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The Yachtmaster Offshore is competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour.
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the web shop (see right).
Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.
There is no formal training course leading up to the exam, but those who have not previously taken RYA courses often find it useful to book themselves in for some informal training at an RYA centre prior to their exam. This training can be tailor-made to your specific needs and helps to fill any gaps in your knowledge that may become apparent.
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Yachtmaster Offshore exam pre-requisites |
| Minimum sea time |
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. |
| Form of exam |
Practical |
| Certification required |
A restricted (VHF only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate (first aid qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services are acceptable). |
| Minimum exam duration |
8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-18 hours for 2 candidates. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours and no more than four candidates can be examined in one 2 day session. |
| Minimum age |
18 |
The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS, meteorology and signals.
Please click here to see the definition of passage .
The boat used must be between 7m (23ft) and 24m (78ft) and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA book Cruising Yacht Safety (code C8). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications and be efficiently crewed, as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
- can provide a boat
- have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
- hold a VHF Radio Operators License or Short Range Certificate
- hold a valid first aid certificate
- have read the syllabus in RYA publications; G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
- have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.
If you need a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed - see left. You can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven.
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence can used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.
What is a commercial endorsement?
Which certificates can be endorsed?
Which certificate do I need?
Applying for a commercial endorsement
Applying for a STCW endorsement
What is a commercial endorsement?
It is an endorsement is printed on your RYA certificate of competence to show that you have undergone additional training and a medical fitness test, enabling you to work on commercial vessels. There are two types of commercial endorsement:
The standard commercial endorsement allows you work on board British flagged vessels subject to the MCA's codes of practice for small commercial vessels. The following wording would appear on your certificate:
- For Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence: This certificate is valid for use as a Master of yachts of up to 200gt on commercially and privately registered yachts until (date of expiry).
- For Powerboat Level 2, Powerboat Advanced, Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper Certificates of Competence: Valid for vessels of up to 24 metres in length used for commercial purposes subject to the codes of practice issued by the MCA until (date of expiry).
The STCW endorsement is for holders of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean Certificates of Competence working under non-UK maritime authorities. It requires you to take 4 additional courses:
- Personal Survival techniques (RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW A-V1/1-1)
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW A-V1/1-4)
- Elementary first aid (STCW A-V1/1-3)
- Fire fighting and fire prevention (STCW A-V1/1-2)
The following wording would appear on your certificate:
The certificate holder complies with STCW 95 regulations V1/1 Sections V1/1-4. This certificate is valid for use as a Master of yachts of up to 200gt on commercially and privately registered yachts until (date of expiry).
Which certificates can be commercially endorsed?
The following certificates can receive the standard commercial endorsement:
- RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
- RYA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence
- RYA Day Skipper (tidal) practical course completion certificate
- RYA Day Skipper (non-tidal) practical course completion certificate, only if supported by a Day Skipper shore based course completion certificate
- RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence
- RYA Advanced Powerboat course completion certificate (only if issued before January 1, 2005)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2 course completion certificate
In addition, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence can receive the STCW endorsement.
Which certificate do I need?
The MCA's codes of practice categorise British flagged commercial yachts according to the type of yacht and the waters in which they operate. It is this categorisation that determines which of the above certificates you will need. See the MCA's table of manning requirements below.
The RYA is a certifying authority for the codes of practice and can give advice on the coding and categorisation of commercial yachts. See the requirements for commercial boats link below.
How do I apply for a standard commercial endorsement?
Send the following items to RYA Certification, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Hampshire SO31 4YA:
- Your original certificate - see list above
- A commercial endorsement application form - see link on the right
- An ML5 or ENG1 medical fitness certificate - download the MCA's ML5 form from the link below. Skippers working in category 1 or 0 waters will need the ENG1 medical. Contact the MCA for a list of approved doctors.
- A copy of your Personal Survival Techniques STCW95 or Basic Sea Survival Certificate
- A passport sized photo with your name on the back
- The fee
How do I apply for a STCW endorsement?
Send the following items to RYA Certification, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Hampshire SO31 4YA:
- Your original RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Ocean certificate of competence
- A commercial endorsement application form - see link below
- An ML5 or ENG1 medical fitness certificate - download the MCA's ML5 form from the link on the right. Skippers working in category 1 or 0 waters will need the ENG1 medical. Contact the MCA for a list of approved doctors.
- Evidence of completion of STCW courses - see list above
- A passport sized photo with your name on the back
- The fee
A person holding a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world.
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and the Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the RYA web shop (see right).
The Yachtmaster Ocean exam is an oral and written test of your knowledge of ocean passage making including planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management, yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs. You will also be questioned on your sights taken at sea during an ocean passage.
Click here to see the definition of a passage .
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Yachtmaster Ocean exam pre-requisites |
| Minimum sea time |
Ocean passage as skipper or mate of watch. The candidate was fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, storing spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine; During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land while sailing a distance of at least 200 miles. Please see the 'definition of passage'. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam. |
| Form of exam |
Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea. If you hold the Yachtmaster Ocean shore based certificate you are exempt from the written assessment. |
| Certification required |
Hold a DoT Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate issued prior to 1973 or an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. An RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate does not qualify.
A restricted (VHF only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate (first aid qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services are acceptable). |
| Minimum exam duration |
Approximately 1.5 hours |
Oral - The candidate must provide the examiner with:
- A narrative account of the planning and execution of the qualifying passage
- Navigational records, completed on board a yacht on passages, out of sight of land showing that the candidate has navigated the yacht without the use of electronic navigational aids.
The records must include as a minimum: planning, reduction and plotting of a sun run meridian altitude sight and a compass check carried out using the bearing of the sun, moon, a star or planet.
During the oral test the candidate may be required to answer questions on all aspects of ocean passage making in a yacht, including passage planning, astro navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.
Written - The written exam will include questions on star sight planning and reduction and worldwide meteorology. Candidates who hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shore based certificate, Royal Navy Ocean Navigation Certificate or a DoT Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer will be exempt from the written examination.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
- have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
- hold a VHF Radio Operators License or Short Range Certificate
- hold a valid first aid certificate
- have read the syllabus in RYA publications: G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
- have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.
If you need a Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed - see left. You can then work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.
The Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.
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