Yachtmaster
We have been training crew from the Superyachts for their Yachtmaster qualification. The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore is an extremely useful and credible yachting qualification. It rigorously tests the skipper’s ability and can appear daunting to potential candidates. But well-prepared skippers with the right experience needn’t worry. With practice and preparation, you will sail through the exams!
Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachmaster Offshore –What’s the Difference?
The definition of a Yachtmaster: ‘A yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astronavigation’. (RYA Website). Yachtmasters Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night. A Yachtmaster Coastal has ‘the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises, but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages’. (RYA Website). In other words, the theory is the same for both, but less practical experience and skill is required for the Yachtmaster Coastal exam.
At Lagoon Watersports we offer a preparation week prior to an exam. You must meet all the prerequisites below for the exam and the preparation week, we will also run through all the syllabus and coach you when required. You can complete an exam in Tidal or Non Tidal waters with the latter requiring you to show your tidal knowledge and plan a passage in tidal waters. This is important as half your qualifying miles should be in tidal waters and the examiner will test your knowledge as your Yachmaster certificate does not distinguish between tidal and Non tidal.
Prerequisities – Yachtmaster Coastal
30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters.
Prerequisites – Yachtmaster offshore
50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying sea-time must be within 10 years prior to the exam
Prerequisites – Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore
Then for both you will need a GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate.
Commercial Endorsement
To commercially endorse your Yachtmaster ticket you will need to add the following:
– An ML5 or ENG1 medical fitness certificate
– The RYA basic sea survival or STCW 95.
With the recent addition of Barcelona as a venue for Lagoon Watersports we are now able to offer the exams in the Med from Barcelona and from the south coast in the UK in motor and sail. We have significantly increased the amount of exams we offer. It is advisable if you want these qualifications to have a chat with us to run through your experience as crew and skipper to ensure you are on the right course. For further information contact: seb@lagoonwatersports.co.uk