she usually crews a 70ft steel sailing trawler, Becca underestimated Tamora’s manoeuvrability for giving way as the shipping lanes loomed

We reach the shipping lanes. Without AIS, the crew checks collision bearings with the handheld compass. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it, deviate less from our course, and we’re soon across the lanes unscathed.

Closing land – first time skipper’s thoughts

Barfleur light, visible 15 miles out, signals landfall and the passage’s final stage

We sight Barfleur light on the horizon at 1615. The tricky bit is about to begin. Against instinct, we’re still aiming uptide of the lighthouse to keep it on our port side. Turn too early and we’ll be swept east, resulting in a tedious motor uptide or a different port.

Becca runs up the French courtesy flag as Tamora closes the coast

To my delight we are closing the coast exactly when I’d hoped we would, giving us the most advantageous tide. It’s how I planned it! Barfleur whizzes past, looking just as the pilot book promised it would.

With the light fading, Becca searches for Le Gavendest south cardinal

I’m following the 20m contour line to avoid rocks and we’re sluicing along at 10 knots. I grasp the binoculars and search for Le Gavendest cardinal, where we turn west, but there are too many other things scattered around. Despite my preparation I can’t make out anything useful. A glance at the chart suggests we should be off St Vaast in 20 minutes. I still can’t see it! At last I spot my cardinal, hidden in a tangle of lobster pots. Suddenly I’m very pleased we chose a daylight crossing.

It’s 1900 BST. I reckon the lock opens at 1915 – hopefully BST, not local. The theory of time zones seems simple; in practice it’s less so. We motor up to the entrance to find a couple of yachts anchored off the breakwater.

Tamora’s young skipper helms her past the breakwater and into St Vaast just as the lock gates open – perfect timing!

I’m about to suggest a brew at anchor when the lock opens. I’ve done it! My crew congratulate me on getting us here safely, with almost precision timing.

James and Sophie secure Tamora as Becca looks on

I point out that I still need to park us alongside in the marina. After what has been an exhausting 15-hour journey I’m not particularly looking forward to switching back into exam mode and putting Tamora on a finger berth.

Becca celebrates after her first successful Channel crossing

James and Becca visit St Vaast’s Capitanerie du Port to take care of the paperwork

The debrief

The critical decision was the arrival time off Barfleur and Becca got that spot on. On the day, navigation, decision-making, meals and living aboard were fine mid-Channel. The hardest part of the trip was the last unfamiliar 15 miles. For would-be offshore skippers, the lessons are: practice inshore pilotage skills, practice boat handling, and stay rested because the hardest part of the trip is likely to be the end.

Becca’s log was brief but covered the passage in enough detail

Becca sensibly planned backwards from arrival off the French coast. Though she was optimistic in hoping to arrive as the lock gate opened, to her credit, she did. Leaving the eastern Solent Becca successfully avoided ships by keeping out of the main channel and negotiated her way through a roadstead. Victualling, and keeping us happy and fed was not a problem for her as she looks after 12 trainees on board Provident, and she completed the log and kept a record of our position every hour on the paper chart throughout the trip.

Becca’s first Channel crossing as skipper is marked on the chart

Tom Cunliffe’s Shell Channel Pilot (Imray, £35) describes Pointe de Barfleur as a ‘chamber of horrors’, so Becca was wary, but on the day it was benign. She understood the difficulties of the change in time zones but took a while to realise that the reference port for the pilotage chart was Cherbourg and not Dover, as on the passage chart.

Arriving somewhere new needs lots of concentration, so stay rested

Becca kept us safely offshore to avoid offlying rocks, but not so far off that the yacht was swept past St Vaast. Spotting the buoys against the land is difficult. It’s easier to use the plotter to indicate range and bearing so you know where to look, and binoculars with a built-in compass help.

Tamora arrived at Barfleur just as the tide turned easterly –exactly as Becca had planned a month earlier

She worked out the lock opening times and we arrived soon after it opened. Berthing required two attempts but boat handling is always a challenge for the novice skipper.

There were some minor points. Before leaving, she did the final navigation based on the current weather conditions, but could have saved time by getting the crew to prepare the yacht while she did. She helmed for the first hour when she could have delegated that and checked pilotage.

Good weather meant the watch system was more or less redundant

Once clear of land we settled into a watch system, but fine weather meant we were all on deck for most of the trip. Becca rested twice but doing so with ships on the horizon, and again when making landfall, wasn’t the best timing. She found it difficult to judge ships’ range and altered course very early.

Once successfully secured and squared away, Becca heaved a big sigh of relief and downed a well-earned beer. She is well on the way to becoming a Yachtmaster Offshore.

Successfully completing your first offshore passage is an unforgettable feeling

For all the latest from the sailing world, follow our social media channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .

Have you thought about taking out a subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine?

Subscriptions are available in both print and digital editions through our official online shop Magazines Direct and all postage and delivery costs are included.

• Yachting Monthly is packed with all the information you need to help you get the most from your time on the water.
• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our expert skippers and sailors
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment will ensure you buy the best whatever your budget
• If you are looking to cruise away with friends Yachting Monthly will give you plenty of ideas of where to sail and anchor

Register today and get £50 off

Enter voucher code HOME STUDY in the booking form

Online Theory Course

An outstanding course - I can highly recommend this. The details, feedback and support is excellent - makes celestial navigation understandable!

Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, the sextant, global meteorology and ocean passage making

The online RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean theory course teaches advanced techniques to those aspiring to blue water cruising and is ideal for holders of the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate who are preparing for their first ocean passage, and for commercial Skippers or Mates planning on operating more than 150nm from a safe haven.

This course will introduce you to the principles of astro navigation, the practical use of the sextant, the measurement of time, position fixing by the sun and stars, compass checking and great circle sailing.  

You’ll also study the concepts of worldwide meteorology, including tropical revolving storms, and passage planning for ocean voyaging.

• Assumed knowledge Yachtmaster level.
• Minimum duration 40 hours study is specified by the RYA.
• Ability after course Theory knowledge to undertake an ocean passage.

Simply click below to try a free lesson.

Introduction to Astro Navigation

• Introduction & Basic Astro Navigation Theory
• Using a Sextant
• Meridian Passage
• Plotting Your Position
• Planet Sights
• Moon Sights
• Star Sights
• Latitude by Polaris (The Pole Star)
• Compass Check by Sun’s Amplitude
• Ocean Weather & Tropical Storms
• Passage Planning
• Satellite, HF communications and obtaining weather data

Unlimited support from our dedicated RYA Instructors - 365 days a year via email, phone or Skype/Zoom.

14-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

13 fully-narrated online lessons including animations, videos and realistic 3D graphics.

Embedded quizzes with instant feedback in each lesson.

Self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers.

Final exam with detailed instructor feedback and free repeat attempts if requried.

RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Course Completion Certificate.

12 months access to study with instructor support and exams - you can extend this if you want.

Lifetime access to training materials once you’ve completed the course.

This course is accessed online with no additional software required.

Lessons are accompanied by optional professional narration, and notes. 

They are intuitive and easy to follow, whilst more complex subjects are accompanied by interactive animations and graphics to help you gain a full knowledge of each subject in the course syllabus.

Whilst the process of translating a sextant sight into a position line is straightforward it is quite challenging to get to grips with. Unlike classroom training, where time is limited and students progress at different rates, online learning allows you to participate in lessons as many times as you wish to fully get to grips with the concepts.

At the end of each lesson there are excercises containg similar questions to the exam, with detailed and illustrated answers sent to you immediately to confirm your progress and fully prepare you for your final exams.

You can repeat entire lessons and excercises as often as you wish until you are confident that you fully understand each subject.

When you have completed the course you can request the final exam.

This is assessed by our RYA Instructors and detailed feedback is provided in any areas that may require further study within the course.

If you pass the final exam you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Certificate , which will be posted to you.

Ad ditional free resits, with suitable Instructor guidance, are available if required.

If you  are working towards your Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence, successful completion of this course exempts you from the written exam.

For most students exam invigilation is not required - see here for examples of when invigilation is required.

Call us for advice on 0238 218 2604

Course reviews.

Nigel Andrews

Helped me master it

This was my third attempt at an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean online course from different companies, and by far the best. For an admittedly difficult subject matter to get one’s head around, the instructor presents a very organized and understandable series of lessons that combine learning with wisdom and humour. Its still a tough subject, but this course helped me master it. Thanks!

Mathew Myatt

Ability to repeat when in doubt

Logical and clear. What was really good was the ability to go back and repeat or all or part of a lesson to ensure you truly understand a concept / principle, something which is more difficult to do when in a real classroom situation

David McIntyre

An excellent course

I found this course to be very comprehensive and informative. The format was very well presented and clear. The main advantage for me was the convenience of doing this in your own time. They are very generous with this. All my correspondence was very promptly replied. They are certainly very on the ball. The instructors gave clear and prompt feedback.

David Collins

Well worth the investment. Excellent!

A challenging course which stretches you but backed up with excellent coaching and instructor support. Worth the investment in time and money. Highly recommended.

Combined - RYA Day Skipper & Yachtmaster to fast track your theory learning

© david jerrard 2021

IRISH SAILING

(previously Irish Sailing Association)

YACHTMASTER EXAMS

Details subject to change - check with IS

IS YACHTMASTER COASTAL

Minimum seatime:

25 days at sea, 3 days as skipper, 800 nautical miles in tidal waters, 12 night hours.

If you hold an IS shorebased Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Coastal course completion certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 3 days as skipper, 600 nautical miles, 12 night hours.

Mileage on an IS  Coatal Skipper/Yachtmaster Coastal sea based course may be included as part of the mileage requirements.

Certification required

Restricted VHF or SRC or higher qualification.

Minimum exam duration

6-10 hours for 1 candidate, 4-8 hours per candidate

Minimum age 16 years

Exam contents

Assessment of skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRCPS and meteorology.

Note that a course completion certificate is not a pre-requisite but the candidate must expect to be asked questions and given tasks based on the shorebased and practical course syllabi up to IS Yachtmaster Coastal level .

Exam fee  contact Irish Sailing

IS YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE

Minimum Seatime

3,000 nautical miles in tidal waters in a cruising boat, 50 days at sea, 6 days as skipper, 30 night hours on watch

6 varied passages greater than 60 miles in length, 2 of which must have been outside of Irish waters (sic),

Mileage requirement is reduced to 2,500 for holders of an IS Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course completion certificate.

All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to exam.

Mileage completed during an IS certified sea based course may be included in the mileage requirements.

Restricted VHF, SRC or higher.

Approved Sea Survival course completion certificate

Approved current First Aid or Emergency Care course completion certificate

8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 5-9 hours per candidate.

more than 3 candidates in 24 hours

Minimum age 18 years

Assessment of  skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRCPS, meteorology and signals.

Exam fee   contact Irish Sailing

IS YACHTMASTER OCEAN

Minimum seatime

An Ocean passage as skipper or mate. The Candidate must have been fully involved in planning the passage, route, navigational plan, condition of yacht and equipment, storing spare gear, water and victuals, organisation of watch keeping routine.

Passage: minimum non-stop distance of 600 nautical miles by the most direct route, at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and have been more than 75 nautical miles offshore for a distance of at least 200 nautical miles.

Certification required:

Applicants must hold a valid IS Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Note that only an IS Ocean shorebased course completion certificate will be accepted.

Form of exam:

Candidate must submit:

1. The yacht's log or copy of the log for the passage

2. A track chart for the passage showing an observed position derived from:  

  a)  four simultaneous position lines obtained from sights

       of stars, planets or the moon, and

  b)  an observed position derived from a sun-run-meridian

       altitude.

3.  A compass check for deviation when out of sight of land.

4.  All workings associated with the planning, sight reduction and plotting of the above sights and compass error check.

5. A brief narrative account outlining the preparation of the yacht, passage planning, weather forecasting, provisioning and the actual passage. and execution of the qualifying passage.

6. IS Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased course completion certificate.

Where a candidate does not hold an IS Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased certificate they will be required to sit an invigilated shorebased Yachtmaster Ocean exam similar to the shorebased course exam.

The IS examiner may, at his discretion, require the candidate to be available for an oral test.

Exam fee €contact Irish Sailing

RYA YACHTMASTER COASTAL

Minimum seatime (on vessel less than 24m LOA)

At least 30 days at sea, 800 nautical miles.

(If you hold an RYA Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate this is reduced to 12 days and 400 nautical  miles).

12 night hours.

2 days as skipper .

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

Above requirements accumulated within the last 10 years.

Additional Certification required

Radio operator’s Short Range Certificate or higher.

Valid first aid certificate (RYA First Aid, or any certificate where the course was a minimum of 1 day and includes treatment of hypothermia, cold shock and drowning).

Under sail or power, as appropriate.

6-10 hours for 1 candidate, 8-14 hours for 2 candidates

Minimum age 17 years at the time of the exam

Note that a course completion certificate is not a pre-requisite but the candidate must expect to be asked questions and given tasks based on the shorebased and practical course syllabi up to RYA Coastal Skipper level.

Exam fee £ contact the RYA

RYA YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE

50 days at sea, 2,500 nautical miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles + acting as skipper for at least 2 of these passages and including 2 which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half the mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to exam. Seatime must have been been under sail or power  appropriate to the exam being taken.

8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-12 hours for 2 candidates. No more than 2 candidates in 24 hours

Minimum age 18 years.

Boat must be between 7m and 18m LOA.

Full details from RYA

Exam fee £contact the RYA

RYA  YACHTMASTER OCEAN

Ocean passage as skipper or mate of watch. The candidate was fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, storing spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine; During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 nautical miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land while sailing a distance of at least 200 miles. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

Form of exam

Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea. If you hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased certificate you are exempt from the written assessment.

The candidate must provide the examiner with:

1. A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage

2. Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passages, out of sight of land showing that the candidate has navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids.

The submission must include as a minimum: details of a position derived from the planning, reduction and plotting of  sun-run-meridian altitude sights and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet when out of sight of land. The sights and compass check need not necessarily have been completed during the actual qualifying passage submitted.

During the oral test the candidate may be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, astro-navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.

The written exam will include questions on sun sights, sight reduction and plotting and worldwide meteorology. Candidates who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased certificate, Royal Navy Ocean Navigation Certificate or a DoT Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer will be exempt from the written examination.

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence is a pre-requisite for the MCA Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 unrestricted qualifications.

ROYAL YACHTING ASSOCIATION

Details subject to change - check with the RYA

TRAININING AND CHARTER  COURSES

Yachtmaster Ocean

Ocean Passages 

If you are wanting to experience ocean passages as crew, to build miles or to qualify for the rya ocean passage using the sextant (ideally you will have completed your rya ocean theory before hand and have your rya offshore yachmaster), these passages will be of at least 600 miles from gibraltar to the cannaries or sardegna., depending on the weather these ocean passages can take up to 3 weeks., the cost will be 2600€ for individual bookings and from 6650€ for whole boat bookings., the price includes returning the boat to its home port of which you can participate if you wish., the boat will be fully equipped for ocean passages (e.p.i.r.b, sea anchor, drogues, storm sails, spray hood, bimini and autopilot etc..), yachtmaster ocean exam pre-requisites.

Minimum seatime. All candidates must have completed a qualifying passage within the past 10 years as skipper or mate in sole charge of a watch on a suitable vessel, which meets the following criteria:

The candidate was fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the vessel and her equipment, storing with spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine.

During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land or charted objects capable of being used for navigation/position fixing while sailing a distance of at least 200 miles.

To be eligible as an ocean qualifying passage the distance between departure and arrival points by the shortest navigable route must be more than 600 mile.

Form of exam Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea.

Certification required

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence, or

Officer of the Watch (Yachts 3000gt) issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Minimum exam duration

Approximately 1.5 hours

The exam consists of an oral and written test.

The written exam will include questions on sights and sight reduction and worldwide meteorology.

Candidates who hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased 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 - see 'Related articles'.

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.

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.