RYA qualifications confusion

capnsensible said:
Something like 75% of candidates for the exams are indeed looking for a commercial ticket.

That still is quite a lot of recreational sailors who go for it.

A quote from the most excellent Yachtmaster Handbook by James Stevens.

'They take the test because they are responsible skippers who want the reassurance of knowing they are competent. Whatever the sea throws at them, they have done their best to be trained and prepared.'

Of course its not for everybody, its not compulsory. But it is quite an achievement. Pass rate is around 85% and without doubt, effort in preparation is the key.

:encouragement:
Click to expand...
It should be noted that the 85% pass rate is more to do with the preparation most candidates put in and a certain amount of 'weeding out' by experienced instructors of those who might be about to waste their money than the ease of the examination process. (for those who do the unofficial prep courses that schools almost universally offer.) I always say that if people find it easy then it's because they prepared well and know their stuff and are comfortably able to demonstrate all the skills required to the examiners satisfaction.
 
RobbieW said:
AIUI the RYA have kept records for certificates that could be commercially endorsed, practical assessments from YM Coastal? and up, for many years (not sure how many but well before 2011). They may now have records, since 2011, of all certificates issued.
Click to expand...

Not what their marketing director told me when I lost mine
 
RobbieW said:
AIUI the RYA have kept records for certificates that could be commercially endorsed, practical assessments from YM Coastal? and up, for many years (not sure how many but well before 2011). They may now have records, since 2011, of all certificates issued.
Click to expand...

Just noticed that my completion certificate for the shore based Yachtmaster Offshore course is a replacement. Issued in 1992 by the RYA so presumably they had records at that time.
 
rtboss1 said:
Any one that has done any course before 2011 should look after their certificates,as the RYA did not keep any records before this date, neither did the schools that carried them out that's if they are still in business.
Click to expand...

RobbieW said:
AIUI the RYA have kept records for certificates that could be commercially endorsed, practical assessments from YM Coastal? and up, for many years (not sure how many but well before 2011). They may now have records, since 2011, of all certificates issued.
Click to expand...

rtboss1 said:
Not what their marketing director told me when I lost mine
Click to expand...

Maybe the marketing director was the wrong person to ask?

But if this is true and I lost my RYA Logbook complete with 'certificates' for CC, DS Theory, DS Practical, YM Theory, 1st Aid, VHF, Radar and Sea Survival (all between 2004 and 2011), then I'd be pretty wee'd off.

What did they spend the record-keeping budget on before 2011? Champagne?
 
Last edited:
AndrewB said:
Excellent advice. Doing a 5-day prep course before the YM practical is expensive but a really good idea. Despite having plenty of prior experience, I learnt, and gained confidence, a huge amount from that course just from all the various boat-handling exercises (not only MOB recovery) that you probably wouldn't think of doing - or risking - with your own boat.
Click to expand...

Or if you're doing it in your own boat, find a local instructor and hire them for a day with a brief to put you through your paces and counsel you about anything you ought to know or do for the exam. I booked my YM Offshore exam through the RYA and before the exam day I did that and really appreciate the instructor's advice.
 
capnsensible said:
Of course its not for everybody, its not compulsory. But it is quite an achievement. Pass rate is around 85% and without doubt, effort in preparation is the key.
Click to expand...

My examiner told me afterwards that I had brought his pass rate up past 50%. What had I (or he?!) done wrong?
 
capnsensible said:
You were the third person he had examined........;)
Click to expand...

Quite possibly...

Like all examiners, I get checked every few years and one of the things they do is check my pass rate against the national averages. (I was bang on average last time to my surprise.) I got the impression that wild deviations would lead to a discussion, but who am I to guess about these matters. I just try and apply the rules and some professional judgement...
 
john_morris_uk said:
Quite possibly...

Like all examiners, I get checked every few years and one of the things they do is check my pass rate against the national averages.
Click to expand...

That’s interesting (and reassuring!), John. Out of interest, do they sit in on an occasional practical exam with a live candidate, or if not how do they assess the examiner’s calibration of the pass standard?
 
BelleSerene said:
That’s interesting (and reassuring!), John. Out of interest, do they sit in on an occasional practical exam with a live candidate, or if not how do they assess the examiner’s calibration of the pass standard?
Click to expand...

I'm sure John M can give you a better answer, but...

Years ago when I sat my Coastal Skipper the examiner arrived fresh from being re-examined himself and spoke about it a little during the course of the day. Some poor YM candidate ended up with four YM examiners on the boat examining him and the chief examiner re-examining them. I understood he passed.
 
BelleSerene said:
That’s interesting (and reassuring!), John. Out of interest, do they sit in on an occasional practical exam with a live candidate, or if not how do they assess the examiner’s calibration of the pass standard?
Click to expand...

I’ve experienced both in my twenty five years or so as an examiner. The usual practice is to go sailing for a couple of days with one of the head honchos from the RYA. One time we had a candidate with us, and one of the examiners was being assessed to become an examiner. Like any practical exam, you take it in turns to do a particular activity (pick up a mooring, anchor, blind pilotage, sail onto a pontoon etc) and then it’s dissected in a general discussion that includes standards expected. Many examiners are (like me) a Yachtmaster Instructor as well, and that’s a long involved process that ends up with a five day practical exam with two examiners. No prisoners taken in that journey, no where to hide, and you need to know your stuff and demonstrate any skill. It’s sometimes frustrating as an examiner that you’re not allowed to touch the boat or take any active part in sailing etc at all.

The amount of skill that needs to be demonstrated is hard to quantify, but safety is paramount, along with crew organisation and competence. One has to remember that there’s no such thing as the perfect candidate.

The chief examiner is always a phone call away if one is in any doubt and I used to phone James Stevens up from time to time if I was worried about something.

Bill Anderson (who qualified me originally) said the straightforward ones to fail are easy. It’s the ones you pass ‘just’ that will give you sleepless nights. I agree and have never ever had a moments concern over those I’ve failed.
 
Last edited:
BelleSerene said:
My examiner told me afterwards that I had brought his pass rate up past 50%. What had I (or he?!) done wrong?
Click to expand...

On my course the pass rate was 25%. One because he did not have enough miles so went YM Coastal, one because he ignored all the advice about not driving the chart desk and then tried to set course under the bows of a container ship and one because he wasn't experienced enough with tides.

A supportive but tough test!
 
Babylon said:
Maybe the marketing director was the wrong person to ask?

But if this is true and I lost my RYA Logbook complete with 'certificates' for CC, DS Theory, DS Practical, YM Theory, 1st Aid, VHF, Radar and Sea Survival (all between 2004 and 2011), then I'd be pretty wee'd off.

What did they spend the record-keeping budget on before 2011? Champagne?
Click to expand...

Let's say you have had no contact with the RYA since 2010. Phone them and say you lost your DS practice certificate from 1987 and theory 1996 and CS theory 1998. In my instance with John Goode's school ,Trisail and Conwy school of yachting. I can assure you they will have no records.
 
TallBuoy said:
To summarise, for Sail or Motor Cruising:

Day Skipper - a 5 day course, Completion Certificate awarded by the RTC, as recommended by the Instructor
Coastal Skipper - ditto.

Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore - a Certificate of Competence issued by the RYA as recommended by an Examiner. There is no mandatory course or syllabus, the Prep course is optional (and recommended).

Separately for Powerboats less than 10m:
Powerboat Level 2, awarded by the RTC, as recommended by the Instructor
Intermediate - Ditto, prior knowledge to Day Skipper is suggested.
Advanced Certificate of Confidence - issued by the RYA as recommended by an Examiner.

Any of the above can be Commercially Endorsed, but require additional qualifications.
Click to expand...

Just a small note, Powerboat intermediate can’t be commercially endorsed, despite the fact that you can commercially endorse a level 2, for all the good it is.
 
mm42 said:
Just a small note, Powerboat intermediate can’t be commercially endorsed, despite the fact that you can commercially endorse a level 2, for all the good it is.
Click to expand...

I don't believe that you can commercially endorse a YM Coastal Course Completion certificate either. It has to be the examined YM Coastal ticket that is endorsed. In other words, the one you get after a separate exam.
 
john_morris_uk said:
I don't believe that you can commercially endorse a YM Coastal Course Completion certificate either. It has to be the examined YM Coastal ticket that is endorsed. In other words, the one you get after a separate exam.
Click to expand...

Which is the only one that says anything that can be endorsed.

A 'certificate of competence' (AKA 'ticket') is signed by an examiner (actually by the RYA on the recommendation of an examiner) and says that your skills met a certain standard.

A course-completion certificate is signed by an instructor and just says you completed a course.
 
BelleSerene said:
Which is the only one that says anything that can be endorsed.

A 'certificate of competence' (AKA 'ticket') is signed by an examiner (actually by the RYA on the recommendation of an examiner) and says that your skills met a certain standard.

A course-completion certificate is signed by an instructor and just says you completed a course.
Click to expand...

See #39 where just about every qualification/course is listed and at the bottom, it says something along the lines of, "Any of the above can be commercially endorsed."

I was just pointing out that the statement isn't true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top