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A "Testing" Weeks Sailing...

Course Details

Duration: 5 days (Sunday to Friday), 4 day preparation and 1 day exam with a maximum of 2 exam candidates and 3 experience or 3 competent crew per yacht.

Previous experience required:

Yachtmaster Offshore - 50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged, 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper.
VHF Short Range Certificate and a valid First Aid Certificate.

Coastal Skipper - 30 days aboard, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles logged, 12 night hours, VHF Short Range Certificate and a valid First Aid Certificate. If a Coastal Skipper completion certificate is held only 400 miles are required.

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

To attain the RYA/DoT Yachtmaster Offshore or Coastal Skipper candidates must pass a practical examination of their skippering ability. Both certificates are granted by the Royal Yachting Association in conjunction with the Department of Transport and are amongst the world's most respected yachting qualifications.
Exam preparations are conducted by our most experienced skippers - all fully qualified Yachtmaster Offshore Instructors. During these 5 day courses your instructor will assess your ability and coach you in all the disciplines required to pass, from mooring under sail, to navigating in reduced visibility. Early in the week the instructor will give you an honest appraisal of your chances of success and will then address any weaknesses that may have been highlighted. During the course you will take command of the yacht on passages by day and night, and practice boat handling techniques under sail and power. Examiners expect a high standard of man overboard recovery so those drills are practiced intensively throughout the course. Other subjects covered include - passage planning, weather, tidal knowledge, preparation and safety at sea, maintenance, navigation, pilotage and knowledge of the International collision regulations. Before joining the course, students should have the prerequisite experience outlined above, navigation theory to coastal skipper Shorebased level and a thorough knowledge of the collision regulations particularly lights, shapes and sounds.

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 the arrival of the examiner on Thursday evening. Each student is examined as they skipper the yacht on short passages and complete various demonstrations of skippering techniques. All our instructors have been through these exams themselves and will therefore do their utmost to prepare you for your exam so that you are relaxed and confident on the day. Good luck!