capnsensible
Well-known member
1938 saw the introduction of the exam. RYA appointed to oversee it in the early 70's and the first candidates examined in 1973.
How to pass the RYA Yachtmaster practical exam
- Thread starter Halcyon Yachts
- Start date
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I guess he can speak with some authority on the nature and aims of the scheme
Major_Clanger
Well-known member
What an illuminating thread..... OP posts a really helpful blog and seeks suggestions to improve it..... And it descends to playground squabbling.
As a delivery skipper I sail with different crew very frequently (one of whom is often the owner) and can reinforce the advice about communication. Without it you'll never get the best out of the crew, the boat, or yourself.
As a delivery skipper I sail with different crew very frequently (one of whom is often the owner) and can reinforce the advice about communication. Without it you'll never get the best out of the crew, the boat, or yourself.
dgadee
Well-known member
Well at least we know that some of us won't be going in for yachtmaster qualifications. Surely that's a positive? I hadn't realised just how much focus was on the crew management issue and this 'squabbling' (as you put it) has clarified that and also that examiners who have made comments think that's appropriate.
awol
Well-known member
The YM Practical is simply a demonstration of competence - after all, success awards a Certificate of Competence which is recognised by many relevant bodies. The skills and knowledge required can be gained through any way the candidate chooses, the mileage a reasonable indicator of time spent. There is absolutely no requirement to take any course prior to being examined and I feel the non-RYA approved refresher week is almost a form of cheating - if the candidate was incompetent before the refresher week I have difficulty in accepting a week with a mentor is going to produce a permanent change. If the week is simply to familiarise with a strange boat, it seems a bit long.
As for the "knowledge" - the expected abilities are clearly set out and I cannot think of any part which is redundant or excessive. Perhaps adding a basic practical ability to unblock heads, fix wiring faults, bleed diesel engines, replace rigging underway, refloat after grounding - I'm sure there are more - would improve the standard of the successful candidates. Being able to do those extras by only instructing the crew in what to do could merit an extra star!
As for the "knowledge" - the expected abilities are clearly set out and I cannot think of any part which is redundant or excessive. Perhaps adding a basic practical ability to unblock heads, fix wiring faults, bleed diesel engines, replace rigging underway, refloat after grounding - I'm sure there are more - would improve the standard of the successful candidates. Being able to do those extras by only instructing the crew in what to do could merit an extra star!
Major_Clanger
Well-known member
A positive? No, of course it's not. The qualification is only necessary if one sails professionally, otherwise (in my view anyway) it's taken as a great way of proving something to oneself. I'm sure there are plenty of skippers out there who are 'better' than me and who possess no qualifications at all.
Crew management IS important though. There are parallels with normal everyday life; effective communicators tend to go further in many situations.
benjenbav
Well-known member
I must confess that I read the OP’s article with a jaundiced eye. I thought the title was clickbait as I’ve always believed that education should be about real learning and not shortcuts to help cram for an examination.
However, the article itself is helpful, well written and constructive and, if I was in the position of taking the YM exam again, I would have been pleased to have found it. In short, I would like to commend the OP - even if I would still prefer the title of the piece to be changed.
As to the subsequent debate on the merits of the YM itself, I can only speak from my own experience of finding it useful and positive.
40 years of messing about in boats of all sorts, mostly on my own, had taught me how to handle the boats that I used. After all I had rarely - if ever - driven them onto any rocks.
I arranged for a friendly examiner to spend some time assessing my strengths and weaknesses as a generic yachtsman and then worked with him over a few months on the weaknesses. These were crew management and night passages, both of which I’d tended to avoid as a singlehanded, primarily day sailor.
Even as a 50y/o who’d grown used to doing things my own way I found the new learning was fun and instructive. I even went so far as to use the commercial endorsement that I had on my YM, although so sparingly that I’ve now let that lapse.
So, from me, it’s three rousing cheers for the YM exam and all who sail in her.
However, the article itself is helpful, well written and constructive and, if I was in the position of taking the YM exam again, I would have been pleased to have found it. In short, I would like to commend the OP - even if I would still prefer the title of the piece to be changed.
As to the subsequent debate on the merits of the YM itself, I can only speak from my own experience of finding it useful and positive.
40 years of messing about in boats of all sorts, mostly on my own, had taught me how to handle the boats that I used. After all I had rarely - if ever - driven them onto any rocks.
I arranged for a friendly examiner to spend some time assessing my strengths and weaknesses as a generic yachtsman and then worked with him over a few months on the weaknesses. These were crew management and night passages, both of which I’d tended to avoid as a singlehanded, primarily day sailor.
Even as a 50y/o who’d grown used to doing things my own way I found the new learning was fun and instructive. I even went so far as to use the commercial endorsement that I had on my YM, although so sparingly that I’ve now let that lapse.
So, from me, it’s three rousing cheers for the YM exam and all who sail in her.
lustyd
Well-known member
As I said above, proving competence to insurance companies to gain the best deal. Also as part of any investigation after an accident it's useful to show competence.
dgadee
Well-known member
Sorry. It's a positive in that I will save myself money by not taking the exam. Yes, leadership and communication is sought after in everyday work situations, but not everyone wants to be a leader. And I did have a leadership role in real life before retirement but don't want it on a boat.
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
I seem to recall that several of those extra skills are already included, though you might or might not be asked to demonstrate them. Refloating, for instance. As for unblocking the heads, that duty falls to the boat owner/skipper by default, I would expect, unless theres a keen volunteer. Swapping the log blank for the paddlewheel, theres another tricky one. I’ve been given that one within 30 seconds of getting on board a new boat, I didn’t enjoy it.
Major_Clanger
Well-known member
And that's absolutely fine. But this thread was to invite suggestions to help people gen-up on taking the exam, and crew management is rightly part of that. If you really want to take the YM as a single-hander then chat with an examiner, I'm sure it could be arranged in some form. The MOB might be a little more interesting though!
dgadee
Well-known member
MoB no problem. I have dropped things over the side on more than one occasion and gone to get them. Yesterday I had to let a dinghy go and then go and collect it. All solo.
Praxinoscope
Well-known member
Fortunately (Many would say unfortunately) there is no statutory requirement for anyone in the U.K. to undertake a syllabus/exam to get on the water, so if you don’t think the YM is for you, then just don’t bother with it, but for me it was a personal thing, a personal challenge which vastly improved my knowledge and competence in my chosen activity of sailing.
There possibly are areas where the YM syllabus could be improved or changed, and I would guess that RYA examiners and those involved in training, do meet regularly to look at what potential modifications or improvements could be made, but in general the YM does seem to work for those who wish to work towards it.
Certainly parts of the syllabus have changed considerably since I was awarded my YM in 1983 (when it was RYA/DoT approved) but the basics have remained the same so I would hope that if I were to take the exam today I would still be awarded a certificate of competence.
Even regular single handed sailors like myself, (I still often race single-hande) do at times skipper crewed boats and the YM syllabus adopting an assumption of a crewed vessel would seem sensible, as communication is important whether getting a crew member to do what is needed, to those times when as a single handed you need that person ashore to quickly wrap that rope you have just thrown them around a bollard.
There possibly are areas where the YM syllabus could be improved or changed, and I would guess that RYA examiners and those involved in training, do meet regularly to look at what potential modifications or improvements could be made, but in general the YM does seem to work for those who wish to work towards it.
Certainly parts of the syllabus have changed considerably since I was awarded my YM in 1983 (when it was RYA/DoT approved) but the basics have remained the same so I would hope that if I were to take the exam today I would still be awarded a certificate of competence.
Even regular single handed sailors like myself, (I still often race single-hande) do at times skipper crewed boats and the YM syllabus adopting an assumption of a crewed vessel would seem sensible, as communication is important whether getting a crew member to do what is needed, to those times when as a single handed you need that person ashore to quickly wrap that rope you have just thrown them around a bollard.
benjenbav
Well-known member
I see that going one of two ways:
#1 - Examiner shouts “MoB” Examinee smiles serenely and replies, “No. I’m the only one on this yacht and I’ve checked that I’m still onboard, so I’ll just sail on.” = PASS
#2 - Examinee flings self into the briny…
Stemar
Well-known member
That idiot probably has the bit of paper and claims it proves he's an expert, with X years experience. He's not an expert, he's a w*nker who hasn't learned anything in the X years since he got it.
No test in anything is going to make you a master of the subject, whatever it's called. It's a stepping stone that shows you've demonstrated the necessary skills not to be a complete danger to yourself and those around you. Now that's done, it's time to start learning to be a real master of the subject, whether it be sailing or tiddlywinks
Stemar
Well-known member
#3 Examinee flings examiner into the briny. Recovery = pass, Examiner drowns = failI see that going one of two ways:
#1 - Examiner shouts “MoB” Examinee smiles serenely and replies, “No. I’m the only one on this yacht and I’ve checked that I’m still onboard, so I’ll just sail on.” = PASS
#2 - Examinee flings self into the briny…
Major_Clanger
Well-known member
Interesting idea, what do you think @john_morris_uk , time to put your trunks on?!
lustyd
Well-known member
I'm not sure why it would be any different. The test is usually fender recovery, not MOB recovery, so the fender over board drills would be identical. Very few YMs ever recover a MOB or find out how difficult that actually is compared to a bit of old rope and a fender.I see that going one of two ways:
#1 - Examiner shouts “MoB” Examinee smiles serenely and replies, “No. I’m the only one on this yacht and I’ve checked that I’m still onboard, so I’ll just sail on.” = PASS
#2 - Examinee flings self into the briny…
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
I understand that recovery is now required to be demonstrated. For some time now coded vessels have to have a verifiable method of recovering a MOB, which surveyors check, usually by requesting a video. Certainly in the mid 80's when I was examined, I remember having to explain to the examiner how we would retrieve the MOB back on board. There was also a famous Clyde (iirc) based examiner who would jump over in a drysuit and expect to be recovered, or so it was claimed, back then, but I never knew anyone who had that done to them, so maybe bull.
Nice points on the Halcyon web site.
lustyd
Well-known member
Saying the word "Parbuckling" to an examiner, and winding a 19 stone man up with ropes or sails are quite different. I am curious if the YM exam actually entails demonstration of more than fender recovery though, I guess that's down to the examiner?