The RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased course is an advanced navigation and passage planning programme for sailors and motorboat skippers preparing for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore Certificate of Competence.

It is also recognised under the MCA Large Yacht Code for masters and deck officers working on commercial yachts and superyachts.

You’ll develop practical skills in navigation, tides, pilotage, passage planning, meteorology, and the IRPCS (Rules of the Road), helping you become a safer and more confident offshore skipper.

The programme also includes pre-course IRPCS eLearning modules, which should preferably be completed before attending the classroom course.

Course content

The course covers chartwork and navigation, tides and pilotage, buoyage and lights, weather forecasting, passage planning, safety at sea, and collision regulations (IRPCS).

See the FAQ section below for the full course syllabus and detailed topic breakdown.

Course details

The course runs over six days and includes approximately 40 hours of tuition plus 7 hours of supervised exams.

You will complete three written examinations during the programme and receive the RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Certificate on successful completion.

This is an intensive but highly rewarding course that significantly improves your confidence, navigation skills, and safety at sea.

Location & instruction

The course is delivered in our comfortable waterfront classroom at Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney by an experienced RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased instructor.

Enjoy nearby cafés, coffee, beaches, and harbour walks during your breaks.

• Tuition, course publications, course pack, and certification.
• Plotter and dividers are provided for loan or can be purchased in our shop

Qualifications

• RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Certificate

• You should have completed the RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship online course, the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course, or possess equivalent navigation knowledge and experience.

• You are now ready to start RYA Coastal Skipper training or go on to a Yachtmaster Prep and Exam course.

• Booking information
  • To secure your place on the course, please pay a 20% holding deposit using the links provided above. This deposit reserves your position until 60 days before the course start date, when the remaining balance becomes due.
  • Please note that the deposit is non-refundable; however, it can be transferred to another Flying Fish course or event.
  • We recommend booking early, as places are limited.
• Do I need to complete Day Skipper Theory first?
  • We strongly recommend knowledge equivalent to the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course before starting Yachtmaster Theory.
  • You should already feel comfortable with basic chartwork, tides, navigation, and pilotage. Formal completion of Day Skipper is not essential if you already have equivalent knowledge and experience.
• What does the course syllabus include?
  • The course covers advanced coastal and offshore navigation, passage planning, pilotage, tides, meteorology, buoyage, safety at sea, and the IRPCS (Collision Regulations / Rules of the Road).
  • You’ll learn chartwork, position fixing, compass work, tidal calculations, tidal streams, dead reckoning, estimated positions, and course to steer calculations.
  • The syllabus also includes IALA buoyage systems, lights and shapes, pilotage planning, harbour entry procedures, weather forecasting, passage preparation, GPS setup, radar awareness, restricted visibility, and heavy weather procedures.
  • IRPCS training covers steering and sailing rules, responsibilities between vessels, and the recognition of lights, shapes, and sound signals used at sea.
• Do I need to be good at maths?
  • No — the course uses practical maths related to navigation, tides, distances, and speeds.
  • Your instructor will guide you through the methods step by step, with plenty of examples and practice exercises throughout the week.
• Is there any pre-course learning?
  • Yes. The programme includes pre-course online learning covering the IRPCS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), also known as the Rules of the Road.
  • This eLearning focuses on collision regulations, lights, shapes, and sound signals, and should preferably be completed before attending the classroom course.
  • Your pre-course modules are accessed via the Flying Fish Customer Portal.
• What happens if I fail the Yachtmaster exams?
  • We work hard to help students succeed and maintain an excellent first-time pass rate.
  • If you do not pass one of the exams, your instructor will provide clear feedback and an action plan to help you prepare for a resit.
  • Most resits simply involve revising specific topics or improving exam technique before retaking the paper.