yachtmaster offshore exam

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ErikKiekens

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The RYA requires a number of miles experience before you can do the exam. What kind of proof do they need / accept?
Reason for asking is that my son has sailed with me ever since he was born, but he doesn't have anything like his own logbook or so.
Any thoughts?
Enrico el Capitan
 
ErikKiekens said:
The RYA requires a number of miles experience before you can do the exam. What kind of proof do they need / accept?
Reason for asking is that my son has sailed with me ever since he was born, but he doesn't have anything like his own logbook or so.
Any thoughts?
Enrico el Capitan
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If he's old enough to be taking the exam then it's likely he's had a Facebook account and mobile phone with camera for a while. You'd be surprised how easy it is to retrospectively fill out a log book by looking at old posts and photos. I don't believe you need a log book but making a few notes of bigger voyages where he was in charge of the yacht will help with the conversation. Hopefully you've let him take charge as that's the experience they will be looking for rather than him being crew for the last umpteen years.
 
I did my YM in 2007 age 47 with no log book. I filled out the RYA book and got to something like 24,000 miles I think. Whilst walking to the boat, the examiner asked me lots of questions, several of which seemed geared to proving my log details, and others geared to what i knew about my boat.

The examiner will soon know if his mileage statements are true.
 
I can't speak for other examiners, but I can let you know that the official guidance is that I must be satisfied, before proceeding the practical exam, that all the official requirements have been met. There is no mention of examining log books, but having a record of passages made is a good start for conversations about a candidates experience. As others have said, you can soon tell if someone is trying to wing it.
 
I want a commercial endorsement for my YM, to drive a COP 2 workboat. I only have YM theory. The MCA thought that the RYA would be able to nod me through given my experience, but when I rang them they only wanted to sign me up for buying the practical. I will have to do the fishing skipper 5 day, which the MCA regards as superior to the YM, (Except that YM is internationally recognised) on which my experience nods me through. Unless anyone knows different.....
 
fisherman said:
I want a commercial endorsement for my YM, to drive a COP 2 workboat. I only have YM theory. The MCA thought that the RYA would be able to nod me through given my experience, but when I rang them they only wanted to sign me up for buying the practical. I will have to do the fishing skipper 5 day, which the MCA regards as superior to the YM, (Except that YM is internationally recognised) on which my experience nods me through. Unless anyone knows different.....
Click to expand...

Hi fisherman, who does the practical exams for the fishing skipper ticket? Where can I find the requirements etc? cheers Jerry
 
ErikKiekens said:
my son has sailed with me ever since he was born, but he doesn't have anything like his own logbook or so.
Any thoughts?
Enrico el Capitan
Click to expand...
I also sailed with my father for many years and miles and even though I knew a lot I hadn't had much experience of being in charge, making the decisions and also giving directions to the crew. I did my YM a few years later after I'd skippered or worked as watch leader/navigator and covered a few more miles. It's not just miles sailed but miles sailed in a position of responsibility.
 
ErikKiekens said:
...What kind of proof do they need / accept? ...
Click to expand...

A couple of people have been sailing with me and subsequently decided to take the YM practical test (no actual need to have sat the theory at all, you can just call the RYA and say 'come and examine me on board'). I looked through my old log books and made a spreadsheet of the trips we'd had together with columns for: Date, From, To, Duration(hrs), Miles, Night hours, and Notes. I then printed it and signed it as skipper. In the notes I typically put things like "SW9, poor vis and rough" or "xxx watch leader".

These was accepted by the examiners without problem, presumably as the candidates had actually been there and done it!
 
fisherman said:
I want a commercial endorsement for my YM, to drive a COP 2 workboat. I only have YM theory. The MCA thought that the RYA would be able to nod me through given my experience, but when I rang them they only wanted to sign me up for buying the practical. I will have to do the fishing skipper 5 day, which the MCA regards as superior to the YM, (Except that YM is internationally recognised) on which my experience nods me through. Unless anyone knows different.....
Click to expand...

You don't need a course. You just need to take the practical assessment. I've examined a few commercial fishermen for their YM practical (sail or power) and it's always been a pleasure. One candidate is supposed to take 8 to 12 hours. Just provide a suitable boat and crew and off you go. I don't know whether its cheaper or more expensive than the fishing ticket?
 
john_morris_uk said:
You don't need a course. You just need to take the practical assessment. I've examined a few commercial fishermen for their YM practical (sail or power) and it's always been a pleasure. One candidate is supposed to take 8 to 12 hours. Just provide a suitable boat and crew and off you go. I don't know whether its cheaper or more expensive than the fishing ticket?
Click to expand...

Fishing ticket free to me at the moment, except for GMDSS at £30 so not onerous. Time is the thing, I can get it all by end of March I think. If not do I take the practical in my own FV?
 
Beware of also having sailed mls and having sailed being responsible for decisions. When I did my YM there was one person whom I am certain was truthful and had sailed many mls but it was obvious just as crew.

For qualifying passages on my boat I make it clear that they must be the skipper and I am crew. I will question the passage plan etc but never interfere unless a decision is risky. You can often learn more from a wrong decision / course to steer etc even if journey takes a lot longer.
 
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