Yachtmaster Examiners

[DaiBach]

After more than 20 years of yacht sailing, mostly skippering, I am seeking to do my Yachtmaster to ease the chartering of other boats. Can anyone recommend an examiner who will examine me on my own boat which is Solent-based?
Criteria are that they be good, fair and pleasant to be with for the duraction of the test!!(Not easy on the student!!)


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[Cornishman]

An interesting request, which does not seem to have attracted any answers.
Examiners are now on the RYA database and when somebody applies to the RYA they are all e-mailed with full details of the applicant and his boat and THEY choose the candidate, not the other way around.
As you are in the Solent area there is a huge number of examiners close by, and my experience of them while attending examiner conferences, updating courses etc for 3 decades is that they will all fulfill your requirements.
Good luck, and it is good to see that you have decided to do the test after your long experience. A good example to all.


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[racingron]

Did my Ocean last year with a chap in Gosport - think his name was Kevin (sorry not more accurate).

He was superb - I dropped off my passage details (sights/charts/plots/log etc.) and went round the next week to sit the theory and complete the oral at his house.

He was just what yachtmaster examiners should be in my opinion. Obviously sails for the love of it and was very encouraging without being a pushover or an idiot (I've met quite a few examiners who are on a power trip). He has his own boat as well.

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[jamesjermain]

I think you apply to the RYA and they appoint someone. I don't think you have a choice.

In any case, even with your experience, I would recommend doing the week practical course with a local sea school before taking the exam. You may or may not learn anything, but you will, at least, get on to the same wave length as the examiner and have a chance to practice all the manoeuvres he is likely to throw at you. The school will then arrange the test.

After a lifetime sailing and cruising I did my test with BOSS some time ago. It was a most enjoyable and valuable week, and yes, I learnt a lot.

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[snowleopard]

agree with james.

the ym practical exam bears as much resemblance to your everyday sailing as a driving test does to life on the m25.

how often would you do a MOB under sail, find an unlit buoy at night or use transits to anchor in an exact spot in a featureless bit of water? they are all useful skills but not the sort of thing you're likely to have practiced recently. a few days of doing the standard exercises and you'll be able to do them fluently giving an impression of masterly seamanship!

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[alant]

Contact any sailing school & they should be able to organise this.

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[Melody]

Hi Dai
If you are very experienced you may not want to take a whole week's course.
I encouraged my husband to take his YM a few years ago. He'd sailed all his life, had taught sailing, and had navy but not civil papers. What he did was to get a local examiner they knew to take him and a friend out for a 'dummy' exam - I think they were away for about 12 hours. They were each told what they had to swat up on, and any weak points. They then applied to the RYA and an examiner came and tested them.
He thought it was very worthwhile getting the pre-test day, but a week would have been a bit OTT.
Cheers
M


<hr width=100% size=1>Melody McKay Burton
Yacht Valentine, Greece