RYA Yachtmaster Exam Preparation — Yachting Directions

The RYA Yachtmaster is not a course you pass by attending: it is a certificate of competence awarded after an independent practical exam. Yachting Directions runs Yachtmaster exam preparation on the water in Sydney, in collaboration with Atlas Sailing, with courses taught by RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Brien Daniel. As the school points out, there is no separate RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical course, only exam preparation.

What you'll learn

Exam preparation polishes skills you should already have and puts them under exam conditions. The RYA examiner expects you to skipper the boat throughout, so preparation covers:

• Passage planning and pilotage: producing plans quickly and executing them, including entering harbours and anchorages by night or with little notice.
• Boat handling: berthing, anchoring, picking up moorings and short-handed manoeuvres under power and sail, done calmly and with clear instructions.
• Man overboard recovery: under sail and power, often tested without warning.
• Navigation and seamanship: offshore navigation, watchkeeping, weather interpretation and safety decisions.
• Crew management: briefing, delegating and keeping the crew informed, the part of the exam many candidates underestimate.

A strong candidate stays ahead of the boat, communicates well and makes safe, well-reasoned decisions.

How Yachting Directions runs it

Exam preparation is delivered with Atlas Sailing on Sydney waters, from the school's base at Palm Beach on Pittwater, and taught by Brien Daniel. The school has not published the course length or the yacht used, so confirm these when booking. Yachting Directions recommends doing the Coastal Skipper practical course first, then Yachtmaster exam preparation.

The RYA sets minimum sea time before you can sit the exam, and many candidates need more miles. The school's Build Your Miles program offers passages with Brien, for example a two-leg voyage of more than 1,000 nautical miles from Airlie Beach to Pittwater via Mooloolaba aboard a cruising catamaran. It covers offshore navigation, watchkeeping, helming, sail trim, passage planning and crew management.

Who it suits

It suits experienced skippers ready to sit the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical exam, including those aiming to work on boats. The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore theory course is a prerequisite, and Yachting Directions teaches it in Sydney and Newcastle. Check the RYA's current sea-time and certificate requirements, such as first aid and radio, before booking an exam.

Where it leads

Passing the exam gives the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore certificate. For commercial use, the RYA requires additional steps such as Professional Practices and Responsibilities. Ocean passages lead on to Yachtmaster Ocean.

Full course guide

For the RYA exam format, sea-time requirements and commercial endorsement, read our RYA Yachtmaster Preparation and Exam guide. The recommended previous step is in the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical guide.