This is an intensive, advanced level course for experienced sailors wishing to fine tune their skills in preparation for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore examination.
During the course your instructor will assess your ability and coach you in all the disciplines required to pass, from mooring under sail, to "blind" navigation exercises. 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 below, navigation theory to coastal skipper shore based 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 at the weekend. Each student is examined as they skipper the yacht on short passages and complete various demonstrations of skippering techniques.
Yachtmaster Coastal (minimum sea time)
30 days sea time, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, and 12 night hours (If you hold the Coastal Skipper
course certificate, this requirement is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, and 12 night hours). At least 50% of the minimum sea time required must have been obtained within tidal waters.
A sound knowledge
of all aspects of the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore/Shorebased syllabus
is
also expected.
Yachtmaster Offshore (minimum sea time)
50 days, 5 as skipper, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles acting as skipper for at
least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. At least 50%
of the minimum sea time required must have been obtained within tidal waters. A sound knowledge of all aspects of the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore/Shorebased syllabus is also expected.
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