Achieve RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Qualification on a Traditional Vessel

PLEASE NOTE: Course cost does not include the exam fee, which is paid direct to the RYA. There is no need to pay the exam fee until the end of the preparation course, and only if you feel that you are ready to be examined by an external examiner. Exam fees are payable to the RYA directly (currently £208 for Yachtmaster Coastal and £241 for Yachtmaster Offshore).

This is a brilliant opportunity to get your RYA Coastal or Offshore Yachtmaster qualification. An RYA 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, whether you want it for leisure or for a sailing career. If you are not quite ready for a Yachtmaster Offshore exam you can use this same preparation course before being examined for Yachtmaster Coastal.  The pre-requisites and breadth of experience for this course are less.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competency – Preparation Course (exam optional)

Why do a Yachtmaster Preparation Course ?

Unlike other courses in the cruising programme, there is no formal training to complete in order to become  a Yachtmaster Offshore. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime (see pre-requisites), you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. This exam takes place on an approved yacht with an external RYA examiner testing both your practical skills and your theoretical knowledge over 5-9 hours per candidate, or slightly longer if you are the only candidate being examined.

Our Yachtmaster Prep course has a generous 5 days (more than most schools) and 2 days set aside after the course for those that feel ready to take the exam. Minimum age for our RYA Yachtmaster courses is 18 years. 

Benchmark for a Successful Exam Pass

If you have not completed a shore-based Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster theory course then please check the syllabus to make sure you are confident with your theoretical knowledge (especially Rules of the Road IRPCS)  and the practical application of navigational skills.

A RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (formerly Coastal Skipper) should have the knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

A RYA Yachtmaster Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night. The only way to gain confidence is by practice, particularly at night when skill is required in picking out navigation lights and buoys against a background of shore lights. (If you have colour blindness please talk to us before booking)

Your fully qualified instructor will be able to devote plenty of time to your individual needs with regular debriefings and coaching aimed at helping you to raise your standards.

Yachtmaster Coastal Pre-Exam Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age & qualifying experience gained over the age of 15.
• Radio Operators Certificate – for example (restricted) VHF Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certification or higher grade marine radio qualification.
• Valid First Aid Certificate – First Aid certificates held by police / fire or armed services are also acceptable.
• Seatime – 800 miles logged within 10 years of the examination. 30 days on board. 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours. (half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)

Yachtmaster Offshore Pre-Exam Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age & qualifying experience gained over the age of 15.
• Radio Operators Certificate – for example (restricted) VHF Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certification or higher grade marine radio qualification.
• Valid First Aid Certificate – First Aid certificates held by police / fire or armed servicesare also acceptable.
• Seatime – 2500 miles. 50 days on board. At least 5 passages over 60 miles and acting as skipper for at least 2 of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages.
• Skipper experience – at least 5 days as skipper. (Half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)
• 50 Days seatime & 5 days as skipper – 2500 miles logged – 5 passages over 60 miles -including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper.  Qualifying passages must be over 60 miles non stop by the most direct route and involve no change of skipper during the passage.

Bring with you to the exam

• RYA logbook or evidence of your sailing experience and qualifying passages
• Passport photo
• Cheque or credit card details for Exam fee payable to the RYA
• First Aid Certificate
• VHF Radio Operators Certificate

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

You can do a RYA Course in the UK or abroad, but the Devon and Cornwall coast takes some beating for variety, scenery and challenge. Off the coast of South Devon and Cornwall, the water is deep with a few rocky hazards, but none of the complexity of the Solent sand bars and busy shipping.  As skipper or navigator, this coastline will give you a broad education. The courses are about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing. 

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Moosk

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life Jackets and harnesses)
• Waterproof jacket and trousers if required.
• Pillows
• All Meals, Cooked Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments throughout the day.

What's Not Included

• Travel to and from the start and end port.
• You need to bring a sleeping bag
• Optional trips or tours taken ashore
• Meals ashore
• Alcoholic Beverages
• For RYA Day Skipper you will need to bring a passport sized ID photo in preparation for your RYA Certificate.

What to bring

• A sleeping bag.
• A big soft bag, no suitcases please!
• Pyjamas
• 2 pairs of warm trousers
• 2 long sleeve t-shirts
• 2 light sweatshirts or similar
• A fleece jacket
• Plenty of underwear and socks
• Warm hat and ordinary gloves
• Wellies or waterproof boots
• A pair of trainers
• Swimming kit (if appropriate)
• Glasses or contact lenses
• Anti seasickness tablets
• Wash kit and towel
• RYA logbook if you have one
• Sun cream and Sunglasses

Day Skipper Course Review

Very knowledgeable skipper who took the time (with enthusiasm) to impart his knowledge of passage making, pilotage, weather etc.

Anonymous happy customer- July 2023

RYA Courses

What was the best bit?

Everyday there was something to learn and practice

What was the worst bit?

Going home

Why do you sail?

I love the feeling of the wind pushing the sails and being surrounded by traditional design. Learning the ropes and exploring the outdoors is my passion and if there’s wildlife involved I’m in heaven!!

Any other comments

Ollie is an extremely talented instructor. His temperament, knowledge and sense of fun, adventure and humour kept us all motivated. He never made me feel silly for getting things wrong or asking too many questions and I felt very safe at all times. - Jennifer F. RYA course in April. 

Yachtmaster Course Review

The instructor Dom was fantastic he had so much energy, we were usually going from 8 am to 10pm as the syllabus is so big and he was always enthusiastic and feeding us bits of info at any opportunity. He had a good method of demonstrating first and then explaining and he was very good at giving useful feedback. 
Moosk is a good boat for this course as she’s small and manageable (at least compared to what Kathryn and I are more used to). The food was plentiful and Ollie the skipper was incredibly knowledgeable. 
I’d recommend this prep week to anyone interested in doing the YM especially if they are more familiar with traditional boats or a gaff rig rather than plastic boats.

- Isabelle Howells - Moosk October 2018 - RYA Yachtmaster Student

Edwardian yawl Moosk in action and images. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.