RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore Preparation Week

Training Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for training course joining instructions

The RYA Yachtmaster Exam application fee isn’t included in the above cost. Please click here to print-off the RYA Yachtmaster exam application form:

What is included in the training course cost:

• Yacht use 7 days total (5 days prep + 2 days for the exam)
• RYA Qualified Instructor
• RYA training course materials (Use of)
• Breakfast, lunches, snacks and three evening meals (One evening meal is taken ashore at the students own cost, food is simple ‘one pot’ meals like casseroles, chillis, curries, pasta etc for evening meals)
• Tea, coffee & soft drinks
• Accommodation on board
• Diesel
• Cooking gas
• Wet weather kit hire (not footwear)
• Hire of a Baltic automatic life jacket

We can accommodate most dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian or gluten free. Just let us know when you fill out the booking form.

Recommended Reading: RYA Yachtmaster Handbook Sail (G70), RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques (G94), RYA Yachtmaster scheme and syllabus (G158)

Training Course Prerequisites:

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal:

• 15 days at sea, 2 days as skipper (Not on a course)
• 800miles sailing (reduced to 400 if you have RYA Coastal Skipper)
• 8 night hours sailing
• Day Skipper Theory (or knowledge to the level of).
• VHF Operators certificate
• First Aid Certificate
• Minimum Age: 18+

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore:

• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500gt² which may be reduced to 25 days if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• 5 days as skipper on vessels less than 24m LOA, which may be reduced to 3 days if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• 2500 miles on yachts up to 500gt², which may be reduced to 1250 miles if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• 5 passages over 60 miles long, which must include 2 overnight passages and 2 as skipper, which may be reduced to 3 passages  including 1 overnight and 1 as skipper if the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• VHF Operators certificate
• First Aid Certificate
• Minimum Age: 18+

What Does the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate Recognise?

The Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence recognises that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience to take command of a cruising yacht and its crew, safely and confidently, on coastal and offshore passages—so long as you remain within 150 nautical miles of a safe haven. This includes navigating challenging conditions, managing your vessel day and night, and taking responsibility for everyone on board. In other words, this certificate confirms you’re trusted to skipper substantial journeys beyond coastal waters—but not quite round-the-world epics!

Eligible Vessels for Qualifying Passages

To ensure your sea time counts toward your RYA Yachtmaster exam, you’ll need to make your qualifying passages on the right sort of vessel. Here’s what you need to know:

• For Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore: Qualifying passages must be completed on yachts between 7 metres waterline length (LWL) and less than 24 metres length overall (LOA) and weighing under 80GT. Larger vessels do not count unless you are pursuing Yachtmaster Ocean.
• For Yachtmaster Ocean: Passages can be completed on vessels up to 500 gross tonnes, giving a bit more flexibility at this advanced level. That means craft between 7m LWL and 24m LOA (up to 80GT) are always eligible, and for Ocean, vessels over 24m and up to 500GT also qualify.

Remember, at least half your seatime must be on tidal waters, completed on vessels matching the discipline of your exam—so sail for sailing candidates, power for power. Always check your vessel’s specs before you set off!

Recommended Experience Levels

To get the most out of your Yachtmaster journey (and impress your examiner), you’ll want to arrive with the right sea miles and hands-on knowledge under your foulies.

For Yachtmaster Coastal:
You should have logged at least 800 miles at sea, or 400 miles if you’ve completed the RYA Coastal Skipper course. Expect to demonstrate solid command over essential sailing techniques, but don’t worry—you’re not required to show quite the breadth of experience expected at the Offshore level.

For Yachtmaster Offshore:
This is a step up: candidates should come with a minimum of 2,500 miles under their belt. What’s even more important? That your experience includes passages in a mix of unfamiliar waters, plus some time managing crew, and setting watches (yes, night sailing counts!). The examiner will expect you to show confidence not just in boat handling, but also in decision-making over longer distances and different conditions.

Bringing this level of experience will ensure you not only meet the prerequisites, but also gain real value from the preparation and exam itself.

Holiday Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of souces like Topsail Insurance and can cover things like cancellations and personal effects cover.

Read more

What we cover on the training course:

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore Preparation & Training Week aims to refine your existing skills and abilities as a Skipper and Yachtsman. The five days of the training course will be used to first assess and then polish your skills to perfection in order to help you achieve your goal.

We will do a thorough assessment on your Skippering and navigational techniques, including close quarter sailing skills, man overboard recovery, pilotage, passage planning and much more, to give your trainer the best idea and pathway to achieve your goals.

Read more

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore Preparation & training week aims to refine your existing skills and abilities as a Skipper and Yachtsman. The five days of the training course will be used to first assess and then polish your skills to perfection in order to help you achieve your goal.
We will do a thorough assessment on your Skippering and navigational techniques, including close quarter sailing skills, man overboard recovery, pilotage, passage planning and much more, to give your trainer the best idea and pathway to achieve your goals.
What to Expect During Exam Preparation
Your RYA exam preparation time will concentrate on the practical and theoretical areas you’ll most need to master for success. This includes:

Passage planning: Charting your course and planning for contingencies both in daylight and at night.
Pilotage: Navigating challenging harbours and approaches using both traditional and modern techniques.
Close quarters boat handling: Manoeuvring under sail and power in tight spaces, with attention to safety and precision.
Man overboard drills: Practicing recovery techniques under varied conditions to ensure competence and confidence.
Navigation and pilotage tasks: Set both during the day and at night to test and improve your skills in real-world scenarios.

Throughout the course, an experienced instructor will be on hand to identify areas where you can improve, strengthen your knowledge, and help you build the confidence you need. Candidates will be set navigation and pilotage tasks both during daylight and after dark, with ongoing feedback and guidance to ensure steady progress.
During the FIVE days of preparation you will be fully debriefed every day and sometimes after each individual exercise as needed. You will be given details of areas you need to work on to guide you through to the best possible outcome.
With practice and thorough preparation, you should be able to relax sufficiently to let your skills shine through any exam nerves. Remember that the more practice you do, the better you become at something and the higher the chance of success. Practice makes perfect!
To give you the best chance of passing, the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Coastal preparation course is over FIVE days, with a break on the fifth evening to give you some needed rest time before your exam which begins on the sixth day of the week.
This gives you the best opportunity to ensure you are fully refreshed and motivated in order to pass the exam.
On this course you will be heavily tested and pushed by our Instructor. Brushing up on your theory beforehand and self-testing really helps prepare you for the exam.
You will need to make sure your theory knowledge is up to scratch.
Our Chief Instructor says this about the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore Preparation Week:
This course steps things up even further and ends with you gaining a Professional qualification!
The skills below are the ones you will need to be good at before you attend a Yachtmaster Preparation Week Course:

Execute MOB under sail & motor
Pick up a mooring buoy under sail in various conditions of wind and tide, as well as under power.
Leave a mooring buoy under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
Dropping the anchor under sail or power in various conditions of wind and tide
Weigh the anchor under sail in various conditions of wind and tide
Reef sails under sail
Handle a boat in confined areas under sail and power
Berthing under power or sail in various conditions, and leaving the berths.