RYA Yachtmaster Fast Track 2016 Opinions

[gman84]

Hello all,

I know this question gets asked a lot, but it seems that things change year to year so perhaps I will be the first to ask for 2016!

The short question is simply what is the best Yachtmaster Fast Track program for someone looking to use the certification for work in the yachting industry?

Now, a bit more in depth...

I recently finished my service as a Captain in the U.S. Army. At 31 I want to make the transition into work in the yacht industry (deliveries, want to obtain my instructor cert., charters, etc.). Not trying to get bogged down into any specifics, I just know I want to complete my sail training to the highest levels and see what doors open. In America I have completed the ASA 101/103/14 courses and recently restored and sail, believe it or not, a Hurley Silhouette twin keel sailboat. Probably one of the only Silhouettes that made it to the States, let alone the Texas Gulf Coast!

Having mentally committed to doing this since I am in a position both personally, professionally, and financially to do a Fast Track Yachtmaster course I have transitioned from sort of day-dreaming into reality and am confronted with the many options of schools. I really would like some help sorting out which ones are good and which ones are duds.

Blue Oyster/Barcelona Sailing School - Seems to be very busy and popular
Miramar in Antigua - Seems expensive and only expensive because of the luxury destination which I don't need
2 Oceans Maritime Academy, Cape Town - Cheap, interesting concept, staff seems young and energetic
Ocean Sailing Academy, Cape Town - Another S.A. based school that seems reasonably priced
Endeavor Sailing, Canary Islands - Doesn't seem like anything special, seems like a good course but nothing unique

So far those are the ones I have given time to really read up into...thoughts, opinions, anything?

Opinions of the South African Schools?

This is my first post but I have learned a lot on this wonderful forum and thank you all very much for it! I don't think this will occur here but I must mention that on other forums these types of inquiries can descend into side discussions about things such as:

- Fast Tracks are rubbish
- Do something else with your life
- Forget the RYA and take USCG courses
- Etc.

Hopefully we can use this thread to learn what some of the top schools are for people going into 2016 and that it will be useful to more folks than just myself.

Thanks so much in advance!

Greg

 

[capnsensible]

Hiya.

You will need a lot of tidal miles for fast track. So I would bin anywhere that doesnt give you that.

Have you considered Gibraltar? I am biased as I live here but its a good place to learn.

There is a school here, Allabroad, that have run stacks of successful fast track courses. I do have a link to them so dont take my word!

Might be worth checking and good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Uricanejack]

The first question you need to ask yourself is where do I want to work.
If it is in the US go with a US school and get a USCG certificate.
If in UK or UK dependency do RYA.
There are places in Florida which do both.
Question's I would ask any school.
Which employers do you have a relationship with?
How many of your students do you manage to place with employers?

If they don't have several pick another school.
Bottom line good training establishments have relationships with employers and programs to help students find plces with those employers.

Just pointing out if you are American there is little point in obtaining RYA MCA unless you wish to work in some other part of the world.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Barcelona is on the Med and is therefore non-tidal. Pretty pointless IMHO, your certs will be non-Tidal only and that's gonna limit what you do. Also means that the excitement of passage planning (and real world sailing) in tidal waters is lost...

 

[alant]

Hello all,

I know this question gets asked a lot, but it seems that things change year to year so perhaps I will be the first to ask for 2016!

The short question is simply what is the best Yachtmaster Fast Track program for someone looking to use the certification for work in the yachting industry?

Now, a bit more in depth...

I recently finished my service as a Captain in the U.S. Army. At 31 I want to make the transition into work in the yacht industry (deliveries, want to obtain my instructor cert., charters, etc.). Not trying to get bogged down into any specifics, I just know I want to complete my sail training to the highest levels and see what doors open. In America I have completed the ASA 101/103/14 courses and recently restored and sail, believe it or not, a Hurley Silhouette twin keel sailboat. Probably one of the only Silhouettes that made it to the States, let alone the Texas Gulf Coast!

Having mentally committed to doing this since I am in a position both personally, professionally, and financially to do a Fast Track Yachtmaster course I have transitioned from sort of day-dreaming into reality and am confronted with the many options of schools. I really would like some help sorting out which ones are good and which ones are duds.

Blue Oyster/Barcelona Sailing School - Seems to be very busy and popular
Miramar in Antigua - Seems expensive and only expensive because of the luxury destination which I don't need
2 Oceans Maritime Academy, Cape Town - Cheap, interesting concept, staff seems young and energetic
Ocean Sailing Academy, Cape Town - Another S.A. based school that seems reasonably priced
Endeavor Sailing, Canary Islands - Doesn't seem like anything special, seems like a good course but nothing unique

So far those are the ones I have given time to really read up into...thoughts, opinions, anything?

Opinions of the South African Schools?

This is my first post but I have learned a lot on this wonderful forum and thank you all very much for it! I don't think this will occur here but I must mention that on other forums these types of inquiries can descend into side discussions about things such as:

- Fast Tracks are rubbish
- Do something else with your life
- Forget the RYA and take USCG courses
- Etc.

Hopefully we can use this thread to learn what some of the top schools are for people going into 2016 and that it will be useful to more folks than just myself.

Thanks so much in advance!

Greg

These guys are big yacht crew trainers & did have a place in Fort Lauderdale as well as the Med.

http://www.bluewateryachting.com/crew-training

 

[l'escargot]

If you want to do it in the UK have a look at UKSA on the Isle of Wight - they have the benefit of a network of post qualification employment contacts worldwide.

http://uksa.org/

 

[Javelin]

What slowed things down for me was;

50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

At the time I was looking to do the YM I'd been racing dinghies on the Europe circuit for around 12 years so the 30k sea miles I had done before were worthless, at least to the RYA.
So I did the ICC where there was no prerequisite so I could visit Europe.
Its taken me 3 years to get over 2500 mileage cruising my own boat since then.
Now I can't seem to be bothered about it.

 

[dunedin]

http://www.nationalcentrecumbrae.org.uk/courses/professional-yachtmaster

 

[lpdsn]

UKSA is the big one in the UK, so employers would know what they're getting.

And if you do your fasttrack over the winter you'd not be seen to take the easy option.

 

[awol]

You could always sail your Silhouette across the pond but unfortunately not all those miles would count 'cos she's a tad small for the RYA.

 

[gman84]

All,

Thank you so much for the good suggestions! You know, believe it or not, the previous owner indicated a Brit sailed that thing over here in the '70's! That boat is built like a tank compared to what we have here.

As far as the reason why I am pursing the YM/MCA certification is due to the fact that we don't have any professional sail training in the US. We have the ASA and US Sailing which are both strictly recreational.

We have the USCG licensing scheme which is professional, and something which I will pursue following my YM. Under the US scheme with the USCG I could have an unlimited tonnage oceans license and not even know how to raise a mainsail.

So I feel that to be competitive and to be well trained that it behooves me to complete the YM. After which I can start adding up my sea days and apply for my USCG license and begin working that. In my opinion the USCG licenses are great for power but rubbish for any sort of sailing qualifications and I would personally look askance at anyone moving my yacht with a 100 ton USCG license and nothing else, simply because I wouldn't be assured they could even sail!

Cheers!

Greg

 

[nickd]

+1 UKSA Isle of Wight
http://uksa.org/professional-training/

 

[scotty123]

All,

Thank you so much for the good suggestions! You know, believe it or not, the previous owner indicated a Brit sailed that thing over here in the '70's! That boat is built like a tank compared to what we have here.

As far as the reason why I am pursing the YM/MCA certification is due to the fact that we don't have any professional sail training in the US. We have the ASA and US Sailing which are both strictly recreational.

We have the USCG licensing scheme which is professional, and something which I will pursue following my YM. Under the US scheme with the USCG I could have an unlimited tonnage oceans license and not even know how to raise a mainsail.

So I feel that to be competitive and to be well trained that it behooves me to complete the YM. After which I can start adding up my sea days and apply for my USCG license and begin working that. In my opinion the USCG licenses are great for power but rubbish for any sort of sailing qualifications and I would personally look askance at anyone moving my yacht with a 100 ton USCG license and nothing else, simply because I wouldn't be assured they could even sail!

Cheers!

Greg

you could also check out Warsash Maritime College, Southampton, for some of the MCA qualifications.

 

[rib]

pm me

 

[Ceirwan]

you could also check out Warsash Maritime College, Southampton, for some of the MCA qualifications.

None of which are useful or even acquirable until you get some sea miles and experience.
For example EDH requires at least a year of sea time on deck.

Master 200GT, you can go for it if you have your Yachtmaster already, if not then you need to prove your seatime. Basically there is no way around getting the sea time one way or another.

 

[alant]

None of which are useful or even acquirable until you get some sea miles and experience.
For example EDH requires at least a year of sea time on deck.

Master 200GT, you can go for it if you have your Yachtmaster already, if not then you need to prove your seatime. Basically there is no way around getting the sea time one way or another.

I was suggesting he check them out, so then he is aware of the requirements, both pre/post entry into any training scheme for MCA qualifications. Posting on here,he gets suggestions, but contact with a college, gets it straight from source.

 

[lw395]

I was suggesting he check them out, so then he is aware of the requirements, both pre/post entry into any training scheme for MCA qualifications. Posting on here,he gets suggestions, but contact with a college, gets it straight from source.

Also, talk to employers/agencies, what do they look for? Who do they rate?
There is free mileage and networking to be had at least.

 

[awol]

But beware, the RYA may change their requirements without warning and may have different requirements on different of their web pages, unless they have actually learned from their previous behaviour.

 

[alant]

But beware, the RYA may change their requirements without warning and may have different requirements on different of their web pages, unless they have actually learned from their previous behaviour.

Explain pls.

 

[awol]

Explain pls.

Surely you remember the saga of the Black Pig and the various lengths for boats for YM exams. IIRC it started as between 7m and 24m LOA, then changed to exclude boats like Rival or Contessa 32s, then somehow went back to 7-24m but now LWL, then the 24m returned to LOA, all depending on which RYA webpage you read . Meanwhile they changed the qualifying mileage requirements to >7m LWL without warning thus screwing up anyone who had accrued their 2,500 miles on any medium sized boat with overhangs and they've ended up with http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/exams/Pages/Yachtmasteroffshore.aspx which still manages to contradict itself on the LOA/LWL dimension. All this because none of their examiners wanted to go for a winter sail on a wee gaff cutter.