Aztec Sailing - Yachtmaster Preparation

T R A I N I N G C O U R S E S

	For the Beginner:	Learning to be a Skipper:	Advanced Skipper:		Dates and prices
	Competent Crew	Day Skipper Day Skipper Combined	Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster Preparation	Yachtmaster Ocean Ocean Qualifying Passage	Large Yacht Conversion Astronomical Navigation Book

See our On-Line Theory Course - theory from Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Ocean

Training

YACHTMASTER PREPARATION

Aim

The aim of this course is to prepare the experienced skipper for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical Examination.

It can also be used to prepare for the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Examination, which is similar but requires a slightly lower level of skill and experience.

The Yachtmaster (and Coastal Skipper) examinations are unlike the previous courses (Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper) in that:

an independent examiner is assessing you (not your instructor)
they are looking for a level of expertise which can potentially enable you to skipper commercially (although many people don't do that)

Previously, you may have successfully completed the Coastal Skipper Practical course, and for most people this means learning some things for the first time. The certificate you received at the end of the course means that you can do these things - not that you are particularly good at them! So it is important to build up some experience as a skipper before attempting the examination.

The Yachtmaster Preparation course does two things:

it rehearses you in the sort of things that the examiner is expecting to see - e.g. a really polished man-overboard drill
it enables us to see if you have reached the expected level of ability in all areas. If you haven't, you may opt for the less demanding Coastal Skipper Practical Examination (which will build your confidence and is a considerable qualification in itself) or decide that exams can wait a bit while you build up your experience.

What happens on the course?

The course is essentially a repeat of the five-day Coastal Skipper course, but the difference is that you are taking your skills to a higher level. Also, we allow you to concentrate on the areas where you feel weakest. We will also quiz you on your Theory knowledge - it is important, for example, that you have memorised the lights, shapes and signals defined in the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCS) prior to the examination.

The examination will follow straight on from the course - typically starting on the Friday afternoon and carrying on into the night.

If you feel during the week (with our advice) that you are not ready for the exam we can contact the examiner and call it off, and you don't get charged the fee for doing it.

It's worth calling us to discuss whether you have reached the stage to be considering a practical exam.