Standard course outline

RYA Yachtmaster — Preparation and Exam (Royal Yachting Association)

Official RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Yachtmaster certificates of competence are awarded following practical examinations (Coastal, Offshore, Ocean) that assess a candidate's ability to skippering and navigate a yacht to the standard set out in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158). There is no single mandatory RYA 'preparation course' — many RYA training centres offer voluntary preparation courses (typically short practical revision courses) followed by the formal RYA exam which is conducted to the published Yachtmaster exam syllabus and requirements.

About this course

The RYA Yachtmaster is a scheme of certificates of competence assessed by formal practical (and, for Yachtmaster Ocean, written/oral) examinations against the standards published by the Royal Yachting Association. The RYA does not prescribe a single, fixed 'preparation and exam' course: candidates may either present themselves directly for examination or undertake revision/preparation training at an RYA recognised training centre. The scope and assessment criteria for Yachtmaster Coastal, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean are defined in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158) and the relevant Yachtmaster exam information pages on the RYA website.

What you learn

  • Demonstrate practical skippering and seamanship skills to the level required for the relevant Yachtmaster examination (Coastal, Offshore or Ocean) as defined in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G158).
  • Demonstrate navigation, passage planning and watchkeeping knowledge appropriate to the selected Yachtmaster examination syllabus.
  • Demonstrate ability to command a yacht and manage crew under the conditions and tasks set out in the Yachtmaster exam syllabuses.

Before you start

  • Meet the sea time, qualifying passage and logged mileage prerequisites for the chosen Yachtmaster exam level as set out in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and the Yachtmaster exam information pages (e.g. specified days at sea and qualifying passages for Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore).
  • For Yachtmaster Ocean, specific shorebased/written examination requirements apply as set out in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus and the Yachtmaster Ocean exam page.