RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Examinations - Coastal, Offshore & Ocean

RYA Yachtmaster certificates of competence are often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. They are well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper at Coastal, Offshore and Ocean levels. Providing you have sufficient experience and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge.

These exams are carried by RYA/MCA examiners independently from a sailing school. Sailing Ventures do arrange these examiners on the school boats for those candidates who have proved they meet the minimum requirements.

For the current cost of the RYA exams please contact the Sailing Ventures who would be pleased to discuss your requirements.

RYA/MCA Examination - Yachtmaster Coastal

This examination is designed for those who have sufficient experience and wish this to be formally recognised. This can often follow the Coastal Skipper Practical Course (5 day).

The RYA/DoT examination will take about 6-10 hours for one candidate and 8-14 hours for two.

Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as a Coastal Skipper and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to Coastal Skipper.

You must hold a restricted VHF Radio Operator's Certificate and First Aid Certificate before the exam can be ratified.

RYA/MCA Examination - Yachtmaster Offshore

This examination is designed for those who have a lot of experience and wish this to be formally recognised. There is no formal RYA training (*) to complete in order to become a Yachtmaster. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge.

Optional preparatory courses are available at Sailing Ventures and assume an ability to RYA/DoT Coastal Skipper level and consist of honing the skills of crew management, boat handling, pilotage and offshore navigation.

The RYA/DoT examination will take about 8-12 hours for one candidate and 10-18 hours for two.

Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability as a skipper of an offshore cruising yacht and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all courses except Yachtmaster Ocean.

You must hold a valid VHF Radio Operator's Certificate and a First Aid Certificate before the examination can be ratified.

RYA/MCA Examination - Yachtmaster Ocean

This examination is designed for students who hold a RYA/DoT Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, have completed the Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased course and completed the qualifying passage. Those who do not hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased certificate may take the examination but a written examination will also be included in this case.

The RYA examiner will inspect the log extracts from the qualifying passage and records of planning, reduction and plotting of a sun run meridian altitude sight and 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, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management and yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs.

You must hold a valid First Aid qualification before the examination can be ratified.