RYA Yachtmaster Theory - Online Course

RYA Competent Crew Practical Course

RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course 

Yachtmaster™ Coastal exam pre-requisites

What Kind Of Boat Can I Take The Exam On?

You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.

The boat used must be between 7m and 18m LOA and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA book Cruising Yacht Safety (code C8). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications and be efficiently crewed, as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.

Before you book your exam please check that you:

1. Can provide a boat (either your own or a training centre’s boat)
2. Have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
3. Hold an SRC (Short Range Certificate) or higher level GMDSS radio operators qualification
4. Hold a valid first aid certificate
5. Have read the syllabus in the RYA Logbook (code G158)
6. Have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA’s codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed

Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam pre-requisites

What Kind Of Boat Can I Take The Exam On?

You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.

The boat used must be between 7m and 18m (LOA) and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook 2nd Edition (code G103). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications along with working instruments and either plotter or GPS. In addition to the candidate there should be two crew on board as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.

There may be vessels that will meet the guidelines outlined above but by virtue of their layout, construction, handling characteristics or other factors may be unsuitable for use for an RYA Yachtmaster™ Practical examination. The RYA reserves the right to refuse an exam on a vessel that, in the view of the RYA Chief Examiner, will not allow the examiner to conduct an examination to the standard required by the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Qualification Panel.

Before you book your exam please check that you:

1. can provide a boat
2. have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
3. hold a n SRC (Short Range Certificate) or higher level GMDSS radio operators qualification
4. hold a valid first aid certificate
5. have read the syllabus in RYA Logbook (G158)
6. have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA’s codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed

Yachtmaster Exam Fees (2023)

Basic Skills Course

The Sail Cruising Basic Skills Course builds on the skills gained during your Sailing course, with the main focus being on the skills required to sail a cruising yacht.

This course is great for families or individuals who wish to improve their existing yacht handling skills under sail. Although primarily aimed at improving the skills of someone who has completed the Sail Cruising Start Sailing course, if a student has completed a Start Sailing course under the National Sailing scheme (ie in smaller keelboats or dinghies) they would also be eligible to attend this course.

This course is also very useful for improving the ability of an existing Competent Crew or Day Skipper to handle a yacht under sail. It covers all the sailing techniques and manoeuvres on a yacht under sail both as crew and helm, including slipping and coming alongside under sail, some basic yacht handling under power, sailing theory and basic safety including personal safety at sea, and sailing a yacht in tide or current.

On completion of this course, you will have a basic knowledge of sailing and be capable of sailing a yacht as crew and helm with a skipper on board in light winds.

It is assumed that every student starting this course has already mastered the practical skills and absorbed the background knowledge required for 

Start Sailing. Both courses can be combined which will then count towards two days of a Competent Crew Course.  

Duration: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or two full days).

What is a commercial endorsement?

A commercial endorsement is required for 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.

Which certificates can be commercially endorsed?

The following certificates can receive the standard commercial endorsement:

Course completion certificates: 

• RYA Level 2 Powerboat Handling Certificate
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate (only if issued before 1 January 2005)         
• RYA Day Skipper practical course completion certificate supported by a Day Skipper shorebased course completion certificate. The Day Skipper shorebased course may be undertaken online or in the classroom. In either case, the exams must be invigilated.

Certificates of competence:

• RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence  

In addition, the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence can receive the STCW endorsement.

Which certificate do I need?

The MCA’s codes of practice categorise British flagged commercial yachts according to the type of yacht and the waters in which they operate. It is this categorisation that determines which of the above certificates you will need. See the MCA’s table of manning requirements.

The RYA is a certifying authority for the codes of practice and can give advice on the coding and categorisation of commercial yachts. Find out more about the ‘Requirements for commercial craft’ here’. 

How do I apply for a standard commercial endorsement?

Send the following items to RYA Certification, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Hampshire SO31 4YA:

• Your original certificate – see list above
• Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate
• A commercial endorsement application form  
• Your original, completed ML5 Medical Report Form or ENG1 medical fitness form a photocopy of your ML5 if version MSF 4112 REV 02/23 or ENG1 Medical will be accepted
  
  Note: We can only accept the latest version of the ML5 form (currently MSF 4112 / Rev 02/23). Skippers working in category 1 or 0 waters will need the ENG1 medical. A list of approved doctors can be found on the MCA website. See note below on medical referrals.
• A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques
• A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate.
• A passport sized photo with your name on the back
• The application fee

Medical referrals

If your Doctor has entered any “Yes ticks” on your ML5 Medical Report form then your ML5 Medical will need to be referred onto the MCA to be reviewed and you will be required to complete Part D the Medical Review on page 12/16 of your ML5 Medical to provide the RYA with additional information to submit to the MCA. The MCA will not be able to give a decision on the issue of your Commercial Endorsement if this section is not completed in full. Please note the MCA will not accept any ML5 Medicals which are more than one year old

If you are issued with a restricted ENG1 or ML5 Certificate of Medical Fitness then your RYA Commercial endorsement will also be issued with restrictions. If you are considering a seagoing career the RYA and Maritime and Coastguard Agency strongly advise that you undergo a medical or sight test, which includes testing of colour and visual acuity, before starting training. Restrictions on a ENG1 certificate will prevent you gaining STCW qualifications for vessels greater than 24m in length.

Professional Practices and Responsibilities course

Since April 2012 it has been a requirement for commercial endorsement holders to take the online Professional Practices and Responsibilities course (PPR).

All new applicants for the endorsement must take the course prior to submitting their application.

Existing commercial endorsement holders who gained their endorsement prior to April 2012 will be required to take the course prior to their next revalidation. More details are available here.

Re-validating your commercial endorsement

All commercial endorsements must be revalidated every five years by proving at least 150 days of actual sea service on appropriate vessels during the previous five years, and be in possession of a valid medical fitness certificate. 

If you are unable to prove the requisite sea service but are able to demonstrate that during at least half of the five year period you have been employed on duties closely associated with the management and operation of one or more of the appropriate types of vessels, you may have your certificate considered for revalidation. 

You can download a revalidation form here.

Further Information Can Be Found On The RYA Website

CLICK: RYA – ICC Further Information

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