Do I need prior sailing experience to join this course?

Yes, participants are expected to have already logged sufficient sea time and have foundational sailing experience. This includes experience in navigation, helm work, handling sails under different conditions, and basic watch-keeping. The course is designed to refine and consolidate these skills, not teach absolute beginners. Even if your experience is mostly coastal, this course will build your confidence in open water, night sailing, and handling a larger vessel in various sea conditions. You’ll receive personalised coaching to fill gaps in your skills and prepare you specifically for the Yachtmaster exam requirements.

What qualifications will I be prepared for?

The course prepares you for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical exam. The Coastal certificate is ideal for those looking to skipper short passages up to 60 miles offshore, while the Offshore certificate equips you to command a vessel on extended passages. Preparation includes full exam syllabus coverage: passage planning, navigation, collision regulations, emergency procedures, pilotage, tidal planning, and night sailing. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to take the external RYA assessment with confidence.

How hands-on is the training?

This is a fully hands-on, live-aboard course. You will participate in all aspects of running the vessel, including raising and lowering sails, steering, anchoring, navigation, and watch duties. Each participant is expected to take an active role while under instruction. The instructor will monitor and guide your progress throughout the week, offering tips and corrective feedback. Those who prefer observation can still gain value by seeing techniques applied and understanding command decisions.

What happens if the weather is challenging?

The course is designed to teach skippering in real conditions, so participants may encounter varying wind, tides, and sea states. The instructor will adjust the syllabus and training opportunities to ensure safety while maximising learning. You’ll gain valuable experience making operational and navigational decisions in less-than-ideal conditions, an essential part of preparation for practical exams and real-life skippering situations.

Is accommodation included?

Yes, the course is live-aboard for all seven nights. You’ll stay in comfortable bunks on the vessel, with communal areas below deck for meals and relaxation. Living on board provides continuous exposure to practical skippering and watch-keeping responsibilities. Meals are included and prepared on board, with hot drinks and snacks available throughout the day. The live-aboard format allows for immersion in the skippering environment, simulating the conditions of real offshore passages.

Are night sails and watches included?

Yes, night passages and watches are a key component of the syllabus. You’ll learn how to plan and execute passages after dark, maintain proper lookout, handle navigation lights, and safely manage watch rotations. Night sailing provides essential experience for Yachtmaster preparation. You’ll practice maintaining course, monitoring the vessel and environmental conditions, and making decisions as skipper under the guidance of your instructor.

What exam fees and requirements should I be aware of?

The RYA exam fee is not included in the course price and must be paid directly to the RYA at the end of the preparation week if you feel ready. Currently, fees are £208 for Coastal and £241 for Offshore. Participants must present their logbook documenting required sea time, a valid radio operators certificate, first aid certificate, and photographic ID to be eligible for the examination. The instructor will advise on readiness for assessment during the course.

How is individual progress assessed?

Your instructor will continuously observe and give feedback throughout the week. Skill assessments cover all aspects of skippering: helm control, sail handling, passage planning, navigation, emergency procedures, and leadership. Regular informal checks allow the instructor to tailor training to each participant. By the end of the week, you will receive personalised guidance on areas of strength and improvement, ensuring you are fully prepared for the exam.

7-Night RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Prep Week & Exam in Plymouth

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Get ready for a full‑week skippering course on a traditional wooden sailing vessel, designed to prepare you for the Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore exam. You’ll live, learn and sail from Plymouth for seven nights in a small group, gaining practical experience in a real‑world setting. All onboard accommodation, meals, waterproofs and safety equipment are included to keep the focus on your training.

⛵ Key Details

Duration: 7 nights, embark 4pm – disembark 12 noon
Age: 18 and over
Group size: Maximum 4 participants
Location: Plymouth Yacht Haven, Plymouth

🗺️ What to Expect

Across the week you’ll be immersed in a skippering environment, living on board and operating the vessel as a team. The first days focus on sharpening all core skills: sail handling, helm work on both sail and engine, close‑quarters manoeuvring, pilotage, passage planning and navigation. Expect day and night watches, real tidal streams, varied harbour entries and exits, making decisions, and performing as part of a crew under instruction. The instructor will assess your performances and tailor training to your needs, so you’ll receive plenty of individual feedback.

In the latter part of the week the focus shifts to consolidation and exam preparation. You’ll practise full passages, refine your command role, deal with real scenarios, master safety and emergency drills, and sharpen your tidal awareness and night navigation. When you and the instructor agree you’re ready, an external examiner from the RYA is brought on board to assess your performance in real conditions. Successful candidates earn their Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore certificate of competence.

🚤 Vessel

The course takes place aboard a historic wooden sailing vessel operated by us, offering a genuine traditional sailing experience. She is rigged and maintained to a high standard, with classic oak frames, teak planking and strong structural design, giving you the feel of sailing a vessel with real heritage. The size and handling of the boat make her ideal for intensive training with a small group – everyone gets hands‑on involvement.

Below deck you’ll find comfortable bunk cabins, communal saloon and galley functioning as the live‑aboard environment for the week. On deck you’ll engage in raising and lowering sails, helming, watch‑keeping and crew duties. This vessel provides the perfect setting to build skippering confidence in real conditions, in a supportive but demanding environment.

📍 Location

Starting and ending at Plymouth Yacht Haven in Plymouth, the course gives you access to one of the UK’s most varied and challenging coastal sailing areas. From this base you’ll engage with tidal waters, estuaries, open sea passages and variable weather – all within reach. The combination of sheltered harbours and exposed coastal stretches makes this an ideal training ground for skippering.

During the week you’ll sail along the South Devon and Cornwall coast, tackling real tides, navigation around islands and headlands, and watching how weather and wind conditions evolve. The variety and complexity of the waters around Plymouth give you a full spectrum of skippering scenarios – excellent preparation for the exam and beyond.

✅ Prerequisites

Candidates should already hold the theory and practical experience required by the RYA for the Yachtmaster exam. For example, to take the Yachtmaster Coastal exam you’ll need approximately 30 days at sea, 800 nautical miles logged, 12 night hours and two days as skipper (reduced if you hold a Coastal Skipper certificate).

You must also hold a recognised radio operators certificate (for example GMDSS Short Range Certificate) and a valid first aid certificate. The examiner will expect these documents alongside your logbook and ID.

🌟 Why Choose Us

With a small group size of just four candidates, you receive intensive personal coaching, plenty of time at the helm and direct feedback from an experienced instructor. The live‑aboard format means you’re living and learning in the real environment of skippering a vessel for a week, not just day sessions.

In addition, your training takes place aboard a vessel with character and heritage, giving you more than just a standard course – you’ll appreciate traditional wooden boat sailing while preparing for serious qualifications. Booking this course also supports our wider mission to make sailing accessible and inclusive, so you’ll be contributing to something worthwhile as you build your skills.