Yachtmaster Offshore courses and exam - recommendations for Clyde area?

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West Coast

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As per title, thinking of taking the YM Offshore exam. Dont have any RYA certs other than the VHF radio course, only 45 years sailing and skippering my own boats. So considering first taking some shorebased courses to familiarise myself with RYA thinking, thereafter apply for exam on my own boat.

Any recommendations re clyde based courses, instructors and examiners? Im based in Clyde Marina in Ardrossan

Cheers
 
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You'l need an acceptable First-aid certificate to go with your VHF yin and do make sure your boat fits into the confusion of acceptable lengths that the RYA created after a Clyde-based yachtsman with a long bowsprit gaff cutterwas given the bum's rush.
 
I did a week with Daniel Smith / Sailing Intuition last year. Excellent. He’s ex-Cumbrae and really skilled instructor (as well as a really skilled sailor/ skipper/ racer). I’ve sailed for 30 years, wanted a refresh/ get out of bad habits so I did a Day skipper week with Dan. Will go back for Yachtmaster in the future.
 
Have a look at Nav at Home for the shore based course. £275 inc training materials. There’s a basic Diesel course tacked on for free too.

I too recently decided to test myself and do a practical YM exam. Planning to use my own boat and skip the week of instruction before.

Unfortunately they want the theory first and my ancient DS isn’t acceptable. I don’t have a spare week and being able to do the theory when I want is great.

I can see why intelligent people with a good maths brain can do this standing on their head, although from what I’ve seen sometimes the practical skills don’t come quite so easily for them.

I wouldn’t say it’s enjoyable, maybe it would be in a classroom, it’s necessary and I’m getting on with it nicely.

I enjoy my sailing but always do the minimum amount of nav I can get away with or I get my partner to do it.
 
Who wants the theory first? AFAIK there is no requirement for any certificates other than First Aid and Radio. You will certainly be quizzed on areas that are covered by the Shorebased YM course and if you are shaky I suspect the quizzing gets more painful but the knowledge, whether in RYA taught format or your own, is necessary to get the YM C of C.
 
awol said:
Who wants the theory first? AFAIK there is no requirement for any certificates other than First Aid and Radio....
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I may have read it wrong but I thought minimum requirements for the paperwork are what's now called Coastal/Offshore YM theory, VHF and First Aid.

To be honest after wading through a couple of hours of secondary port tidal calcs, crocodile graphs and tidal curves this afternoon on my own...I think it would have been more fun being gently steered through it by an instructor.

Preferably a nice looking one, French accent and sympathetic to my mistakes.

I think I may have gone cheap with the teach yourself approach.
 
Sorry if I am not understanding this correctly - but is there a requirement for the Yachtmaster Offshore to sit a theory exam before doing the practical?
 
West Coast said:
Sorry if I am not understanding this correctly - but is there a requirement for the Yachtmaster Offshore to sit a theory exam before doing the practical?
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Not according to the RYA website list of pre requirements. Which is a bit of a surprise. .

What difference it make to an individual examiner regarding the questions they might ask is anyones guess. The syllabus is quite extensive and the time available quite short.
I would suggest it’s a good idea to be able to show one has completed some form of written exam. If only to reduce the likely hood of having to answer the same questions in person to the examiner while under the durress of a practical exam.
 
mm42 said:
No, you just need knowledge to the level of YM Theory, no need to have passed the exam.
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But whether you have the YM Shore-based or not be prepared for questions on running fixes, secondary ports, tidal streams, meteorology, IRPCS, etc., etc.. The shakier you are, the harder they get. Having the certificate and claiming you knew it for the exam won't save you!
 
West Coast said:
As per title, thinking of taking the YM Offshore exam. Dont have any RYA certs other than the VHF radio course, only 45 years sailing and skippering my own boats. So considering first taking some shorebased courses to familiarise myself with RYA thinking, thereafter apply for exam on my own boat.

Any recommendations re clyde based courses, instructors and examiners? Im based in Clyde Marina in Ardrossan

Cheers
Click to expand...

You may find it helpful to have some knowledge of radar prior to taking the assessment.
 
Another recommendation for Dan Smith Sailing intuition, based in Largs. He can talk you through your goals and options, and maybe go for a sail with you, then help you make a plan to get you where you want to be. As others have said, a very helpful, experienced, and knowledgeable instructor, can't think of better in Scotland at the moment. Good luck with your journey.
 
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