RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore
A Yachtmaster Preparation Programme that goes the extra (nautical) mile to support your success
At Seven Seas School of Yachting, we take the training of future yachting professionals seriously. For this reason, we offer an extended Yachtmaster Preparation Scheme for the Coastal and Offshore levels, designed to equip aspiring sailors with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to achieve the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster certification.
Our comprehensive preparation programme goes beyond the minimum RYA requirements, providing an intensive and immersive training experience that reflects the real demands of professional skippering. It is designed not only as a means to successfully pass the exam, but also as an important step in developing the judgement, seamanship, and professionalism expected of a Yachtmaster.
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore™ Certificates
A global hallmark of professional skippering
For professional skippers, the RYA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence—both Coastal and Offshore—represent a globally recognised standard of expertise. These qualifications demonstrate not only advanced sailing skills and navigational proficiency but also the practical experience required to operate yachts safely and confidently in demanding conditions.
Employers across the commercial yachting industry, including charter companies and superyacht operators, view the Yachtmaster certificate as a benchmark of professional competence, often making it a prerequisite for crew positions or skipper roles. Achieving this certification signals that a sailor has reached a level of excellence trusted worldwide in professional maritime operations.
The distinguishing factors of our Preparation Scheme are:
Prerequisites
The Yachtmaster exams are conducted by an independent RYA examiner. Interested candidates must fulfil the prerequisites to take the exam for each Yachtmaster level, as shown below:
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal
| Minimum age: | 17 (at the time of the exam) |
| Days at sea: | 30 |
| Days as skipper: | 2 |
| Nautical miles: | 800 |
| Night hours: | 12 |
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
| Minimum age: | 18 (at the time of the exam) |
| Days at sea: | 50 |
| Number of single-leg passages >60NM: | 5, out of which 2 as skipper and 2 overnight |
| Nautical miles: | 2500 |
Notes
- Half of the required sea time for any of the levels must be in tidal waters, not including the Mediterranean, Black, Red, or Baltic Seas.
- All sea time must be on vessels of the same discipline as the exam to be taken, i.e. sail or power.
- To take part in the exam, candidates must hold a GMDSS-compliant Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate and a valid RYA-approved First Aid Certificate. Both of these qualifications are included as part of our Yachtmaster Preparation Programme.
Programme Details
Practical Session #1 (“Mock Exam”)
Theoretical Preparation
Theory
- Position fixing
- Course shaping and plotting
- Tidal knowledge
- Use of almanacs and admiralty publications
- Electronic position finding equipment
- Taking and interpreting forecasts
- Plotting weather systems
- Weather predictions using a barometer
- Radar
- Anatomy of an Accident
- General ship knowledge and stability
- An online RYA GMDSS SRC course and an RYA GMDSS SRC exam for candidates who do not already hold a RYA GMDSS SRC certificate (or a GMDSS compliant Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate).
- A RYA approved First Aid/CPR/EAD certificate issued by the Hellenic Lifeguard Academy (ENAK)
Both the SRC certificate and the First Aid/CPR certificate are prerequisites to be eligible for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore Exam. After the theoretical courses, the Yachtmaster candidates are examined on the syllabus covered. Successful completion of the theory exam is required for the final Yachtmaster examination.
Succesful candidates are awarded an RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Theory Certificate.
Practical Session #2
The five-day practical sessions, which take place after the theoretical course, focus on familiarising Yachtmaster candidates with the boat used for the exam and mastering manoeuvres usually demanded by RYA examiners.
The syllabus includes:
- Commanding skills of the vessel
- Safe debrief techniques
- Close quarter manoeuvres (under sail and motor)
- Pilotage
- Passage planning
- Meteorology
- Usage of electronic devices (GPS and Radar)
- Crew management
- Victelling
- Overnight passages
- Safety
- Man Overboard
- Overall Exam Preparation
