Fast-track Yachtmaster

pugwash

pugwash

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I have two friends who featured in a YM or YW story a few months ago. The 46-ft yacht they were sailing in the Indian Ocean lost its keel and capsized in a couple of seconds. They spent nine days drifting in a liferaft and went through many discomforts before they were picked up. Each had skippered a yacht in the ARC and went on to the Pacific then Australia in the Maldives in the same boat.
They have their own Israeli and Italian national qualifications but they want to do the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster. Because of their experience they don't want to start at the bottom but being mainly Med sailors neither has done much tide work. So they need a course specifically tailored for their needs.
Of course there are many sailing schools listed in the back of YM but I'd like to forward advice to them on any that might suit their special circumstances. Of course they also want to save money. If possible they'd like a quick live-aboard course followed by the exam for just the two of them. Who might offer something like that?
Any thoughts most welcome. Thanks.
 
Almost any sailing school will do a Yachtmaster preparation course for experienced sailors. They will need to produce a log of their sailing experience but most of it can be self-certified. Anyone who has done trans-ocean sailing will have no trouble with things like 5 60-mile passages and a few night hours.

To get the YM Ocean ticket requires one ocean passage to be logged, a day's work submitted (sun-run-sun plus compass deviation check by sun amplitude), and a knowledge of world weather & currents including TRSs. The exam is in the form of an interview.

They may be interested in a self-study course to bring them up to speed on things like tides. If so, drop me a PM.
 
I think there's rather more to it.

Have a look here

My recollection is that the 'interview' is a 'viva examination', in which the Ocean Examiner may ask questions and require answers and explanations - to satisfy himself on the depth and breadth of know-how - on ANY part of the syllabus, from Competent Crew onwards. Which is as it should be......

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Absolutely.

'Fast Track Yachtmaster' What an oxymoron.

God forbid we become the Qualification of Convenience country.

Perhaps we already have judging by the original question.
 
Come off it!

The original question made it clear that these two already have their national qualifications, have already (each of them) skippered yachts in the Arc, have already sailed three-quarters of the way around the world. That's probably better basic qualification than 99 percent of yachtmaster candidates in UK. The problem of getting a ticket without sea-time is well known and I agree with your sentiments, but not in this case.
 
Re: Come off it!

Fine, sounds like I have about as many sea miles as they do although most of mine tidal and singlehanded.

When you identify an establishment, let me know. I fancy a cheap Yachtmaster Ocean Qualification as well. Could you try to find a nice, gentle female examiner? I would prefer to book into a B&B and would prefer somewhere like Rutland Water if possible.

Meanwhile, I'm off to Google 'Dodgy YM Certificates'.
 
No. The interview is based on all aspects of the Ocean course and has nothing at all to do with competent crew.

Done it , got the T shirt and now teach it! Leaving Lanzarote next friday for Gib with 2 candidates on board, so some places still do it correctly!
 
Have they taken and recorded a days sights during a suitable passage? If not then:

First step is the Ocean course. Then, despite their previous sea miles, they must do a qualifying passage, as mentioned, with sights actually taken. Then the interview.

There is no short cut.
 
Re: Come off it!

This, I am afraid, is complete twaddle.

A candidate will not pass a Yachtmaster (Offshore) exam without having the necessary qualifying passages and experience, plus the required first aid and VHF cerificates.

The vast majority of fast track students are bright enough and sufficiently motivated to suceed to after a very demanding and intense course. Try talking to a few.

The myth of 'buying' a certificate is akin to telling a freshly qualified Royal Marine that he is not actually a real soldier and equally as absurd.

The fast track system generally produces very good sailors who understand their limitations and are keen to progress without sneering at others.
 
[ QUOTE ]
they want to do the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster.

[/ QUOTE ]

Before anyone can be examined for a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate they must hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate and the Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate

See RYA publication G15 page 5 table headed Previous experience requirement

G15 will tell you all you need to know.
 
Re: Come off it!

[ QUOTE ]
"......The fast track system generally produces very good sailors who understand their limitations and are keen to progress without sneering at others....."

[/ QUOTE ]

'Zero to Hero', eh? That's fine, then.

I take it you, er, um, are one yourself? And you are defending your considerable investment....? That's OK by me. Just so as we all know.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
".....G15 will tell you all you need to know...."

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup. That says it all.... no, well, most of it. We're broadly agreed.

As per my earlier Have a look here, the RYA's site is the place to go for the 'definitive'.

Arguments here about what is and isn't, should and shouldn't, are just a waste of breath - but when did that stop the opinionated...? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Come off it!

Taken wrongly, I am afraid. Have taught many over the last 10 years and therefore base my comments on observation rather than speculation.

Its tough work but someone has to do it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Before anyone can be examined for a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate they must hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate and the Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate

See RYA publication G15 page 5 table headed Previous experience requirement

G15 will tell you all you need to know.

[/ QUOTE ]

True, it does. And one of the things it tells you is that you don't have to take the YMOcean course or hold the shorebased Course Completion Certificate.

The requirements are laid down on p51. They include:

Pre-exam: a YM Offshore Cert of Competence;
a valid First Aid qualification;
a qualifying passage;

An oral exam, covering the qualifying passage and all aspects of ocean passage making;

A written exam.

Notice, no mention of a shorebased course. But, if you hold the shorebased course completion certificate then you don't have to complete the written exam. And, of course, the written exam is effectively the final exam of the shorebased course. It's just like YM Offshore; you don't have to have taken any courses at all, you just have to show that you are up to the standard required for course completion.


an oral and a written test.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thank you, Sir. My 30 years as a Yachtmaster Examiner were not wasted, then.

[/ QUOTE ]

"Leesten veree carefullee, Cornishman. I vill say ziss onlee wunce."

On boaty handling, in polite company, and if tis thee an' mee, I will listen long and hard to your opinion before thinking about offering mine. But this is t'Forum, and you can take the cut 'n thrust, the 'froth and bubbles', like all the rest of us on here. No 'lets' for seniority!

And as for your '30 years, man and boy,' I could only stomach a handful of years of RYA Committees before I realised I was risking getting tainted, and indoctrinated - and went sailing instead. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
A couple of points here - the sights submitted for the Ocean exam don't have to be taken during the qualifying passage. Mine were done 20n years apart.
The Ocean qualification can't be taken without first having the Offshore certificates so there should be no need for the examiner to ask basic seamanship or navigation questions.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
they want to do the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster.

[/ QUOTE ]

Before anyone can be examined for a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate they must hold the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate and the Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate

See RYA publication G15 page 5 table headed Previous experience requirement

G15 will tell you all you need to know.

[/ QUOTE ]
Have been looking for where the Ocean Shorebased course is taught and using the RYA's own search facility I cannot find a single establishment in the UK that does it and no distance learning sources either!

How I wish I hadn't lost my RN Ocean Nav Cert I got back in 1985 then I wouldn't have to bother again!
 
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