Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster?

[Vid]

I'm thinking about getting the more advanced sailing qualifications this summer (I have dayskipper theory and practical at the moment). I have enough experience to be eligible to go for the YM, so should I bother with Coastal Skipper practical? From what I understand the exercises are comparable but to a higher standard at YM.

Also, which sailing school is the best one to use? I've heard good things about Southern Sailing and BOSS - is this true and should I think of anyone else.

(I did my DS theory by correspondence but want a taught course this time. My DS practical was with a school I'd rather not use again...)

Thanks as always

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[bedouin]

If I read your eMail correctly then you don't yet have the YM shorebased certificate. That is a necessary pre-requisite for the practical exam.

Most people seem to do the theory part as evening classes - although I think most of the sea-schools do a full-week course

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[tcm]

As far as i know you are YM or ....summink else. Not a fat lot of point doing the lower one if you plan to do YM later, is there?

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[Tiger Rag]

I could be wrong, but was under the impression that if you take the YM theory then go for the YM practical but on the day the instructor feels you were not quite up to the task you will in all likelihood be awarded the Coastal ticket antway.

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[Laurin]

Definitely YM, no point paying an exam fee twice. Make sure you know the theory backwards though!

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[Vid]

My fault for not clarifying - I'm thinking of doing both the theory and practical this summer, along with the VHF and First Aid courses required for the YM ticket.

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[bedouin]

The theory part is the same for both courses - so there is no question there. Personally I wouldn't recommend a week-long course because it gives limited time for you to work on your own - and the work you do outside the class is probably at least as valuable as the work you do inside.

As far as the practical is concerned - there is no formal course for the YM, but most people do a prep course with one of the sea schools. If you take that approach then the instructor should be able to advise you whether you are likely to pass the exam.

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[jimi]

Shorebased certificate not necessary but you will be expected to have the requisite knowledge, if you've got the shorebased certificate it saves the YM examiner a wee bit of time.

I'd do Coastal now and YM later .. that way you get a weeks sailing this year and a weeks sailing in the future as well. I did YM with Southern and Coastal Skipper with Sunsail. I found Sunsail Ok, Southern boats were shite. Check before you book as to the experience of your fellow trainees! Much better if its guy's or gals with much the same experience as yourself

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[Guest]

I think you will find you will need the shorebased certificate before the practical. This is because the practical course will take up a lot of time sailing up to a mooring/anchorage, pilotage and navigating (rember secondary ports!). You will be expected to have this knowledge before enrolling on the practical course.

Also, my understanding is that the difference between YM and coastal skipper is only the number sea miles and night hours completed. You can, I understand ( if money is no object) do qualifying passages with sea schools. Best bet is take a look at the RYA web site www.rya.org.uk (I think)

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[Peppermint]

Re: Are you a Yachtmaster

You know what sort of sailing you do and how comfortable you feel commanding a yacht. When I did mine, with Southern Sailing who I rate very highly, we had one Coastal Skipper and three YM candidates. We all did the same stuff and the CS was well up to it but he did know his experience limitations and was well pleased to pass CS.

Who you get on your course is a lottery, I'm assuming you'd do a course, but if your an experienced skipper few things will surprise you and you'll cope with whatever.

The exam is quite interesting. I got the feeling prior to doing it that great things were expected of you but as it turned out the examiners looking for a good day out without fuss or hazard. You will need to be 100% up on ColRegs lights and shapes. Pretty hot on met and confident in the way you handle both boat and crew. Small mistakes will be tolerated and even groundings are OK provided you get the thing off and carry on. If thats what your looking for do YM.

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[GeorgeP]

If you do a pre-exam course with a yachtmaster instructor, you may be able to arrange a CS from that. Then decide with your instructor whether to go for YM afterwards.

A good excuse for doing a week's sailing this year and another next is worth a lot though...

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[derekgillard]

I am in a similar situation.

I have full Day Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased. But I lack some of the practial skills needed for full Yachtmaster.

My plan is to do Coastal skipper this year and take the Yachtmaster exam next year, before the yachtmaster exam I will do a pre exam brush up.

The Yachtmaster Shorebased course was fun in the winter and very detailed I would be suprised if this could all be done on a week course.

Del Buoy

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[Chris_Stannard]

Go for the YM. Suggest Hamble School of Yachting may also be woorth considering

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[alant]

Apparently, RYA are changing the 'Shorebased' to Coastal Skipper. Best to do the theory first, but don't think its mandatory for a practical.

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[iangrant]

I talked to the top girl at the RYA - theory NOT required but advised. VHK and First aid IS required..

(I did the theory anyway and I'm glad I that I did)

Collision regulations the most important bit you will need them for sure on the practical.. err what is the sound signal for the last vessel in a tow??

Ian

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[peterb]

Paaaaaaaaaap paap paap paap NM

P

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[Aeolus_IV]

Hmm ... sorry to drag this thread out of the past, but it's relavent.

My question on this subject is just how difficult is the Yachtmaster Exam these days? How do the panel of experts (all YM qualified, naturally) feel it compares with the exam ten or twenty years ago?

I ask because last week I went for a weeks "holiday" sailing around the solent doing the CS prep-week (my better half had suggested that I needed a week off, and thought that this would be perfect /forums/images/icons/smile.gif). At the end of it the instructor said I'd demonstarted my abilities to the same levels that the three YM prep people on board, and should do the YM exam instead. I discussed this with the YM examiner when he arrived on board, who was happy to examine me for YM - which I have passed (though one of the YM candidate didn't).

Now I'm not sure where I stand - and have two questions:

Am I now a YM? I note from Bedouin's post that I should have done the YM theory course - but haven't. It wasn't a pre-req for CS, and nobody said it was a pre-req for the YM (School, Instructor or Examiner), but I can understand why it would be.

What do I say to the "wag" back at the yacht club who behind my back said "well, they are not as difficult as they used to be."?

I may not have the Ocean crossing miles behind me - so in some respects I'm a little like the PST "Zero to Hero" people. But rather than sailing for 3 or 4 months - I have been doing this for over 25 years now - though mostly in rather smaller boats that our current one.

Thanks, Jeff.

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[Jeremy_W]

I don't think the YM Theory is necessary so long as you demonstrated YM-standard navigation, meteorology and understanding of the IRCPS during the exam. But you do need a DSC Licence, First Aid shorebased and for your 2,500 miles to be within the last decade. That at least is my understanding of the regulations.

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[alant]

"Am I now a YM? I note from Bedouin's post that I should have done the YM theory course - but haven't. It wasn't a pre-req for CS, and nobody said it was a pre-req for the YM (School, Instructor or Examiner), but I can understand why it would be."
As previously stated, you do not need a YM/CS Shorebased Certificate to take a YM/CS Practical assessment. But it is recommended & can save a lot of time on your preps. Your examiner should have told you that he was passing on his recommendation, to the RYA, that in his oppinion you were YM standard. Check with them, with date of exam & name of examiner.

"I may not have the Ocean crossing miles behind me - so in some respects I'm a little like the PST "Zero to Hero" people. But rather than sailing for 3 or 4 months - I have been doing this for over 25 years now - though mostly in rather smaller boats that our current one." - Ocean passages, whilst an experience, still do not guarantee you are a capable sailor or Yachtmaster. A YM must be capable of 'managing' his boat/crew/sailing/navigation/etc & bringing them all back to Port safely - how much experience & miles this takes must be an individual thing - the RYA suggest 2500 Nm & as mentioned in posts on numerous occasions, if this is 2500 Solent Nm or 2500 Biscay/Ocean Nm & who decides which one is best for gaining YM experience? How confident are you about your 'experience' surely is the essence of this.

Also, can I suggest we bin this word 'hero' in this context, cos it certainly frightens me that anyone out there is determined to classify themselves as such. We should all remember that the Sea doesn't get impressed.




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[bedouin]

Congratulations!

Since making that post I have been reliably informed that the YM shorebased is not a necessary pre-requisite for the practical exam. As others have said you need to demonstrate a level of theoretical knowledge equivalent to that required to pass the shorebased exam, except of course you cannot be examined in as much depth.

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