yacht master england

• Certificates of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster

What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Instead, provided you have sufficient experience, certification and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. There are a number of RYA navigation courses that will help you prepare for your exam. Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates also choose to book themselves into an RYA training centre for some specialised exam preparation training, but this is not compulsory.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

• Arranging your exam

The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees and how to book. 

With an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence you can start a career at sea.

You'll need to have the appropriate qualification for the vessel and area of operation.

If you want to work commercially, you'll need a commercial endorsement.

Find out more about other RYA professional qualifications.

• Getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course

Can you really become an RYA Yachtmaster in as little as 14 weeks? Check out our top tips for getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course...

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Late notice spaces available for selected courses - click here for details

RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track

Price: from £10,500 (£1,000 deposit to secure your space)

Location: Starts from our base at Premier Gosport Marina, and visits different ports around the Solent and adjacent waters

Duration: 18 Weeks

The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track course takes you from limited or zero sailing experience all the way up to a fully qualified RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ , with all the required practical, theory courses, mile-building and sailing experience you’ll need to help get you qualified*.

Developed by some of the best RYA Yachtmaster Instructors and world-leading Marine industry experts, our Yachtmaster Fast Track scheme is far more comprehensive and better value than the competition – Compare what we offer against others!

Why go elsewhere? Book your place on our next RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track course!

Booking details

Please select your preferred start date below.

• Monday 3rd February 2025 (4 spaces)

Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for 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 :

Recommended Reading: RYA Day Skipper Handbook Sail (G71), RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques (G94), RYA Yachtmaster™ scheme and syllabus (G158), Commodore Yachting programme syllabus

Course Prerequisites: None required, although some sailing experience is preferred.

Minimum Age: 18+

Holiday & Skippers Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday & Skippers 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.

This course is an investment in yourself. We will take you from a raw student to RYA Yachtmaster™ within an 18 week programme syllabu s.

With the skills learnt on the programme you will have a great, foundation ready to start your professional career.

Read more about what we offer on our RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme that other centres don’t, here .

Who is the course for:

The RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme is designed for anyone who wants to make the sea their choice of career, and is dedicated and determined enough to invest heavily in themselves over a defined timeframe.

This course will to take your sailing to the next level with a highly respected and well-recognised professional qualification at the end.

It’s well advised that you have undertaken some sailing recently and have completed at least 100 sea miles.

This course is demanding and requires a lot of input, effort and dedication from you.  We will give you all the support and guidance you need in order to help you achieve the ultimate end-goal that is the award of an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ qualification.

What we cover on the course:

This 18 week RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme will take you from a raw student to RYA Yachtmaster™, and will cover a variety of courses and sailing exercises during your time with us.

By the end of the programme you will have hopefully achieved the end-goal in that you will be an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ with a great professional sailing career ahead of you.

The courses and events you’ll undertake on the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme are:

• RYA Competent Crew (Twice!)
• RYA Day Skipper Theory
• RYA Day Skipper Practical (Twice!)
• RYA SRC/VHF
• RYA First Aid at Sea
• RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal Theory (Twice!)
• RYA Yachtmaster™ Preparation (Twice!)
• RYA Yachtmaster Exam (Exam fees at students own cost)
• Self-sailing weeks & mile-building time (Yacht charter – No instructor on board)
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• Diesel engine maintenance
• Yacht maintenance
• Plus various internal courses and teaching sessions

Check out what we offer against other providers – We provide the most comprehensive package in the industry, giving you better value for money.

We put you through selected training courses twice, reinforcing your learning experience without putting you under pressure to get it right first time around.

Accommodation is also included for the full 18 weeks, even during shore-time courses*

We even provide you with a full set of new wet-weather kit to take away with you upon completion of the course.

Why go anywhere else?

*Subject to boat availability

Course formats & details:

Courses run in a single format:

• 18 weeks duration

The final programme and series of courses, training time and self-experience sessions will be scheduled and agreed upon commencement. Take a look at our RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme syllabus .

Taken over a continuous 18 week period with allotted breaks for self-learning, self-sailing and revision time, this course demands dedication and hard work. The course syllabus is intensive yet achievable, and is structured to give you the best chance of success.*

If you want further information for our RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme , take a look at our detailed syllabus .

*Qualification subject to the student demonstrating a satisfactory level of performance on the RYA Yachtmaster exam to the examiners satisfaction. Passing this course is not guaranteed.

Our Principal says this about the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fastrack Course:

Ok so this is the big one, this is your gateway entry into a professional career in sailing, and all the places it’ll take you.

This programme will fully immerse you in the world of sailing, and will push you to your limits, demanding maximum effort from you at all times. It’s not an undertaking for anyone who thinks it’ll be easy, so prepare yourself for what will  be a very demanding yet ultimately extremely satisfying investment in yourself!

Working closely with our team, you will be taught a number of different techniques and skills. You’ll build an incredible depth of knowledge and confidence that will take you forwards into your new career.

You will be sharing accommodation with your fellow students so will have to work together as a team and be adults about accommodation and sleeping arrangements.

We’ll start you off with the basics, and will encourage, guide and drive you until you’ve mastered them all. You’ll have ample self-learning slots which will include time aboard one of our fleet yachts for some quality self-sailing. This will help build confidence in skippering and crew management, amongst other skills.

From budgeting for food, to thinking about how to cook on the boat, the whole show will be a success or failure based on your decisions, truly providing an ongoing learning experience you can move forwards with.

You will be completely hands-on with the maintance and upkeep of the Yachts you are on, if somethings breaks you will be fixing it with the maintance team, or maybe at sea with your crew. Either way, you’ll need to grasp and fully understand those skills and theories in order to succeed.

All the above may sound daunting, but remember you’ve got the Premier sea school backing you all the way. Our dedicated and experienced team will guide, inform, coach and help you all the way.*

To read more about what we offer that other sea schools don’t, and how we give you the best experience and training available, why not take a look at our RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track syllabus .

*Qualification is subject to the student demonstrating the required level of competence to the examiner in the RYA Yachtmaster exam. Passing this course is not guaranteed.

Customer reviews

A fantastic weekend of sailing, almost 130 NM in all, with a relaxed, but fully engaging skipper. Great set up and brilliant on the admin. Thanks Stef, Tom et al!

I did a weeks coastal skipper course getting ready for my yacht master and I have to say it was one of the best training weeks I’ve had - our training instructor was superb, exactly the sort of person that you want. He could inspire, provide discipline and impart knowledge as well as let you learn through your own mistakes. Tom and Steph run an excellent operation there and I highly recommend it. They’re flexible and very helpful when it comes to your journey into being a qualified sailor.

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

How to pass your Yachtmaster exam

• Chris Beeson
• September 16, 2015

The global standard of sailing qualifications is achievable for any experienced, competent skipper. Tom Cunliffe explains how to pass your Yachtmaster exam

The only certificates accepted by the authorities are those issued after an at-sea examination. To become a fully-fledged Yachtmaster, the practical test is the only one that counts Credit: Graham Snook/YM

Tom Cunliffe is an RYA Yachtmaster examiner. He has passed and failed hundreds of Yachtmaster candidates over the years

We in the UK are exceedingly fortunate. Just as the English language is the best bet for a world traveller, our very own RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualification happens to be the global standard for sailing. It’s required for anyone planning to become a professional and, thanks to the continuing efforts of the RYA, Brits who sail for leisure still don’t have to carry any proof of competence in home waters. Despite this blessed lack of regulation, the Yachtmaster certificate remains the logical target of many a self-motivated sailor. It also represents the icing on the cake for those looking for the reassurance of an external assessment.

Courses and exams

Yachtmaster training can take place on a boat or in a classroom. A shore-based course, either at desks in a school or via the increasingly popular Internet distance learning programmes, ends with a Yachtmaster theory exam. Success in this will help a student in subsequent qualification upgrades, but it is not officially recognised. The only certificates accepted by the authorities are those issued after an at-sea examination – the Yachtmaster Practical . To become a fully-fledged Yachtmaster, this practical test is the one that really counts.

Yachtmaster Prep

Meteorology matters: a favourite with examiners is to produce a weather map and invite you to analyse it. Be ready and know your subject

This is a non-RYA course and, as such, has no official status or syllabus. However, it is run successfully by many RYA sailing schools to prepare candidates for an examination which generally follows on at the end. Up to four students spend several days together on the boat in which they will be examined. The benefits are that they get to know one another and their yacht under the guidance of a highly qualified Yachtmaster Instructor. The general feeling is that these tutors can’t teach you much you don’t already know in a week, but that they are very good at coaching the best out of those skills you already have. Prep courses are great for brushing up on how to jump through the various hoops an examiner may set up. What they can’t do is make someone who doesn’t have suitably constructive mileage into the confident skipper examiners are looking for.

Coastal or Offshore – what’s my level?

Recently, the old Coastal Skipper ticket has been superseded by the new ‘Yachtmaster Coastal’ certificate. The qualifying mileage for this MCA-recognised qualification is 800, with passage and night-hour requirements being relaxed in comparison with ‘Yachtmaster Offshore’, which keeps its 2,500-mile entry level. Either is a proper Yachtmaster qualification and can be described as such. Only the often-dropped suffix distinguishes the two. The syllabi are identical, the variant is the rigour of the examination. Apply for ‘coastal’ and the examiner, recognising that you have less sea-time, will be more inclined to cut you a bit of slack.

The RYA has noted that most candidates are really only making ‘coastal-status’ passages. In real terms, this includes an annual trip across the Irish Sea, the North Sea or the Channel in a calculated weather window, which is very different from setting off from Ramsgate towards Norway with five days and potentially serious conditions ahead of you. The implications should be clear: unless you need the Offshore ticket for professional reasons, if in doubt, go for Coastal.

Preparing yourself and the boat

A relaxed candidate with a mug of tea makes a better impression than a harassed-looking one

If you’ve signed on with a sailing school, you’ll be stuck with the boat you’re given. You can be confident that this yacht ticks all the official boxes by being coded for commercial use, but while some are very up-together, others are not. If the boat is generally sloppy and scruffy, you can at least make an effort to stow the mainsheet in a seamanlike manner while you are nominally skipper.

Neatly coiled lines reflect well on the skipper

You can also ensure that fenders are hung at the same level, sharpen up the guardrails and see that things generally look as though somebody knows the difference and cares. Then the examiner won’t hold the ratty lifebuoys and the smelly bilge against you.

Mind that your dress and demeanour don’t make a bad first impression

Try to be ready in good time so that you aren’t involved in a last-minute kerfuffle. If you’re relaxing in the cockpit with a mug of tea when the examiner arrives, he or she will be more impressed than if you’re frantically working out tidal heights and scuffling through the chart table. Wear sensible kit. Don’t worry if it’s not this season’s fashion. My examiner turned up in an old duffel coat back in 1978 and I think I was wearing a canvas smock and a flat cap, but the smock was freshly laundered and the cap was right way round…

The main thing is that you can sail, but an examiner is always pleased to be freed of any hassle with the paperwork. Most of us are no better with admin than you are, so make our lives easy by producing an up-to-date first aid ticket and all the rest, plus a cheque made out to the RYA – not the examiner, perish the thought!

Passage planning

Your passage plan should be realistic. Keep it simple and be ready to adapt and update as things develop

You may be given the opportunity to produce a passage plan before the examiner arrives. If so, make it realistic. Don’t plot every course to the last degree. After all, you don’t know what speed you’ll make or what the wind will really do. Check tidal gates, distances, viable alternatives and the weather. Look at any hazards, sort out a time to leave and have a plan for updating as things develop. That’s about what you’d do if there were no exam, and that’s what I, at least, want to see.

Examination on your own boat

A nicely level line of fenders sends a good signal to the examiner

You don’t have to go to a sailing school to be a Yachtmaster. I love it when a candidate asks to be examined without training on his own boat. Don’t worry if she isn’t coded. There’s no legal requirement that she should be. Most of mine haven’t been either, and I couldn’t care less.

As an examiner, I want to see that your priorities are sound and that you’re thinking clearly and for yourself. On the day, the yacht must be clean, tidy and seamanlike. Waterline crisp, sail covers Bristol fashion, not looking like some poor bird with a broken wing, ropes carefully stowed, a comprehensive chart kit for the waters to be sailed, the makings of a meal plus snacks and, of course, everything that counts should be working.

What the examiner is looking for

Feeling relaxed in close quarters

Competent, confident boathandling counts well in your favour

If there’s one thing that will upset an examiner, it isn’t that you forgot to put on your lifejacket, it’s that he feels insecure when you begin manoeuvring in a marina. Take it from me, there’s nothing worse than sitting at the backstay wondering what you’re going to hit. If the boat slides sweetly out of her berth with everyone knowing what’s required and no shouting, then moves away easily with the examiner confident you’re in charge, that you’ve checked the next alleyway for collision risk, that your choice of speed is sensible and efficient and that it never enters his head to feel anxious, you’re well on the way to a pass after five minutes. No course can teach you this. It can only tick the box confirming you’ve managed it once or twice. The rest is up to you and your sea time.

Wind awareness

You should always be aware of the true wind direction and how it will influence any manoeuvres

Here’s another subject you can’t learn on a prep course. Knowing where the wind is and how it relates your position to any impending manoeuvres is critical. I often ask a candidate where the wind is coming from when he’s approaching a situation we both know will involve some sort of gyration under sail. If he looks instinctively at the masthead or, worse still, an instrument set to apparent wind, he’s dropped a bagful of points. At this stage, his mind should be setting up where the boat will best be placed to make her critical turns. Apparent wind isn’t going to help him much. What he should be doing is glancing at the water and noting the tiny ripples to assess what the true wind is actually doing. I’m often amazed at how many folk have never been shown how to do this. Racing sailors can handle it in their sleep, because they need to predict windshifts, but cruisers tend to get lazy, so make sure you can read the wind.

Good sailing

No need for incessant, race-style tweaking, but pay due attention to sail trim while the yacht is under way. If there’s a mainsheet traveller, use it

Ensure that the genoa sheet leads are properly positioned for the point of sail you’re on

Lovely: both mainsail and genoa set up with the right amounts of tension and twist

All examiners hate to see a yacht sloppily sailed on passage. Make sure that your crew are using the traveller, that genoa fairleads are properly positioned, that the main is well set up with kicker and mainsheet tension for twist. Above all, do not sail over-sheeted. It’s a dead giveaway that you just haven’t been out there enough yet.

Too much staring at the plotter screen betrays nervousness

In the days before GPS set navigators free, people used to fail exams by what we called ‘sailing the chart table’ rather than skippering the yacht. Assuming the test to be all about some sort of imagined ‘correct navigational practice’, candidates nailed themselves to the navigatorium when they should have been up on deck directing operations and watching out for the ship coming up astern that was suddenly looking bigger every moment. Well, guess what? Nothing has changed. This remains a big problem with neophyte Yachtmasters.

Sail the boat, not the chart table

The secret is to plan well, then nip below every so often on passage to keep an eye on what’s going on in the chart department and whizz back on deck pronto to carry on skippering the boat. I’ll lay a pound to a penny it’s what you do when there’s no examiner on board, so have the confidence to back your own usual practices. This is particularly important at night in crowded waters. An unsuccessful candidate often fails himself by allowing disorientation to creep in, simply by not keeping the true perspective on events, which can only be found on deck.

The use of electronic nav-aids such as GPS is not ‘cheating’ – it’s an integral part of navigation

All examiners have their own take on use of electronics. Personally, I want to know my candidate is making modern aids to navigation, including a chart plotter if there one, an integral part of his navigational policy. The idea, as one candidate suggested, that use of GPS is somehow ‘cheating’ is incomprehensible to me. I will almost certainly ask at some stage that the yacht be navigated classically, to see how easy my man is with what, for most people, are now backup skills. If I’m unconvinced by his performance, off he goes to think again.

Your chartwork should be fluid and accurate

Skilled chartwork comes with use, and no amount of last-minute swotting can make up for weeks of doing it as a matter of course. Plotting traditional fixes is a good giveaway these days. With GPS all around us, we only do this for real when electronics fail. I’ve seen a person take 15 minutes to select three objects from a background studded with lights, then plot the results. The yacht had moved over two miles in the meantime…

It’s absolutely vital that you maintain a decent logbook during the exam

It’s absolutely vital, whether navigating with a giant chart plotter or a Walker log, that you maintain a decent log book. Without this, if GPS fails for any reason at all, you’re lost, Mate, so is your exam, and quite right too!

Take command

One of the most important questions on most examiners’ private lists is how good the candidate is at taking charge. If he’s managing well, we probably won’t even notice that he’s in command, that his crew all know what’s expected of them and that their skipper is quietly checking that they’re doing it. Good leadership is seldom about barking orders, and never about ignoring all on board, yet leadership is what being a Yachtmaster is all about. First, you must be sufficiently comfortable with your own skill levels not to have to worry about little things like picking up a mooring. Only then can you consider what may go wrong for the poor soul on the foredeck in a gale at midnight.

The classic skills

These are what most people imagine success in an exam is based upon. Actually, these basic skills merely help an examiner build up an overall picture of the candidate. It’s generally not a hanging matter if one manoeuvre goes a bit haywire. Even a grounding is often more interesting for what the candidate does about it than for the fact that it has happened. After all, nobody is perfect, especially under the stress of an exam.

Man overboard

An effective, confidently executed man overboard drill speaks volumes about a candidate’s boat-handling ability but it’s not necessarily curtains if the manoeuvre goes a bit haywire

Errors in principle are not popular with examiners. Mistakes under pressure may sometimes be forgiven, and man overboard is a case in point. If the boat sails past the dummy with her mainsail full and the examiner asks, ‘What went wrong?’ It won’t get you much of a score if you reply, ‘I was going too fast.’

‘Candidate’s speciality, stating the bleeding obvious,’ the examiner will note on his pad, and move on, downhearted.

However, if you say, ‘I’m kicking myself because I was too far upwind and couldn’t de-power the main. I tried to get onto a close reach but I misjudged my approach,’ he’s more likely to take a lenient view – especially if you’ve opted for ‘Coastal’.

Securing the yacht alongside

When I was examining instructors regularly, I’d often sail up to Poole Quay (a tidal wall) shortly before closing time. I’d hop off the boat as soon as she touched the piling, saying, ‘You sort her out, skipper, I’m off for a quick pint.’ I’d then do just that. When I returned 10 minutes later, if the yacht was neatly snugged down with four lines ashore, ends on the dock, a fender board in place, sails neatly stowed and all hands below cooking and relaxing, the guy was in good shape for a pass. If I found discussions on deck about whether to ‘hand the end back for a spring’, and people blundering about in the dark, things didn’t look so bright for our hero. Have a system and know how to execute it.

… and don’t forget

Mooring and anchoring

Mooring and anchoring under sail should present no challenge to the aspiring Yachtmaster. When in doubt, drop the mainsail

These are Day Skipper skills that should pose no threat to a Yachtmaster candidate. Under sail, just remember first to assess whether the wind is with or against the tide. If you get lucky and it’s against, drop the main and arrive stemming the stream, spilling under headsail or creeping along under bare poles. If wind and tide are at all ambiguous, never forget the old adage – when in doubt, drop the mainsail.

Meteorology

As forecasting has become more comprehensive and accessible, I’ve noticed a reduction in candidates’ capacity to understand what’s going on and to read a bulletin creatively. Anyone who can’t describe the typical cloud sequence on a North Atlantic depression gets nil points from me, and failure to understand the basics of air masses is going to run up a black mark too. A favourite with examiners is to produce a weather map and invite their Yachtmaster to analyse it. Be ready, and know your subject.

Tom sees no reason not to have a chart in the cockpit, but some examiners disapprove of it. Be ready to justify your choice

Many candidates produce excellent pilotage plans for entering a strange harbour. I’m happy with that, and most examiners love it. Personally, I prefer to sketch a few notes on the actual chart and have it in the cockpit held down with a winch handle, yet I’ve met examiners who’d be horrified to see a chart on deck at all. So there you have it. Do what suits you best, then be ready to justify your choice. Actually, this advice is good across the board. The examiner wants to see what you really do, not some fantasy you’ve cooked up because you think he might like it. That is a weak candidate’s policy and it often backfires.

No shortcuts here, you just need to know your stuff – and finding the time to learn isn’t difficult

So far as the MCA is concerned, this is the crunch. Examiners are encouraged to demand high standards in this subject, and there’s no reason for a candidate, knowing full well he is to be put on the griddle, not to have the regulations burned into his heart. The best way to be exam-proof is to invest in A Seaman’s Guide to the Rule of the Road, available for modest money from all good chandlers or Bookharbour.com. Place it prominently in the heads some months before the exam and devote five minutes of the shining hour each day to digesting its wondrous contents. The book makes it easy and there’s no excuse for disappointing the Board of Trade!

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Yachtmaster Fast Track

Dates and prices.

Fast Track 1/2025 Start Date: 24 February 2025 Finish Date: 15 June 2025 Duration: 16 weeks (includes 83 days at sea, 17 days shore-based and 3 breaks totalling 9 days) Price £10,499

Fast Track 2/2025 Start Date: 21 April 2025 Finish Date: 10 August 2025 Duration: 16 weeks (includes 83 days at sea, 17 days shore-based and 3 breaks totalling 9 days) Price £10,499

Fast Track 3/2025 Start Date: 23 June 2025 Finish Date 17 October 2025 Duration: 16 weeks (includes 83 days at sea, 17 days shore-based and 3 breaks totalling 9 days) Price £10,499

The Elite Fast Track Professional Yachtmaster (Sail) course is a complete, full-time training package designed to take you from sailing and seamanship basics right up to commercially endorsed RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore. It provides a rapid and thorough route to this definitive skipper’s qualification for yachting industry professionals or amateur sailors wanting to achieve the highest competence quickly. Our instructors are highly experienced yachtmaster instructors, specially chosen for their sailing and teaching skills.

We have 3 scheduled courses every year.  But other start dates are available – including both early and late season starts – and we can adjust the content and price to reflect any prior experience you may have.

Why choose Elite Sailing:

• At least 78 days training at sea. Over 2,500 quality sea miles logged
• Individual attention – only 5 students per course
• A professional sailing school with a good track record
• Superb marina base with excellent training waters just 45 minutes from central London
• Genuine all-inclusive Prices
• Includes 7 week circumnavigation of Britain

View the full Yachtmaster Training Prospectus  – Click on the blue panel below

To check availability on scheduled courses, request a specially tailored course – or any other questions:

Call us on 01634 890512 or email [email protected] .

For special programmes please summarise your experience and say when you can start and by when you would like to complete the training.

Great school, fantastic skippers, and easy to reach from London! Really can recommend the weekend courses if you are busy working.

- Leonard Wossnig

Friendly but highly professional sail training, both shore-based and practical. Fred and the team are now my "go-to" RYA trainers of choice. After all, if you learn to sail in the Medway and Thames Estuary, in British weather, in February and March, you can probably sail anywhere!

- Gareth Draper

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value 100% recommended, good people dedicated, learnt a lot from Paul my instructor and Fred the boss.

- Richard Collis

Absolutely amazing experience. I took part in 2 days Milebuilder. Well prepared. It’s a pleasure to learn from such experienced people like Steve who was a skipper. Highly recommend and hope to return soon.

- Piotr Kurzawa

I've just come back from my first weekend for competent Crew and wow what a great experience. I definitely think I’ve got the sailing bug now. I was nervous before I started the course due to never sailing before. Also, I thought I'd be meeting people completely different from myself, and I wouldn't gel I am covered in tattoos and talk like someone from the cast of Harry brown 😂but everyone was sooo cool and the skipper big Steve was a proper lad and a great teacher! Spoke to us through the whole process, and he also allowed us to make mistakes and build our confidence to get it right. 👌

- David Barrett

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RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Prep + MCA/RYA Exam

To attain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore candidates must pass a practical examination of their skippering ability. A Yachtmaster is capable of skippering the yacht on extended offshore passages by day or night. He or she will essentially be a much more experienced Coastal Skipper and can do the same things more smoothly, for longer periods and in more arduous conditions.

• EXAM PREPARATION

Early in the week the instructor will asses your strengths and weaknesses and coach you in the areas required to pass the examination however our experience normally leads us to work on the following areas; passage planning, man overboard recovery, close quarters handling, skippering techniques, navigation in restricted visibility, pilotage and knowledge of the International Collision Regulations. The instructor will debrief you fully as the week progresses and ensure that you get time to work on those weaker areas. Before joining the course, students should have the pre-requisite experience outlined above, navigation theory to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory level and a thorough knowledge of the Collision Regulations.

The examiner will ask each candidate to skipper the yacht on several short passages and complete various demonstrations of their skippering and sailing ability over the course of the weekend.

0900 Monday until the completion of all the exams which will be no later than 1500 on Sunday. Click here for an example schedule of how you will spend the week.

What's Included:

All food except the evening of joining, wet weather gear and accommodation onboard. Mooring fees are an extra and we suggest that you budget approximately £30 for this course. For details of what you should bring please refer to the FAQ's section .

Support Courses: 

• RYA Sea Survival
• RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety
• RYA First Aid
• PPR Course .

Supporting Books:

Please click here to view books for sale

Next Step: 

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course

Duration: 7 days (Monday to Sunday), 5 day preparation and 2 day exam weekend.

Previous Experience Required:  Minimum 50 days aboard, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles logged, 5 passages of over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper (Half the qualifying sea time must have been conducted in tidal waters). VHF radio operators certificate and a valid first aid certificate. Current theory knowledge to RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory.

Course Overview: Preparation and brush up for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Revision of advanced skippering techniques, close quarters handling under power and sail, navigation and pilotage by day and night, man overboard recovery and overall yacht management skills. Ratio 4:1

Click here to view full course syllabus.

Cost: 7 Days £895 + Exam Fee (£241)

RYA YACHTMASTER FAST TRACK

14 weeks intensive training to Yachtmaster, RYA theory courses online beforehand.

The RYA  Yachtmaster Fast Track is a complete full-time training package designed to take you from basic seamanship skills through to Skippering confidently and passing the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam.  Ideal for those looking for a career in the professional yachting industry, or leisure sailors wanting to achieve the highest competence quickly. Trafalgar Sailing instructors are highly experienced yachtmaster instructors, specially chosen for their sailing ability, teaching style and character. Gibraltar is a great place to learn to sail and start your sailing career.

What we guarantee on your Fast track Yachtmaster: 1, Accommodation, Food/drinks, bedding, mooring fees, fuel, taxes, safety equipment, books, charts, navigation tools, First aid, VHF course, Day skipper and Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper shore based courses, RYA logbook and Yachtmaster exam fee included. 2, Your yacht will be a Bavaria 38 or similar. 3, Your R.Y.A. Instructor will have many years of experience sailing and teaching. 4, Maximum 4-5 students per yacht. 5, You pay £1000 deposit and the balance one month before the course starts. 6, You will sail a minimum of 2500 sea miles and required 60 mile passages as Skipper. 7, We have helped many of our Fast Track students find jobs in the sailing industry by giving introductions and references, as we have made many contacts over the years. 8, RYA Shore based courses are done online beforehand (included in the price). You have 6 months to complete the online RYA courses before you arrive. You can start that as soon as you pay the deposit. 9. We don’t just get you through the Yachtmaster exam to get the ticket. We prepare you to become the Master of a yacht with the knowledge and skills required to achieve this.

Although Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal are sunny and fun, this is not a holiday, it is an intensive 14 week sail training course designed to make you a stronger, safer sailor. If you have the right attitude, you will learn loads from our Instructors. Gibraltar has great wind thanks to the mountain range either side of the Straits, there are tidal waters, busy shipping lanes and a variety of destinations to visit.

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THE RYA YACHTMASTER FAST TRACK COURSE WILL COVER:

• Competent crew  Knots. Yacht preparation. Helming. Deck work. Terminology. Sail Handling. Tender. Safety. Man overboard drills.
• Day Skipper shore based course  Pilotage. Tidal Navigation. Meteorology. Maintenance. Engines. Emergency situations. Watchkeeping. Rules of the Road.
• Day Skipper practical   Pilotage, tidal navigation, seamanship, meteorology and engine maintenance in practice. Seamanship. Boat handling under sail and motor. Passage planning. Night sailing. VHF training. Vitualling and food hygiene at sea.
• Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper shore based course  Position, Dead reckoning, Estimated position, Satellite derived position, Waypoints, Radar, Magnetic Compass, Variation, Different types of Compass, Tidal navigation, Standard and secondary ports, Tidal streams, Buoyage, Lights, Pilotage, Harbour regulations and control signals, clearing lines, Use of soundings, Transits, GNSS and Chart Plotters, Raster and Vector charts, The importance of paper charts, Echo sounders.
• Coastal Skipper practical course   Passage planning, Preparations for Sea, Pilotage, Passage Skippering, taking charge of crew, cruising navigation with electronics and paper charts using waypoints and routes, Being aware of meteorological trends, Yacht handling under power, control of yacht in a confined space, Picking up a Mooring bow or stern to, Mediterranean style moorings, Yacht handling under sail in various wind and current conditions, Picking up a mooring under sail, Sailing on all points of sail including downwind techniques with a cruising chute, Coping with adverse weather conditions and restricted visibility, Preparing Storm Gib sail or heavy weather, Blind navigation, Emergency situations, Understanding life rafts, life jackets, helicopter and lifeboat rescue, cold water shock, Man over board procedures under motor and sail.
• 2500 sea miles. Passages to Med and Atlantic Spain, Portugal and Balearic Islands.
• 60 miles passages as Skipper. 
• VHF course  Radio operation, Frequencies (channels), Distress calls and procedures, Ship to shore calls. Digital Selective Calling (DSC), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), Search and Rescue (SART). £60 RYA license fee not included.
• First Aid   One day course MCA and Health and Safety Executive approved.
• Professional Practices and responsibilities. Online course and exam
• Yacht Maintenance. 
• Yachtmaster Offshore exam preparation week   The Yachtmaster Offshore exam is independently examined by an R.Y.A. examiner. The exam takes between 6 to 8 hours per person and sail during the day and night. You will be given tasks to demonstrate your ability and asked questions by the examiner on any part of the syllabus of all the RYA practical and shore based courses up to Coastal Skipper level. The Yachtmaster offshore exam fee £231 is included in the price.

What next? Go sailing and see the world!  Keep an eye on our Facebook page for people looking for crew. Spring time many yachts are passing Gibraltar from the Caribbean into the Mediterranean for the season. If you want a career in the yachting industry as a Charter Skipper, Delivery Skipper, Teaching or private yacht skipper then we recommend you do the STCW95 courses in Gibraltar and get your Yachtmaster commercially endorsed. If you dream is to cross oceans you can learn to use a sextant and Astro navigation on the   Yachtmaster Ocean theory course.  

RYA Yacht Charter | Booking Forms | Press | Your Yacht | Location | Prices | FAQs | Blog

Trafalgar Sailing Gibraltar

Telephone:  +34 699 411 194 E-mail:  [email protected]

PRIVACY POLICY

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Professional Yachtmaster Offshore

Advance your maritime career.

UKSA’s Professional Yachtmaster Offshore qualification is a bespoke, ALL-INCLUSIVE, comprehensive training package that will provide you with the skills you need to establish your career in the maritime industry.

About the Professional Yachtmaster course

This unique, premium qualification has been developed by Richard Baggett , one of the world’s top yachting instructors, and his highly experienced team at UKSA. The course is constantly monitored and adapted to ensure it remains relevant and always covers the current requirements for you to start working in the industry straight away. UKSA’s highly regarded Yachtmaster course opens up the most opportunities for employment within the maritime sector. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, working on superyachts, flotilla, tug boats, and employment in the Merchant Navy.

• 16 weeks training
• 70 days afloat
• 2,500 tidal miles covered
• Navigation training
• Radar training
• Basic engineering and safety training
• Careers guidance from our professional team
• Networking within the industry

Train at UKSA and experience our unbeatable value, world-class tuition and invaluable industry support and insight.

Please note:  On occasion your sea phases may involve travelling outside of the UK. Therefore, to avoid restricting sailings we highly recommend that all Professional Yachtmaster Offshore students/Cadets are vaccinated against Covid-19 with the current maximum number of doses.

  Please note this is not mandatory in order to complete the course but a recommendation.

Why train with UKSA?

When you train at UKSA you experience our world-class tuition and over 35 years of maritime industry insight.  Also included in your course fee :

• Accommodation in our new  Sea.Change building when shorebased for the duration of your course *
• Freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner provided each day
• Purpose built classrooms and navigational training simulators all on one site
• One-to-one mentoring throughout the course from your instructors
• Dedicated careers course manager
• Career support both during and after your time at UKSA
• Networking on site throughout your time at UKSA
• Use of our swimming pool
• Access to our fully equipped gym

*  subject to availability, we reserve the right to provide alternative accommodation on site

Register Interest

Qualifications gained

• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail) or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (Sail)
• RYA Day Skipper Shorebased
• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased
• Personal Survival Techniques
• Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
• Elementary First Aid
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
• MCA Proficiency in Designated Security Duties
• RYA Short Range Radio
• RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities

Commercial Endorsement

To work professionally within the maritime industry, you must be commercially endorsed. To commercially endorse your RYA Yachtmaster Certification at the end of your training, you will need to complete the RYA application for Commercial Endorsement Form, but you will gain all qualifications needed to commercially endorse your ticket during training.

Entry requirements

You must have an ENG1 seafarer medical fitness certificate to work at sea (click  here   for more details) and to enable you to apply for your RYA Commercial Endorsement (click  here  for more details). We recommend all students secure this before attending a course.

There are no other pre-requisites necessary to start the course. All that we ask is that you have enough sailing experience to know that you want a life at sea. If you don’t have any previous experience, we recommend you talk to our course advisors on  +44 (0)1983 203038  or  [email protected]

Funding available

We are here to support you

  Your course adviser will be able to provide you with the details, assess your eligibility and put you forward if you are a suitable candidate. Call us to talk about your options with our experienced course advisers on  +44 (0)1983 203038 .

Frequently asked questions

How to get a commercial skipper’s license

The recommended route to obtaining a commercial skippers license is to do two training courses which consist of the Day Skipper Shorebased course and the Day Skipper Practical course. These are both included in the Professional Yachtmaster offshore course. The first covers the theory and knowledge-based training, such as meteorology, navigation, pilotage techniques and collision regulations; the second is putting this theory into practice in addition to developing the practical skippering skills of crew management, boat handling, practical pilotage and passage making.

What is a Yachtmaster?

A Yachtmaster is a person with a wealth of maritime knowledge who can cope with plain sailing and motor cruising and is also able to cope in demanding situations. Our Yachtmaster offshore qualification is recognised and respected all around the world and is the ultimate aim of many skippers, both professional and recreational.

Who are the RYA?

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) are the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.

View more Yachtmaster FAQs.

Dates and pricing

Don’t just take our word for it

“The course is very professional, the instructors are experienced and highly motivated, and everyone is friendly and keen to help you succeed. The key reason I joined UKSA is to get my yachting ticket from an organisation that is well respected in the yachting industry. I also wanted to benefit from the careers support to be able to break into a career in professional yachting.”

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#SeaChangeStories

I jumped at the chance to compete in the Golden Globe Race. This was everything that I had worked for and I had a chance to live it. For the past few years, I have been working flat out with a team of people to realise my ultimate goal of doing this race. It will be a challenge like nothing I have done before and I am throwing myself completely into it. Gregor McGuckin -Golden Globe Race/Professional Yachtmaster

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Need help finding the right course for you?

Speak to an advisor on +44 (0)1983 203038 or email us

RYA Yachtmaster Scheme

This page outlines the RYA training scheme, and the courses you can take at our schools. We also have non-RYA courses for those who are not looking for certification. This gives an alternative training program, ideal for improving specific skills and helps to build on the RYA syllabus shown below.

We outline our non-RYA training options here .

To learn more about the RYA, the standards that Seafarer Training adhere to as well as find out where our schools are click here .

Course Flexibility

The training scheme outlined below is covered in more detail in the RYA publication G158 log book . This book will be available for you to look at during your course. It is recommended that if you plan on doing multiple courses that you buy a copy of your own, either before you travel or at one of our training centres upon arrival.

Due to the modular nature of the RYA training, students that do not pass a chosen course will still be able to have sections signed off in there logbook. This means that you can return to an RYA training centre to complete only those aspects of the course where you need more time.

While you will have booked to take a particular course, This is not fixed, and there is some flexibility to change to an alternative very early on in the course. This flexibility is useful for students unsure if they are ready for their day skipper. There are no charges for this, we endeavour to ensure that you get the best and most appropriate training possible.

For more advice, please feel free to call us.

Stepping into the world of sailing for the first time is exciting and exhilarating. These practical on-the-water courses build confidence, teaching you everything from basic terminology and safety tips to handling sails. You’ll become a useful crew member, and take the helm for the first time.

RYA Start Yachting

Requirements.

Minimum duration: 2 days

Recommendations

Experience: none

Minimum age: 8

This course is for beginners wanting a taster of yachting or for budding sailors too young for Competent Crew. While it is a 2-day course in the UK, we can run this over a week in our Mediterranean Schools.

RYA Competent Crew

Minimum duration: 5 days 3 days (with start yachting certificate)

Minimum age: 12

This course is ideal for beginners to learn the basics and for those who would like to become active crew members rather than passengers.

Intermediate

Building on previous RYA courses, or from your own experience at sea, these courses aim to refine your skills, focusing on seamanship and how to skipper a sailing yacht and manage its crew. Combined with the theory courses, your knowledge, and confidence on the water, will be taken to the next level.

RYA Day Skipper Shorebased

Experience: Some practical sailing experience to help understand the content

The Day Skipper Shorebased course is a comprehensive introduction to cruising for inexperienced skippers. We offer this as an online course in cooperation with Navathome, giving you the flexibility to fit in with your busy lifestyle. We offer our practical training at a discount when you purchase this course.

RYA Day Skipper Practical

Minimum duration: 5 days

Minimum age: 16

Experience: 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht

Assumed knowledge: Theory to the level of Day Skipper. It is recommended you obtain the Day Skipper shorebased course beforehand.

This is the most popular course in the syllabus. This certificate represents the standard required to skipper a yacht in numerous worldwide destination.

A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory

Experience: Some practical & theoretical sailing experience to help understand the content.

Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the Day Skipper course. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages. We offer our practical training at a discount when you purchase this course.

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

Minimum age: 17

Experience: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours

Assumed Skills: Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper

Assumed knowledge: Navigation to shorebased Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore

Advanced skippering techniques requiring considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, aimed at those skippers wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Professional

Rya yachtmaster coastal.

Minimum duration: 6-10 hours for one candidate, 8-14 hours for two candidates

Minimum age: 17 at the time of the exam

Minimum Seatime

Experience:

• 30 days at sea on a vessel less than 24m LOA, which may be reduced to 12 days at sea on vessels less than 24m LOA or substituted with 30 days at sea on yachts under 500gt 2  if an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate or an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is held
• 2 days as skipper on a vessel less than 24m LOA
• 800 miles, which may be reduced to 400 miles on vessels less than 24m LOA or substituted with 800 miles at sea on yachts under 500gt 2  if an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course completion certificate or an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is held
• 12 night hours

At least half the qualifying sea time should be gained in tidal waters.

Assumed Skills: Boat handling beyond the level of Coastal Skipper

Certification Required:

• A GMDSS compliant Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate or higher.
• An RYA First Aid Certificate or another valid first aid certificate, as detailed on the  RYA website .

An RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper.

Unlike other courses in the cruising programme, there is no formal training to complete to become a Yachtmaster™. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and sea time, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge.

We can provide a range of training and preparation courses for you, please contact us for more information.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

Minimum duration: 8-12 hours for one candidate, 10-18 hours for two candidates. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours and no more than four candidates can be examined in one 2 day session.

Minimum age: 18 at the time of the exam

• 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500gt 2  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 500gt 2 , 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

Assumed Skills: Boat handling beyond the level of Yachtmaster Coastal

Filter Categories All Levels Beginner Intermediate Advanced

The Seafarer Price Guarantee – We will not be beaten on price!

As an independent company, we are able to keep our prices highly competitive – if you see a like for like product featured elsewhere cheaper, let us know and we will beat it! This guarantee applies to yacht and accommodation rates on our  Beach Club, Flotilla, Learn to Sail and & Cabin Charter programmes operated by Seafarer  and is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Book your flights with us to ensure full financial protection for your holiday.

Embark on a global career in the dynamic and competitive yachting industry. With the best training partners and experienced and knowledgeable staff we can guide your path to a professional career as a Skipper, employed at some of the leading companies worldwide.

COURSE DETAILS

The Zero to Hero course offers a reliable, fast-track route to your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, a benchmark for professional skippers and a passport to the marine industry. Whether you have gained some sailing experience or are a complete novice to the sport, this course is essential and the first step in planning a career in sailing.

Your RYA course will be on-board spacious, well equipped, modern yachts fully equipped with up-to-the-minute navigation and radar technology. Only five students are enrolled on each yacht and all courses are run by an experienced and fully qualified RYA approved instructor to ensure the highest level of instruction is available to each individual.

Course Costs: £8,995-£9,500 per person

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

• 15 weeks intensive training to commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
• Food, accommodation and training materials throughout the entire programme
• Additional mile building placements after your course
• 10-day pre-season training programme in Croatia
• Dedicated industry mentor and advice throughout
• Summer sailing uniform and industry discount on offshore sailing gear

Every successful candidate will be provided a crew training placement and be guaranteed a minimum of 8 weeks work as Skipper in your first season. It could be much more!

Your Yachtmaster Offshore Training Course

Our RYA Training Partners are among the very best in the industry chosen specifically for their expertise in professional Skipper training to work in the industry. You can choose one of our recommended course providers as your preferred course location.

Training Elements:

• Seamanship, mile building and skippering over 60 days afloat, covering a minimum of 2,500 tidal miles and practical experience onboard a range of yachts.
• Navigational training to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore – including radar training in a simulation suite.
• Basic engineering and safety training.

Course Qualifications:

• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail)
• RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased
• RYA Day Skipper Shorebased
• RYA Short Range Radio
• RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance
• RYA First Aid
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 (selected locations only)
• MCA STCW Basic Safety Training

THE NEXT STEP

Once qualified you will attend pre-season training on location in Croatia with The Yacht Academy before commencing your work placement – including a minimum of 8 weeks work as Skipper within your first season! All food and accommodation is provided throughout.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

• Offshore sailing gear
• Transport and flights to Croatia
• Any Exam or Certification fees
• Personal Skipper Liability insurance

That’s it, there are no hidden extras. We offer the only by application fast-track course where you will be learning on the job  and repaying your course in your first season.

Our spaces are limited and by application only!

• RYA Sailing Courses
• Powerboat Training courses
• RYA Motor Courses
• RYA Theory Courses
• STCW Basic Training
• Gibraltar Maritime Scholarship
• Superyacht Crew Training
• Learn Online
• Maritime Training Courses
• Course Dates
• Yachtmaster Offshore Fast Track sailing courses
• RYA Competent Crew Course
• Day Skipper Fastrack
• Day Skipper Express
• RYA Day Skipper Practical 5 Days
• Yachtmaster Prep
• Whole Boat Training
• Fastrack Sailing Information
• Yachtmaster Fast Track FAQ

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Professional

90 days of intensive training, for those who just can't wait.

Call now: 00350 2005 02 02

email: [email protected]

The course & Location

Achieve your RYA Yachtmaster in the warm and challenging tidal waters of Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal with mild winters, reliable winds and often clear blue skies in December.

From our base in the Ocean Village Resort Gibraltar you will sail as far north west as Lisbon, and as far east as Ibiza, and everything between. Your course is designed to be challenging, engaging and enjoyable.

Facilities & Equipment

Situated less than 75m from the yachts, the shore side facilities offer dedicated training rooms including radio,  Radar simulators, and 3 x full size marine diesel training engines.

In order to maintain standards we provide the facilities, and hold both the RYA and MCA maritime accreditations in house so we can deliver every element of your course without outsourcing.

During your course we provide:

• 5 x Modern Jeanneau Yachts (new in 2017)
• On site dedicated Shorebased facilities
• 23 years Experience training Yachtmasters 
• Good weather & tidal training
• RYA Yachtmaster coaching every day
• Supporting RYA shorebased short courses
• UK MCA STCW Training (Commercial Version)
• Career guidance with real opportunities 
• Food & Accommodation every day (90 days)
• Professional Spinlock life jackets for your safety
• On board systems training
• Extra one to one training in addition to your 90 days if required at no additional cost
• We work hard to ensure you pass your Yachtmaster exam first time, but if not we provide intensive extra training without any additional training fees. 
• All the training, certification, and career guidance you need to work legally anywhere in the world.

You will achieve the following certification:

In order to work as an international professional yacht captain you will need the following courses as listed below, all are included in the Allabroad Yachtmaster Pro course. Please note that the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate on its own is not sufficient certification to find work in the global yachting industry.  

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
• RYA Yachtmaster Theory
• SRC VHF Radio Course
• RYA Diesel Engine
• RYA Radar Course
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• STCW Personal Survival Techniques 
• STCW Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• STCW Personal Safety and Social Responsibility 
• STCW Proficiency in Security Awareness
• RYA PPR Course (required for commercial use)
• RYA Commercial endorsement
• ENG1 Medical

Leisure and Commercial Options

There are numerous reasons to achieve your Yachtmaster Offshore so whatever your goals, we have a course for you.

For some the Yachtmaster qualification is purely for personal use and in this case the 'leisure' only version is all that is required.

However, if you would like to work as a professional yacht captan commercially in the yachting industry you will need the Professional version including the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency approved STCW Basic Safety Training package, and more. 

In all cases, whatever version you choose, as we are both UK RYA and UK MCA approved we can provide all the  training you will need in house.

p to 3 weeks extra free additional training is available at no extra cost should it be needed. Most of our Yachtmasters achieve the required level in 90 days, however if you need longer. the team here is there for you, and there is no extra charge for the additional weeks. Terms and conditions apply. 

Finding Work as a Yachtmaster Offshore

A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence will enable you to work as the Captain of commercial vessels of up to 200 Gross Ton, and crew on any vessel of any size. 

Fees also include food and accommodation for the 90 days.

Course price (Commercial)

Yachtmaster Offshore Professional Course (including STCW)

Course price (Leisure version, Non-Commercial)

Yachtmaster Offshore Professional Course (Excluding STCW)

Found the same course locally for a better price?

We can not be beaten on facilities, and we aim to remain competetive with our pricing too, if you find the exact same course for less please let us know. 

All the ASA Yachtmasters use the shore based facility daily when in Gibraltar during theory weeks and at the weekend, it's essential to have somewhere quiet and cool to study away from the yacht. 

The fleet of 5 JEANNEAU 389 Sailing yachts were brand new in 2017, are moored just 75 metres from the shore-based facility, and right in the very heart of the magnificent Ocean Village Resort in Gibraltar. This is a great place to relax during your down time. 

Non Commercial RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail £10950 

Full Commercial RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail £11950  (including STCW Basic Safety Training)

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Fastrack to Yachtmaster Offshore

Product code:, rya yachtmaster offshore fastrack course, join a fastrak training course.

FASTRAK is the original comprehensive, eighteen-week, professional seamanship training programme designed and run by the British Offshore Sailing School. With full Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recognition, it is run by a highly experienced team of yachting instructors, who have taught all over the world. BOSS runs three highly successful eighteen-week FASTRAK courses per year. With small group sizes, we can ensure that the highest possible standard of instruction is given to each individual.

Students selected for this intensive course can expect to receive quality training that is second to none. From day one you will be working towards the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster® Offshore qualification. During your time with BOSS you will spend over 90 days afloat, aboard a variety of yachts, learning good practical seamanship, constantly improving personal technical expertise and above all learning those vital skippering skills.

You will experience sailing yachts with both tiller and wheel steering, masthead and fractional rigs with hank on, luff groove and roller furling headsails, allowing you to gain a wide base of experience. 15 days of your course will be shore based, utilising our custom built classroom facilities at Hamble. Here, students will be shown the intricacies of navigation, meteorology, safety, electronics, use of Radar and the rules regarding avoidance of collisions at sea.

The BOSS FASTRAK course is aimed at both those who are committed to establishing a career in the marine industry and those looking for a career break. It is not just a series of RYA courses put together but a careful mixture of programme learning, technical instruction and the all important skipper experience building. Combine this with regular appraisals of your progress and you have a unique package designed specifically to make the most of your 18 weeks. The course includes;

• Skippering Experience
• Sea Survival
• RYA Small Craft First Aid
• Navigation Cruises
• Close quarters Boat Handling
• 60 Mile Skippered Passages
• RYA Coastal Skipper
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore
• Skippering Skills
• 2,500 miles

And much more.... 

• 12th August - 15th December 2024

ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS COURSE

Availability and Booking

Step 1 select your course duration, this course is available in the following durations.

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Your 126 days fastrack to yachtmaster offshore.

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• Sail cruising courses

Our practical and theory courses will take you from complete beginner to capable skipper and beyond

Stepping into the world of sailing for the first time is exciting and exhilarating. The courses in the RYA Yachtmaster training scheme will help you learn to sail and build confidence, become a useful crew member and even learn how to skipper a sailing yacht and manage it’s crew. 

Most courses can be taken either on your own or with friends and family, including children provided they meet our minimum age recommendations. There are also flexible options allowing you to do the course in one go or split over several days or weekends. 

Our sail cruising courses can also help you progress to the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence  which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide and can be commercially endorsed for professional skippers and crew. 

So whether you’re new to boat ownership, want to charter a yacht on holiday, or to venture further offshore – there’s an RYA course for every level. 

Our practical on-the-water courses build confidence, teaching you everything from basic terminology and safety tips to how to skipper a yacht and manage its crew. You can enter at any level, provided you have the correct level of experience. 

Cruising Level 1 - An entry level course focusing on the principles of sailing a yacht. Can be run in conjunction with the Basic Skills course.

A short introduction to sailing for complete beginners.

Cruising Level 2 - Build on the skills gained during Start Sailing, Competent Crew or Day Skipper, focusing on sailing techniques as both crew and helm.

A hands-on course for anyone interested in becoming a useful crew member.

A course for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience and basic navigation and sailing skills.

Advanced skippering techniques for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation, wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night.

Our navigation and other specialist short courses complement the sail cruising practical courses and will take your knowledge and confidence to the next level.

A basic introduction to navigation for new skippers, crew or anyone interested in getting out on the water.

A more comprehensive course recommended for inexperienced skippers and anyone thinking of doing the Day Skipper practical course.

Take your theory knowledge to the standard required for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore practical exams.

Unravel the mysteries of astro navigation, using a sextant, ocean passage planning, worldwide meteorology and electronic navigation aids.

Get qualified to use a handheld or fixed marine VHF radio with our course and exam.

From first aid to diesel engine, there are a number of related classroom and online courses you may find useful as you develop your knowledge.

• Certificates of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster

An RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence is the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

With more than 100 different titles to choose from, there’s an RYA book, eBook or audiobook for every age, interest and ability. Visit our webshop for course books and a range of supporting titles.

Sailing is great fun for all ages and there are plenty of opportunities for young people to get involved. Check our course descriptions for minimum age recommendations.

If you want to cruise outside of the UK you are likely to need an ICC. RYA course completion certificates can be used as evidence of your competence.

Find out more about commercial endorsements, professional qualifications and what it takes to work on the water.

Oyster Perpetual

Yacht-Master

Staying on course, mapping invisible routes.

For those at sea, staying on course is a constant challenge. When dealing with the elements, nothing is certain and constant reaction is required to stay in the right direction. Since its launch in 1992, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master has been equipped with a bidirectional rotatable bezel that facilitates the calculation and reading of navigational time. Elegantly combining functionality and nautical style, this watch has made its mark well beyond its professional realm.

A shared quest for precision

Knowing where you are in space and time, setting a course and sticking to it are vital in navigation. Given its function, the watch is an essential tool for sailors to assess their position. Regarded as the most precise horological instruments in the world, marine chronometers have been certified by astronomical observatories since the 18th century. At the time, the ultimate authority for measuring chronometric precision was the Kew Observatory in Great Britain.

In 1914, the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, had one of the brand’s watches tested by this very observatory, which certified it as a chronometer: a first in the watchmaking world for a wristwatch. Since then, renowned sailors, such as Sir Francis Chichester and Bernard Moitessier, have navigated the seas with Rolex wristwatches serving as onboard chronometers.

Matching the precision of marine chronometers was fundamental to Rolex’s watchmaking.

Designed for navigators

Sailing occupies a special place in the world of Rolex. In 1958, the brand partnered the New York Yacht Club, creator of the legendary America’s Cup. Rolex then formed partnerships with several prestigious yacht clubs around the world and became associated with major nautical events – offshore races and coastal regattas.

These strong ties culminated in 1992 with the launch of the Yacht-Master. Boasting the robustness and waterproofness of our Oyster case, this chronometer is fitted with a bidirectional bezel with raised 60-minute graduations to enable navigational time to be calculated and read.

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Precious on land and at sea

Available in three diameters – 37, 40 and 42 mm – and in various precious versions – 18 ct yellow, white and Everose gold – as well as in Everose Rolesor and Rolesium versions, the Yacht-Master is unique in the world of Rolex professional watches. An elegant watch with a sporty character, it was the first to be paired with an Oysterflex bracelet in 2015.

In 2023, after testing under real-life conditions by acclaimed helmsman Sir Ben Ainslie, Rolex launched a new version of the Yacht-Master 42. It is made of RLX titanium, a high-performance material, at once light, robust and corrosion resistant.

A veritable ally at sea, the Yacht-Master also elegantly adorns the wrists of navigators once back on solid ground. With many different versions, it is a model that transcends its seafaring origins. It has become a watch for those who know how to change course without losing sight of the horizon, moving freely.

Yacht-Master 42

Oyster, 42 mm, yellow gold.