The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore Certificate of Competence is a globally respected qualification, often seen as the pinnacle for aspiring skippers. It demonstrates your experience, knowledge, and ability to skipper a yacht in more demanding situations, whether for recreational or professional purposes. Our Yachtmaster Preparation Course provides comprehensive, practical training to prepare you for the rigorous Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam. Over the course of five days, you’ll brush up on advanced skippering techniques, navigation, and boat handling, ensuring you are well-prepared to face the challenges of the exam.
The preparation course is a practical, hands-on week that focuses on the essential skills needed to pass the Yachtmaster exam. Early in the week, your instructor will assess your strengths and areas for improvement, helping you refine your abilities in preparation for the exam.
You’ll cover:
The Yachtmaster exam is a rigorous test of your practical sailing abilities, seamanship, and theoretical knowledge. Over the course of 2 days, the examiner will ask you to skipper several short passages and demonstrate key skills like navigation, boat handling, and emergency procedures.
The course is based at Brighton Marina, offering easy access to diverse sailing conditions in the English Channel. From here, you’ll be navigating coastal routes along the South Coast and possibly beyond to destinations like the Solent or France, giving you varied experiences in different maritime conditions.
To enrol in the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam, you must meet specific sea time requirements:
For Yachtmaster Coastal:
For Yachtmaster Offshore:
We are committed to providing high-quality, tailored instruction that prepares you for success in the RYA Yachtmaster exams. Our small group sizes ensure personalised attention, and our instructors are experienced professionals who understand the demands of the exam. Based at Brighton Marina, you’ll have access to challenging and varied sailing conditions, which provide the perfect environment for refining your skills. With well-maintained Beneteau yachts and thorough preparation, we’ll ensure you’re ready to confidently tackle the Yachtmaster exam and earn this prestigious qualification.
Book your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore preparation course today and take the next step towards mastering the art of skippering!
We are located at Brighton Marina. You will be sent the full address and postcode upon booking, but here is a guide to finding us:
Be prepared for changeable weather, bring plenty of layers
Quick drying clothes can be very practical, avoid jeans
The Yachtmaster Coastal qualification is for those who have experience skippering in coastal waters, typically up to 60 miles from shore. The Yachtmaster Offshore qualification is for more experienced skippers who are capable of skippering on extended offshore passages, day and night, in more demanding conditions.
The preparation course runs for 5 days, during which you will refine your skills, practice key manoeuvres, and brush up on navigation and passage planning. The exam lasts 8-12 hours for one candidate or 10-18 hours for two candidates. The exam can be completed over one or two days, depending on the number of participants.
During the preparation week, you’ll cover the key skills required for the Yachtmaster exam, including:
Your instructor will assess your strengths and weaknesses early in the week and help you improve any areas that need development before the exam.
The course is based at Brighton Marina. Brighton Marina provides an ideal environment for the Yachtmaster preparation, offering varied and challenging sailing conditions. You’ll practice coastal navigation, pilotage, and boat handling in both sheltered and open waters, with potential trips to destinations like the Solent or even across the Channel to France.
Before joining the preparation course, ensure you meet the prerequisite sea time and logged miles. We highly recommend completing the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course before attending, as this will help solidify your understanding of navigation, passage planning, and weather systems. Brush up on International Collision Regulations (IRPCS) and safety protocols as these are key parts of the exam.
The exam assesses your practical sailing skills, seamanship, and theoretical knowledge. You will be asked to skipper several short passages and demonstrate your ability to manage the yacht and crew.
You’ll be tested on:
The examiner will evaluate your leadership and problem-solving skills, particularly in challenging conditions.
Yes, we offer own boat tuition for the Yachtmaster preparation and exam. If you feel more comfortable using your own yacht, this can be arranged. Just let us know when booking, and we’ll discuss the necessary requirements and safety standards for your vessel.
The Yachtmaster qualification opens up a world of opportunities. You’ll be able to skipper yachts for leisure or professional purposes, charter yachts internationally, and explore more challenging sailing environments. It’s also a stepping stone towards more advanced qualifications like the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or commercial endorsements for professional skippers.
About the centre
Brighton
Very informative but explained in an easy to understand way
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Somerset and Dorset, United Kingdom
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Somerset and Dorset, United Kingdom
From £450
