An RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers.
Well known and highly respected worldwide, this qualification proves your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike the other courses in our Caribbean RYA cruising program, there is no formal training to complete in order to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Grenada Bluewater Sailing highly recommends attending the Yachtmaster Preparation course to fine tune your sailing skills and focus your knowledge base.
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal means that you have knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises. You do not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.
The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore deems you competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour. The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence can be commercially endorsed in order to work on board British flagged vessels, subject to the MCA’s codes of practice for small commercial vessels. A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement.
RYA Yachtmaster Preparation
Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates choose to complete the Yachtmaster Preparation course for the benefit of tailor-made Caribbean sailing tuition prior to the examination. Provided that you have sufficient experience and sea time, you are then put forward as a candidate for the Yachtmaster exam on board Chao Lay.
Click here for helpful information from the RYA on passing your exam.
RYA Yachtmaster Mile Building Charters
If you do not have the required experience and sea time, we would recommend booking on one of our Grenada Bluewater Sailing mile building cruises. We offer these exciting and adventurous trips throughout the year in the Caribbean – please check our schedule for upcoming events.
Working with a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence will enable you to skipper vessels up to 24 metres in length, operating in category 3,4,5, and 6 waters – up to 20 miles from a safe haven.
Working with a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence will enable you to work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters – that is up to 150 miles from a safe haven.
This Certificate of Competence can used commercially in its own right, or as a pre-requisite for the MCA’s Officer of the Watch qualification, which enables you to work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt.
Working with a Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence will enable you to work worldwide as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt.
This Certificate of Competence can be used commercially in its own right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA’s Chief Mate, Master 500 and Master 3000 qualifications.
Grenada – Ideal Caribbean Sailing
Grenada and the Grenadines, located in the windward islands of the Caribbean Sea, is the perfect location to complete this tuition offering tidal conditions and some of the most beautiful scenery in the Caribbean.
Book your RYA Yachtmaster Preparation course today and achieve your professional dreams!
Yachtmaster™ Coastal Exam Prerequisites |
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| Minimum seatime | 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters. |
| Form of exam | Practical |
| Certification required | A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate – click here for a list of acceptable first aid certificates. |
| Minimum exam duration | 6-10 hours for 1 candidate, 8-14 hours for 2 candidates |
| Minimum age | 17 |
Yachtmaster™ Offshore Exam Prerequisites |
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| Minimum seatime | 50 days, 2,500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam. |
| Form of exam | Practical |
| Certification required | A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate – click here for a list of acceptable first aid certificates. |
| Minimum exam duration | 8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-18 hours for 2 candidates. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours and no more than four candidates can be examined in one 2 day session. |
| Minimum age | 18 |
Yachtmaster Ocean Exam Prerequisites |
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| Minimum seatime | Ocean passage as skipper or mate of watch. The candidate was fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, storing spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine; During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of 600 miles must have been run by the log, the yacht must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and the yacht must have been more than 50 miles from land while sailing a distance of at least 200 miles. Please see the ‘definition of passage’. All qualifying sea time must be within 10 years prior to the exam.Click here to see the definition of a passage. |
| Form of exam | Oral and written assessment of sights take at sea. If you hold the Yachtmaster Ocean shore-based certificate you are exempt from the written assessment. |
| Certification required | Hold a DoT Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate issued prior to 1973 or an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. An RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate does not qualify.A restricted (VHF only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate – click here for a list of acceptable first aid certificates. |
| Minimum exam duration | Approximately 1.5 hours |