Yachtmaster Offshore Preparation & Exam

7 days (Sunday to Sunday), 5 day preparation and 2 day exam weekend  with a maximum of 5 students per yacht.

50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged, 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. VHF radio operators certificate and a valid First Aid certificate.

Boat handling, navigation, pilotage, man overboard recovery and overall yacht management skills. Advanced skippering techniques in preparation for RYA/MCA exams.

To obtain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, candidates must pass a practical examination of their skippering ability. The certificate is granted by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) in conjunction with the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and is among the worlds most respected yachting qualifications.

Exam preparations are conducted by our most experienced skippers who are all fully qualified Yachtmaster Offshore Instructors. During this 5 day course your instructor will assess your ability and coach you in all the disciplines required to pass. You will take command of the yacht on passages by day and night and practice boat handling techniques under power and sail. RYA Examiners expect a high standard of Man Overboard Recovery so those drills are practiced intensively throughout the course. Other subject covered include passage planning and weather, preparation and safety at sea, maintenance, navigation, pilotage, knowledge of the International Collision Regulations and "blind" navigation.

At the end of the week your instructor will give you a debrief and leave you feeling confident in your ability. Normally you will have been sailing with fellow candidates for 5 days and you will have a solid understanding of your yacht and crew before arrival of the RYA examiner on Friday night. Each student is examined as they skipper the yacht on short passages and complete various demonstrations of skippering techniques. All our instructors have been trough these exams themselves and will therefore do whatever they can to prepare you for your exams so that you are relaxed and confident on the day.