Yachtmaster examiners.

doris

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Can anyone out there settle and argument.

In the past when YM exam time came around the school involved called up their friendly examiner direct, he came down and the exam was done. Out of the £120 fee or thereabouts the examiner got about £50 a head. If he was reasonably strict and regularly failed peeps then the school stopped ringing him and he lost a nice little earner. Being retired, as most of them are, this made him more then a tad subjective. A mate in the pub reckoned that is all in the past and that now all examiners come from a clearing house via the RYA and that schools have no say in who they get. Boll***s was my reply it has not, and will never, change hence thay continual comments in the boaty press about inadequate YMs.

Has the system changed?????
 

john_morris_uk

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Not all YM Examiners are retired - I am not retired for one, and I don't think that it should make any difference to my impartiality. Also YM examiners have to retire as they reach a certain age (can't remember what it is now as I still have 4 at the beginning of my age so it doesn't affect me yet!).

There has been concern in some circles in the past that school used 'tame examiners'. I cannot answer for them except to say, I wouldn't want to be associated with any such system.

Failing candidates should not be a problem to a Sea School. The school should have the skills to advise candidates not to take the exam if they are less than borderline...

Furthermore, in the examining process, when a candidate is failing, it shouldn't come as a suprise to them when they get a fail at the end of an exam. I was always told to be honest and open about how things are as the exam goes along. Not constantly debriefing, but being allowed to say either 'well done' or 'this isn't going very well, what you need to show me is..., or even (as I have done in the past). 'I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to recommend a pass today, how would you like to spend the rest of your time. Can we practice any aspects so you're ready for next time.... etc etc?'

There was a change to the system a year or so ago. The change to the system is that you can book an examiner either through the school or through the RYA direct. Go online to the RYA website and you will see the appropriate links. I get booked for exams through both systems.

Understandably the RYA want the system to be transparent and fair. This is why both examiners and schools are now subject to ongoing quality control (from a user's point of view), and regular updates in professional standards and ability.

May I suggest that inadequate YM's is another topic?
 

Birdseye

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" May I suggest that inadequate YM's is another topic" True - and I often wonder if I'm one of them!

I did the YM prep with a school who made it absolutely chrystal clear that if they didnt think I would pass they simply wouldnt arrange the exam.

I cant imagine that £50 per day for one candidate a boat (what happened to me) would be regarded as a "nice little earner" by anyone. Nor that a £50 fee would colour any examiners view of a candidate. At the risk of sounding pompous, there is such a thing as integrity and most people are honest in my experience.

Maybe I should say " used to be" because in today's "anything goes" culture, public morality isnt fashionable. Which brings me full circle so I'll go for my afternoon nap.
 

snowleopard

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I suspect some if not most examiners do it because it gets them a day out on the water at no cost, certainly mine thoroughly enjoyed himself, to the extent of taking over the helm on the last leg.

I would also say that they are pretty good at spotting those who have the necessary feel for it and won't pass someone without it.
 

graham

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I am sure that any erxaminer only in it for the money would jack it in and do something more profitable?

IMHO the very high pass rate attained by some sea schools is due to them discouraging weak candidates from doing the exam.

I did a refresher course prior to the exam with 4 of us plus an instructor aboard. Towardsthe end of the week one candidate was advised not to waste his exam fee.

Initially the sea school didnt want him on the boat during the exam but the rest of us asked if we could keep the team together and they relented.
 
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