RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

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Before you can join our RYA Yachtmaster Offshore preparation 'course' you need to have logged 2,500 nautical miles of sailing experience in tidal waters with six passages of over 60 miles (two of which you have skippered and two of which have been at night).

You can then join our 5 day preparation 'course' with one of our RYA Yachtmaster Instructor's who will take you through the practical exercises that could be asked of you in your RYA Yachtmaster examination.

We use the word 'course' with inverted commas as these 5 days spent with your Instructor as not formal tuition, since you will already have your skills and expertise.

During day one we take you through your different manoeuvres such as man overboard recovery and provide you with an assessment of what you need to work on during the remaining days.

We then give you the time to get used to sailing your yacht and to work on your skippering and to 'tweak' your manoeuvres. We also get you familiar with many of the harbours and rivers in the Solent, both day and night.

If we haven't sailed with you previously, we will ask you to complete our pre-RYA Yachtmaster questionaire which will help both you and us to confirm that you are ready to join our preparation course and the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam. This helps to prevent you wasting your time and money!

Your RYA instructor will regularly debrief and chat with you during the 5 days- so you get to know your strengths and weaknesses (we all have them!) and to give you opportunity to work on your weaknesses.

If we feel that you are not quite at the right level, we will let you know and with you, we will work up a 'sailing plan' for you to work on. As part of this, we may suggest postponing your exam, if we feel this will be of benefit to you.

We will not compromise the quality of your instruction by combining your preparation course with any RYA Day Skipper or RYA Competent Crew course!

The cost of our preparation 'course' includes your accommodation on board your yacht, home cooked breakfasts and lunches (all diets catered for) and drinks (non alcoholic). You can borrow waterproofs if required, free of charge.

Evening meals are not included, although you may cook aboard if you wish. A proportion of mooring fees (split between those aboard) are your only additional expense along with examination costs and charter for the exam.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination
An examination by independent RYA Examiner can follow the preparation 'course' and if successful you will be issued with your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification.

After your 5 days of preparation your RYA Instructor will leave your yacht and the RYA Examiner will step onboard. It will then be up to you to show the Examiner how well you can skipper the yacht and successfully complete manoeuvres under sail and power, along with pilotage both during the day and at night.

On joining the exam you will need to show your Examiner your VHF Marine Radio Short Range Certificate, your First Aid certificate and your Sea Survival course certificate. You will also need to show your Log Book.

We are based at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport which is easily accessible by direct train from London Waterloo into Portsmouth Harbour, or by road. We are 15 minutes from the M27 motorway (junction 9) and parking at our marina is free!

Our next RYA Yachtmaster Offshore preparation 'courses' and examinations:

* There is a examination fee of £163 (as at January 2009) payable to the RYA. Contact us for further details and other dates.