YM practical Exam

[DeepAndy]

Hi all,

new member seeking some advice on the yachtmasters exam.

What is asked for in the safety briefing ?

How does the exam routine work .

Many thanks

Andy

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[Doffy]

Make the examiner feel as if you know the boat its safety items and use, what to do if something should happen.
Welcome him on board make him feel comfortable with you. go thro the people onboard who they are and position. Then onto the brief point out the emergency exits , fire points, comminications and Prompt card, flares and use, liferaft and its deployment. hope he has a enjoyable time on board and does he have any questions on the safety side of the vessel.
you are the man he is expecting you to show him you are in charge and know what your up to.

routine is
Brief, then question and answer, find the unlight mark at night answer questions on way. tidal hieghts can we get here at 0000hrs etc, more boathandling, blind navigation using radar,log and depth.
Its the worst exam ever but have a weeks tution/brush up first you'll be fine the examiners are great and will give you tips.

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[sailbadthesinner]

i have attended one on a yacht
basic drill was
hand all crew their own lifejacket and harness for them to stow in a place of their own
show them where the fire extinguishers are what each one does in terms of what should be pointed at what situation
emergency engine stop
life raft and lanyards are
tell them at that night life jacket and harness is obligatory
show them radio and procedure for may day and pan pan

if YM joins boat he may aqsk each crew member if thas has been done so either ostenstaiously do this in front of ym exaqminer or tell him this has gone on and give him his own briefing
finally put kettle on

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[peterandjeanette]

Agree with everything said so far.

Brush up week very necessary. Areas that I felt were not covered sufficiently in that week very well were:-

1. Single engine handling. All the boats I have ever owned have been outboards/outdrives. The exam boat was shaft driven. Totally different. Could have done with more practice.

2. Blind navigation. Didn't do any contour zig zagging in the week. The examiner expected this method to be used. Got to mark more by luck than judgement. Radar not allowed. Only log, stopwatch and depth guage.

Brush up on everything. If you have the necessary hours you should have covered all the requirements on your own already.

Totally nerve wracking, much sweating, very draining but the best feeling ever when he says "You've passed"

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[tcm]

There is a list of what's in a safety briefing on rya.co.uk

Normally, I understand YM would be on a twin shaft diesel. Yes, the blind nav is a bit freaky, needs practise. usually, you enrol on a week-long thiong with test at the end - then you get practice on the boat on which you'll do the test. I wdstronglty rec'd doing the theory course and exam first and recommend cmonline.com for web-based teaching. Then any iffy practical bits interspersed with "easier" theory questions - and you get tested on the lot during the practical.

Peterandjeanette - with which school did you do a weekand NO contour tracking - cos that's not very good really imho

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[powerskipper]

Hi andy.
What the examiner is looking for is
1. you are ok on the boat and safe,
2. and you can manage a crew,
This is important, stay relaxed, be yourself, do not shout, be polite to the crew, but firm if you need to be, He has to feel that he would let you take his family out without him their and they would be safe and enjoy it.
Hope this helps,
ALL THE BEST.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,

 

[DeepAndy]

Thanks all, some really good comments there.

I'm taking the exam on a 10 mt catamaran ( Power ) which has a MCA cat 2 ticket on her, so all safety kit is onbaord and up - 2 - date.

How many crew shoula i have along with me on the exam ?
What experience should they be ?


The safety briefing is along the lines like a airline stewardess , i take it ?


My experience has being employed on numerous dive salvage vessels aswell as a active member of my dive club taking the old ex Penlee 42 ft boat as a dive boat most weekends.

Employment while onboard is a Commercial diver when on a job , but transits in bewteen sites has been from emergency skipper , navigator ( electronic ) 1st mate/ mate of the watch...... having said that, we as crew on each company vessel know the drills in life jacket donning , liferaft launching, fire fighting ,,,

Just don't know how to give a briefing in this exam .

Many thanks again , waiting to see more comments . ;-)

Andy

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[powerskipper]

Think of the information you need to know for saftey and cover that in your safety brief. Fuel cut offs, where are the life jacket and flaires kept, is there a life raft and what to do to use it. VHF call sign and how set is used , if DSC, push button.
WhERE TO FIND POSTION ON GPS. Common sence, . don't make it a drama,KISS principle, Good luck.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,