Yachtmaster Exam 2021

[mmbamb1234]

Hi,

Just completed my YM exam (offshore) and thought it might be useful for others to hear what it involved:

So full itinerary for first day was: examiner arrived 9 am hamble point, introduced himself took forms and checked etc. While he was doing that asked us to get ready to leave the berth and one of us was nominated to skipper the boat to Osborne bay and anchor. Examiner stayed below and pretended not to pay attention while we got out of the berth and into the river. Sailed to Osborne bay dropped sails and anchored. Mob under power for the skipper at the time on the way. Anchored in Osborne bay. Next skipper was told to take us into Portsmouth and pick up a mooring boy, sailed over motored in and picked it up under sail (skipper volunteered to do this, could probably have done it under power). Then I took her off the mooring (under power), given task to sail up to port Solent and turn around in the channel, motor sail back, from there out round the corner and anchor. Motor sailed out of the harbour, sailed round corner, put a reef in. On the way to the stop MOB, under sail. Didn’t actually anchor, handed over to another skipper to sail us to Cowes, sailed in main channel (in dark) and wind died (examiner was talking about sailing onto a pontoon but conditions were no go so didn’t). After dinner I skippered us over to find a special mark in stanswood bay, had back bearing and cross bearing ready for finding it but turned out to be lit. Last skipper then took us back to Hamble and alongside. All stayed on the boat and the next morning had a quick review of pre-prepared passage plans (I had Cowes- St Vaast) passage plans and a discussion about radar (not really questions, just talked about it and limitations).

3/3 of us on the exam passed (all reasonably strong candidates IMHO) I think we got a very reasonable examiner, definitely did his best to put us all at ease and made it a good experience all round.

 

[Praxinoscope]

This post takes me back to 40 years ago when I did my YM.

 

[sfellows]

I did mine in the Solent many years ago too. After a week's refresher practical course with Sunsail (they were excellent) the examiner turned up in a blue blazer with handkerchief flowing from the top pocket. Oh dear I thought. Here's a stickler.

He failed the best sailor on-board (who was Swiss and had a strong accent)...
..and passed the guy who knew all the rules and could motor a boat but couldn't sail.

I passed but it left me thinking...

 

[Sandy]

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on passing your examination.

 

[BobnLesley]

...He failed the best sailor on-board (who was Swiss and had a strong accent)...
..and passed the guy who knew all the rules and could motor a boat but couldn't sail.

A similar experience: late 90s we were doing a coastal skipper practical course alongside two lads refreshing/preparing for their Yachtmaster Examinations. We subsequently discovered that one guy - a South African, with whom I'd have comfortably crewed for back to RSA failed, whilst the well spoken clown - re-taking the exam as he'd only been awarded a Coastal Skipper at the end of his recently completed 12 week zero to hero course - had been passed; I wouldn't have sailed under his sole command back to Cowes! I particularly recall the clown's search for an unlit buoy, if the Instructor hadn't eventually drawn it to a close, i suspect that we'd still be scraping across the Bramble Bank now - I (and everyone else) had apparently 'misheard his west as an east' - I think the instruction was actually something like 0-9-8 instead of 2-8-8, so not even a reciprocal. That experience was the major factor in my dropping the intention of doing the exam myself; YM wasn't necessary for me beyond a bit of personal pride/attainment and their results suggested that it was perhaps something of a lottery.

 

[mmbamb1234]

Sadly it seems that type of examiner is still about. One of the three on the exam was a resit, obviously we quizzed him at great length about his first exam, awkward dead-pan examiner, lasted about twice as long as our exam(and from what he said not too much went wrong, struggled to pick up a fender under sail so the examiner demonstrated and picked it up going about 3 knots!). He also let us know that all 4 on his exam were failed (never heard of this before, nor had our instructor for the prep week who reckoned at least 2 of them were strong passes).

Few more thoughts while it’s fresh in my mind. I had never done blind nav before the prep week, in my opinion it’s the easiest excercise there is. Exam in October was good as it was dark nice and early for the night nav. Glad I did the exam in the Solent, plenty of interesting nav and features, plenty of shipping about so you can demonstrate practical collision avoidance. From talking to people seems like loads of people run aground in the exam and still pass, think the key thing is if something goes wrong don’t panic, same with man over board manoeuvres, if you don’t get it right, have the confidence to abort and go round again…

 

[Pinnacle]

Hi,

Just completed my YM exam (offshore) and thought it might be useful for others to hear what it involved:

So full itinerary for first day was: examiner arrived 9 am hamble point, introduced himself took forms and checked etc. While he was doing that asked us to get ready to leave the berth and one of us was nominated to skipper the boat to Osborne bay and anchor. Examiner stayed below and pretended not to pay attention while we got out of the berth and into the river. Sailed to Osborne bay dropped sails and anchored. Mob under power for the skipper at the time on the way. Anchored in Osborne bay. Next skipper was told to take us into Portsmouth and pick up a mooring boy, sailed over motored in and picked it up under sail (skipper volunteered to do this, could probably have done it under power). Then I took her off the mooring (under power), given task to sail up to port Solent and turn around in the channel, motor sail back, from there out round the corner and anchor. Motor sailed out of the harbour, sailed round corner, put a reef in. On the way to the stop MOB, under sail. Didn’t actually anchor, handed over to another skipper to sail us to Cowes, sailed in main channel (in dark) and wind died (examiner was talking about sailing onto a pontoon but conditions were no go so didn’t). After dinner I skippered us over to find a special mark in stanswood bay, had back bearing and cross bearing ready for finding it but turned out to be lit. Last skipper then took us back to Hamble and alongside. All stayed on the boat and the next morning had a quick review of pre-prepared passage plans (I had Cowes- St Vaast) passage plans and a discussion about radar (not really questions, just talked about it and limitations).

3/3 of us on the exam passed (all reasonably strong candidates IMHO) I think we got a very reasonable examiner, definitely did his best to put us all at ease and made it a good experience all round.

Thanks for your interesting post. Were you asked any questions on IRPCS, lights, shapes or sound signals?

 

[mmbamb1234]

Thanks for your interesting post. Were you asked any questions on IRPCS, lights, shapes or sound signals?

Strangely no, I actually felt a bit cheated as I’d spent a lot of time revising this, flash cards etc. Only theory questions were on the second morning, the three of us had an individual sit down explained our passage plan and answered a few questions about it. He then picked a different topic for each of us and asked a few questions mine was radar (went over the basics in the prep week but were told the rya is in process of phasing this out from ym exams so we probably wouldn’t get asked about it).

 

[john_morris_uk]

Strangely no, I actually felt a bit cheated as I’d spent a lot of time revising this, flash cards etc. Only theory questions were on the second morning, the three of us had an individual sit down explained our passage plan and answered a few questions about it. He then picked a different topic for each of us and asked a few questions mine was radar (went over the basics in the prep week but were told the rya is in process of phasing this out from ym exams so we probably wouldn’t get asked about it).

Firstly congratulations on your pass.

As an examiner I can't (and won't) comment on other examiners but I will point out that checking on Radar operation and knowledge is definitely NOT being phased out. We are asked to check test students on their basic knowledge of radar. IRPCS is invariably checked somehow. perhaps it was in a conversation and the examiner was confident that you knew your stuff. I don't use flash cards to test candidates and I've had candidates complain that my question about the IRPCS wasn't fair as it wasn't on the flash cards! He didn't get any sympathy.

If people have an issue with an examiner, please contact Richard Falk at the RYA. I am sure that he will take any complaints seriously and investigate etc.

Examiners get updates every few years and I know exactly what my pass fail rate is (it's right in the middle of the averages). All fails are checked and a proportion of passes are QC checked so all fails and all passes are not impossible. The fails are definitely checked and read through by Richard.

 

[zoidberg]

Congrats, 'mmbamb1234', and welcome....

Your assessment that you 'got a very reasonable examiner' does sound spot-on, and I am very pleased to hear it. I've met a good handful of the begrs over the years, and just about every last one of them 'has a bee in his bonnet about something'. That's not usually too much of a problem, for individualists such as they are salt o' the earth, but even I'd raise an eyebrow at a 'blue blazer and folded handkerchief' sort..... tho' even yellow wellies were fashionable around the Solent a while ago!

I suppose I was very lucky with the two who 'zamined me..... one was an ex-RAF Regiment sqn leader who enjoyed my brand of intra-service banter, and another was a notoriously-grumpy but very fair ex-lifeboat cox'n who was tickled to find I had made up my own 'pelorus' for my YMO Qualifying passage and could use it, so we spent most of the allotted time bouncing around opinions on different nav techniques - his RNLI, mine 'Kipper Fleet'.

 

[mmbamb1234]

Firstly congratulations on your pass.

As an examiner I can't (and won't comment on other examiners) but I will point out that Radar is definitely NOT being phased out. We are asked to check test students on their basic knowledge of radar. IRPCS is invariably checked somehow. perhaps it was in a conversation and the examiner was confident that you knew your stuff. I don't use flash cards to test candidates and I've had candidates complain that my question about the IRPCS wasn't fair as it wasn't on the flash cards! he didn't get any sympathy.

If people have an issue with an examiner, please contact Richard Falk at the RYA. I am sure that will take any complaints seriously and investigate etc.

Examiners get updates every five years and I know exactly what my pass fail rate is (it's right in the middle of the averages). All fails are checked and a proportion of passes are QC checked.

The school told us that examiners are being told to stop asking questions about radar at their next 5 year update, I think maybe they have misunderstood this and the expectation of the level of knowledge is just not as high as it once was (I was only asked basic questions, difference between head up, north up and course up advantages and disadvantages of each).

We encountered a lot of shipping during the exam and obviously knowledge of lights and buoyage etc can be checked during pilotage etc. As you say more than one way to check knowledge, you won’t necessarily be asked loads of theory questions about everything (at least I wasn’t) but you still need to have the knowledge and be able to demonstrate it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The school told us that examiners are being told to stop asking questions about radar at their next 5 year update, I think maybe they have misunderstood this and the expectation of the level of knowledge is just not as high as it once was (I was only asked basic questions, difference between head up, north up and course up advantages and disadvantages of each).

We encountered a lot of shipping during the exam and obviously knowledge of lights and buoyage etc can be checked during pilotage etc. As you say more than one way to check knowledge, you won’t necessarily be asked loads of theory questions about everything (at least I wasn’t) but you still need to have the knowledge and be able to demonstrate it.

I did my YMI update as recently as last weekend, and discussed radar and exams with the RYA rep. There was no question of the requirement to test radar operation and knowledge being watered down. If anything it was the opposite. I think there’s some confusion going on somewhere in your school.

 

[benjenbav]

Immediately before my examiner was due to arrive I had a call from the marina to ask me urgently to assist an elderly military gentleman who was rapidly approaching the pontoon under sail in a manner which might ungenerously be described as out of control. Anyway, I managed to sort that one out and returned to my boat to find the examiner waiting for me and we set off on the exam.

What I never did find out was whether the assistance rendered was part of the exam either by design or because the examiner had chanced to observe it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Immediately before my examiner was due to arrive I had a call from the marina to ask me urgently to assist an elderly military gentleman who was rapidly approaching the pontoon under sail in a manner which might ungenerously be described as out of control. Anyway, I managed to sort that one out and returned to my boat to find the examiner waiting for me and we set off on the exam.

What I never did find out was whether the assistance rendered was part of the exam either by design or because the examiner had chanced to observe it.

Sorry to disappoint you but it was almost certainly pure chance.

 

[Daedelus]

Hi,

J.. All stayed on the boat and the next morning had a quick review of pre-prepared passage plans (I had Cowes- St Vaast) passage plans and a discussion about radar (not really questions, just talked about it and limitations).

Following B*******t it is not legal to sail direct to St Vaast - you need to check in at a named port eg Cherbourg. I wonder if the examiner would have kicked me if I had made that comment?

My examiner said he judged candidates on general ability and whether he felt his 11 year old grandson would be safe with you. (I think he was saying that he didn't just say to himself MOB manoeuvre ok, tick in the box, sailing to a buoy ok, another tick and so forth but the overall impression.)

 

[mmbamb1234]

Following B*******t it is not legal to sail direct to St Vaast - you need to check in at a named port eg Cherbourg. I wonder if the examiner would have kicked me if I had made that comment?

My examiner said he judged candidates on general ability and whether he felt his 11 year old grandson would be safe with you. (I think he was saying that he didn't just say to himself MOB manoeuvre ok, tick in the box, sailing to a buoy ok, another tick and so forth but the overall impression.)

Not something I was aware of or was asked about, did check the Covid restrictions at the time! Seems like you can now send a form prior to departure instead Post-Brexit breakthrough for UK sailors as French relax arrival rules - Sailing Today

 

[NealB]

The OP's experience sounds very similar to my own in December 1989.

I was on Southern Sailing's Rival 34 (Southern Rival, was, she?) for a week's prep around the Solent.

We had a very knowledgeable, very easy-going, tall ships skipper called 'One eyed Brian', as our' instructor'. He basically just told us what he wanted us to do, then let us get on with things: a good fun week.

All three candidates were fairly experienced sailors, and the three assessments, at the end of the week, all went without even minor excitement.

I don't recall the examiner's name, but, like instructor Brian, he was very unobtrusive.

I don't recall any chat about radar, and, of course, there was no gps/ plotter/ AIS to aid in our blind navigation.

All in all, it was very unchallenging, but we were blessed with very good, if sometimes rather chilly, conditions.

 

[Little Dorrit]

Hi,

Just completed my YM exam (offshore) and thought it might be useful for others to hear what it involved:

So full itinerary for first day was: examiner arrived 9 am hamble point, introduced himself took forms and checked etc. While he was doing that asked us to get ready to leave the berth and one of us was nominated to skipper the boat to Osborne bay and anchor. Examiner stayed below and pretended not to pay attention while we got out of the berth and into the river. Sailed to Osborne bay dropped sails and anchored. Mob under power for the skipper at the time on the way. Anchored in Osborne bay. Next skipper was told to take us into Portsmouth and pick up a mooring boy, sailed over motored in and picked it up under sail (skipper volunteered to do this, could probably have done it under power). Then I took her off the mooring (under power), given task to sail up to port Solent and turn around in the channel, motor sail back, from there out round the corner and anchor. Motor sailed out of the harbour, sailed round corner, put a reef in. On the way to the stop MOB, under sail. Didn’t actually anchor, handed over to another skipper to sail us to Cowes, sailed in main channel (in dark) and wind died (examiner was talking about sailing onto a pontoon but conditions were no go so didn’t). After dinner I skippered us over to find a special mark in stanswood bay, had back bearing and cross bearing ready for finding it but turned out to be lit. Last skipper then took us back to Hamble and alongside. All stayed on the boat and the next morning had a quick review of pre-prepared passage plans (I had Cowes- St Vaast) passage plans and a discussion about radar (not really questions, just talked about it and limitations).

3/3 of us on the exam passed (all reasonably strong candidates IMHO) I think we got a very reasonable examiner, definitely did his best to put us all at ease and made it a good experience all round.

Do they still do 'blind navigation'? Designed to replicate navigating in fog. I seem to remember being locked down below and having to navigate along the contours from West Ryde Middle to South Ryde Middle buoys.

 

[mmbamb1234]

Do they still do 'blind navigation'? Designed to replicate navigating in fog. I seem to remember being locked down below and having to navigate along the contours from West Ryde Middle to South Ryde Middle buoys.

I'd never done Blind Nav before the prep week so it was something I was concerned about before the prep week, we spent best part of a day on the prep week practicing around the Solent and I found it to be the easiest of the different excercises. We didn't do it in our exam, closest was finding an unlit buoy in stanswood bay (actually turned out it was lit but I'd still done the work back bearing and a few cross bearings to check). Impression I get is it still comes up in most exams but its rarely something people struggle with...

 

[Sailfree]

Following B*******t it is not legal to sail direct to St Vaast - you need to check in at a named port eg Cherbourg. I wonder if the examiner would have kicked me if I had made that comment?

My examiner said he judged candidates on general ability and whether he felt his 11 year old grandson would be safe with you. (I think he was saying that he didn't just say to himself MOB manoeuvre ok, tick in the box, sailing to a buoy ok, another tick and so forth but the overall impression.)

Not that i do any cross channel sailing these days but where can I find info on ports you must check into?

Its something I have missed. Is this due to Covid or that must not be named?

I did one YM exam as crew for the experience and one as candidate. I thought the exam in both cases was fair and the failures deserved to fail. I thought the failures had experience of crewing but not taking charge of a boat. After that any crew I had that wanted the X channel >60ml experience i made it clear they would have total command of my boat and I would only interfere if I considered they were doing something dangerous. Some of their xtide calculations resulted in some long passages but they learnt from that!

A successful YM candidate should be both capable and safe.