How to pass the RYA Yachtmaster practical exam

[Praxinoscope]

My YM practical involved approx 12 hours of pottering around the Solent, in and out of various places in daylight and in the dark; some passage planning; random help to a yacht in difficulty; conversation; mugs of tea and, as far as I recall, no actual rescuing of a fender. I assumed the idea was for the examiner to spend long enough to form a reasonable view of my capabilities in the context of his knowledge of what is required to skipper a yacht in most situations.

Sounds similar to mine, except did perform a MOB with a cushion, this was a few years ago though (1983) so things may have changed over the years.
I don’t remember the First Aid certificate being a requirement.

 

[awol]

A medical doctor acquaintance of mine took the huff when his registration with the GMC was deemed insufficient for YM.

 

[mm42]

A medical doctor acquaintance of mine took the huff when his registration with the GMC was deemed insufficient for YM.

? their list has some weird omissions.

 

[owen]

I remember doing coastal skipper exam in the solent. I would have done YM but did not have the logged mileage in the logbook. The actual exam was much the same for CS and YM and was really pretty easy. We had 2 doing YM and 2 doing CS. It was vaguely useful but the really useful thing is sailing yourself with you in charge and responsible for everyone else on board.

 

[ylop]

A medical doctor acquaintance of mine took the huff when his registration with the GMC was deemed insufficient for YM.

Not all doctors have any actual or recent first aid experience. When does an oncologist learn how to manage burns with the limited supplies on a boat? Or a cardiac surgeon learn how to tie a triangular bandage into a sling? Or a pathologist see a living patient? Etc. id guess if your doctor friend had specific qualifications in prehospital care etc he would have been exempt from the first aid course requirement.

 

[R.Ems]

I am pretty much hospitalised right now, and out of two of my regular consultants, one (the oncoologist...)) cheerfully admits he would be hopeless in an RTA type sceenario, but is redder than red hot on the operating table.
tthe other, , a much younger man, has done lots of MCA-- type courses, like many here I would surmise, and I would delightedly watch hhim saw the remainns of a llimb off if was stuck under a bburning trruck....
If you are confiident with ttaaking charge and gettting to buusiness, 1st aid is demmanding and satisffying

 

[dgadee]

Not all doctors have any actual or recent first aid experience. When does an oncologist learn how to manage burns with the limited supplies on a boat? Or a cardiac surgeon learn how to tie a triangular bandage into a sling? Or a pathologist see a living patient? Etc. id guess if your doctor friend had specific qualifications in prehospital care etc he would have been exempt from the first aid course requirement.

Maybe. But would they be able to get info on what to do and use? Captain's medical textbook? Phone? VHF? Short wave?

I have no idea.

I used to kayak with someone who had not been able to get into medical school. He travelled with a kit which would have allowed him to do many medical procedures. Unfortunately for him his skills and kit were never needed.

 

[Stemar]

Not all doctors have any actual or recent first aid experience. When does an oncologist learn how to manage burns with the limited supplies on a boat? Or a cardiac surgeon learn how to tie a triangular bandage into a sling? Or a pathologist see a living patient? Etc. id guess if your doctor friend had specific qualifications in prehospital care etc he would have been exempt from the first aid course requirement.

The paramedics I worked with regarded a doctor who turned up at an incident as little more than a mobile drip stand for this reason.

 

[dgadee]

The paramedics I worked with regarded a doctor who turned up at an incident as little more than a mobile drip stand for this reason.

No doubt there is a functional hierarchy. I would be at the very bottom.

 

[benjenbav]

I spent nigh on 40 years as a practising lawyer. 100% corporate. Any knowledge of family or criminal, (inc motoring) law that I ever had was only to pass exams in the mid 80s and was quickly outdated or forgotten.
Imagine similar happens with doctors.

 

[dgadee]

I spent nigh on 40 years as a practising lawyer. 100% corporate. Any knowledge of family or criminal, (inc motoring) law that I ever had was only to pass exams in the mid 80s and was quickly outdated or forgotten.
Imagine similar happens with doctors.

But you would know how the system works. You would go and get a book written on the subject and look up Bailii for current case law.

Edit: I remember talking to a young Belgian judge. She told me that she was going off to read up IP law because she had a very high value case coming up. When you have the basic knowledge and skill I am pretty sure you can get yourself up to date reasonably well. Whether that is when someone's leg is hanging off is another thing, of course.