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If you’re preparing to sit the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam, this intensive five-day course is designed to give you the best possible chance of success. With expert instruction, hands-on experience, and focused coaching in every aspect of skippering, you’ll build the confidence and competence needed to approach your exam feeling fully prepared.
Our RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam preparation course is a focused five-day programme led by our most experienced skippers, all of whom are fully qualified RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructors. Their role is not only to assess your current ability but to actively coach you in every discipline required to pass the exam with confidence.
Over the course of the week, you’ll take charge of the yacht on both daytime and night passages, gaining hands-on experience in boat handling under sail and power. Particular emphasis is placed on Man Overboard recovery, which is expected to be performed to a high standard by examiners — this drill will be practised intensively throughout the week.
Your instructor will guide you through all the essential areas of knowledge, including passage planning and weather, safety procedures and sea survival, yacht maintenance, navigation, pilotage, and the International Collision Regulations. You’ll also work on blind navigation, relying solely on instruments to simulate conditions with limited visibility.
At the end of each day, your instructor will provide a detailed debrief, helping you reflect on your performance and build confidence. By the time the examiner steps on board on Friday evening, you’ll have spent five days sailing alongside your fellow candidates and will be thoroughly familiar with both your crew and your vessel.
The weekend exam involves each candidate taking command of the yacht on short passages while demonstrating practical skippering techniques. It’s a demanding experience, but one you’re well-prepared for. All our instructors have been through the same process themselves and understand the pressures involved. They’ll do everything they can to ensure you feel calm, ready, and capable when the time comes.
Your course fee covers the full five days of tuition, as well as all diesel and harbour charges, onboard food and drink, and use of the yacht for the exam itself. The only additional cost is the RYA exam fee, which is currently £231 and must be paid directly to the RYA before the exam takes place.
