RYA qualifications confusion

cliveshelton

cliveshelton

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 Dec 2010
Messages
258
Location
Beckenham / Chatham
Visit site
I know this is often discussed here but can someone point me to a simple explanation.

Since about 2007 I have done;

Day Skipper practical (I didn’t do theory first but that was not an issue)
YM theory (no Astro or grand circle route planning)
YM coastal practical

+vhf, safety (needs updating), radar

I have small “certificates” pasted into my RYA booklet. They don’t have photo ID. The YM practical one seems to indicate that it’s a course completion thing rather than an examination pass. Is there an exam for YM coastal?

I want to do more but am confused about what’s next. Astro? More YM theory? Which practical? WhIch exam?

Thanks.
 
I think YM Offshore practical is the next step assuming that you can evidence the hours/experience requirements. The theory is the same for both YM coastal and offshore.
 
Last edited:
The course completion certificates with photos have been around for about four years so not everyone has them. Doesn't matter though.

You have the choice of two practical exams to go for. Both will require an entry level of sailing experience plus the VHF operators certificate that you have and an in date first aid course certificate.

As you have completed Coastal Practical then you could take the YM Coastal exam with 400 miles. A prep course is always useful before the exam.

If you have a lot of sailing experience you could go straight to YM Offshore with 2500 miles and 5 passages over 60 miles.
The exam is far from easy and is quite a test. From what I've seen, unless you own your own boat and skipper it a lot, most people benefit for being tested at Coastal level first.

Good luck with whichever you choose!
 
There is no Yachtmaster course as such but a practical exam of at least 12 hours. You can do this in your own, qualifying, boat if you wish though many schools offer 5 days YM preparation followed by the exam. If you have the hours / miles then go for the YM Offshore and if you fall short you may get a YM Coastal certificate. Astro is only in YM Ocean and is an oral and written test- there is no practical course but you need a qualifying ocean passage.
Not sure how you have done a YM Coastal practical - there is no such course. If you pass the YM Coastal exam you get one of these:

yachtmaster_coastal.jpg
 
Babylon said:
What's your actual sailing experience, total mileage, etc?

Mostly coastal but have skippered my own boat from the east coast to Amsterdam, West Country, Solent, France and Channel Islands over the last 10 years or so.

What's your longer-term sailing ambition?
Click to expand...

Nothing commercial but it would be nice to get further simply for the “retirement challenge”
 
Quiddle said:
There is no Yachtmaster course as such but a practical exam of at least 12 hours. You can do this in your own, qualifying, boat if you wish though many schools offer 5 days YM preparation followed by the exam. If you have the hours / miles then go for the YM Offshore and if you fall short you may get a YM Coastal certificate. Astro is only in YM Ocean and is an oral and written test- there is no practical course but you need a qualifying ocean passage.
Not sure how you have done a YM Coastal practical - there is no such course. If you pass the YM Coastal exam you get one of these:

View attachment 68505
Click to expand...

That’s useful. I thought I should have one of those. It was quite a while ago. Perhaps they changed the format.
 
You do not get a YM Coastal pass as a consolation prize if you fail the Offshore exam. You must specify which exam you wish to be tested at. A school will be able to advise. Try ringing somewhere local or pay them a visit.
 
cliveshelton said:
What's your actual sailing experience, total mileage, etc?

- Mostly coastal but have skippered my own boat from the east coast to Amsterdam, West Country, Solent, France and Channel Islands over the last 10 years or so.

What's your longer-term sailing ambition?

- Nothing commercial but it would be nice to get further simply for the “retirement challenge”
Click to expand...

So you've probably got more than enough real experience - as well as the miles - to simply go for the YM Offshore.

Bone up on your YM Theory and re-acquaint yourself with the usual trad nav tasks on the water early this season (especially if you've been solely reliant on electronics for the last few years), then choose a school and location to do the 5-day prep course with the external examiner coming on board at the end.

If you get it, great. If you fail for whatever reason, you'll have still learnt a huge amount, and have identified any weaknesses in yourself to overcome for your next go.
 
Babylon said:
So you've probably got more than enough real experience - as well as the miles - to simply go for the YM Offshore.

Bone up on your YM Theory and re-acquaint yourself with the usual trad nav tasks on the water early this season (especially if you've been solely reliant on electronics for the last few years), then choose a school and location to do the 5-day prep course with the external examiner coming on board at the end.

If you get it, great. If you fail for whatever reason, you'll have still learnt a huge amount, and have identified any weaknesses in yourself to overcome for your next go.
Click to expand...

Good advice!

Areas too where candidates can be weak are Lights, Shapes and Sound Signals on the theory side plus general sailing excercises like MOB with no engine, anchoring and mooring buoys with no engine.
 
Babylon said:
So you've probably got more than enough real experience - as well as the miles - to simply go for the YM Offshore.

Bone up on your YM Theory and re-acquaint yourself with the usual trad nav tasks on the water early this season (especially if you've been solely reliant on electronics for the last few years), then choose a school and location to do the 5-day prep course with the external examiner coming on board at the end.

If you get it, great. If you fail for whatever reason, you'll have still learnt a huge amount, and have identified any weaknesses in yourself to overcome for your next go.
Click to expand...

Nice advice. Thanks. So I’m a day skipper who has just done the coastal YM course. I can live with that but will work towards the real thing. Back to the books for me! Happy days!
 
cliveshelton said:
Nice advice. Thanks. So I’m a day skipper who has just done the coastal YM course. I can live with that but will work towards the real thing. Back to the books for me! Happy days!
Click to expand...

There's also a YM Coastal exam if you don't feel ready for the YM Offshore, but it sounds like you should try for the latter. If you do one of the 5-day prep courses you could always ask whether they think you should attempt the Coastal or Offshore exam.

Also when I did my YM I found the RYA quite tolerant re the First Aid cert. Mine had expired by the time I did the exam but they simply held onto the YM certificate until I got a fresh one.
 
cliveshelton said:
I know this is often discussed here but can someone point me to a simple explanation.

Since about 2007 I have done;

Day Skipper practical (I didn’t do theory first but that was not an issue)
YM theory (no Astro or grand circle route planning)
YM coastal practical

+vhf, safety (needs updating), radar

I have small “certificates” pasted into my RYA booklet. They don’t have photo ID. The YM practical one seems to indicate that it’s a course completion thing rather than an examination pass. Is there an exam for YM coastal?

I want to do more but am confused about what’s next. Astro? More YM theory? Which practical? WhIch exam?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Have you though of sailing your own boat :o, what are your long term plans
 
lpdsn said:
There's also a YM Coastal exam if you don't feel ready for the YM Offshore, but it sounds like you should try for the latter. If you do one of the 5-day prep courses you could always ask whether they think you should attempt the Coastal or Offshore exam
Click to expand...

Interesting. I was under the impression (since 2011) that I’d finished the YM coastal. But perhaps not. How do I tell from the certificate? Do RYA keep records? I now have doubts about the course I took. I’d love to check. For OCD reasons only. I can do YM offshore in any case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top