RYA Yachtmaster Ocean

Examinations for RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence are conducted on board by RYA-appointed Yachtmaster Examiners.

On passing your RYA Yachtmaster examination, you are certified as competent to act as Master of a vessel up to 24 metres in length, within the operational limits of your qualification as shown below:

• Yachtmaster Coastal is valid for operations within 20 miles of a nominated safe haven or port.
• Yachtmaster Offshore is valid for use up to 150 miles from a safe haven.
• Yachtmaster Ocean is unrestricted by distance.

All qualifications listed above can be commercially endorsed for professional use within their respective limitations. Please see “Yachtmaster Commercial Use” below for more information.

Yachtmaster Offshore and Coastal candidates require the following prior to submitting for examination:

• Sea time requirements (Coastal): 30 days on board, two days as skipper, 800 miles and 12 night hours.
  For holders of the RYA Coastal Skipper certificate, this is reduced to 20 days on board, two days as skipper, 400 miles and 12 night hours.
• Sea time requirements (Offshore): 50 days on board, five days as skipper and 2,500 miles, including five qualifying passages over 60 miles — two overnight and two as skipper.
• Radio operator’s certificate (restricted VHF or higher grade of certificate)
• First aid certificate (on the RYA approved list)
• Theory knowledge to RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory standard
• Boat handling and navigation ability to Yachtmaster Practical Skills standard

Yachtmaster Ocean candidates MUST complete ALL of the following prior to submitting for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean oral examination:

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean shorebased theory course
• Yachtmaster Ocean qualifying passage (minimum distance 600 nm by the shortest navigable route)
• A written narrative of your qualifying passage, including details of your celestial navigation sights, for submission to the examiner

If you plan to use your RYA Yachtmaster certificate for commercial purposes under the UK flag or in jurisdictions that recognise the UK MCA system, you will need to obtain a commercial endorsement from the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through the RYA. 

To get your RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence commercially endorsed, you must complete the following steps:

1. Obtain an MCA-approved sea survival certificate. This may be an STCW Personal Survival Techniques course, an RYA Sea Survival course, or an Australian Sailing Safety and Sea Survival qualification such as the Offshore Safety and Survival course.
2. Complete the RYA online Professional Practices and Responsibilities course (PPR).
3. Obtain a certificate of medical fitness. The MCA recognises two types of UK-issued medical certificates for commercial endorsement: ML5 (valid for 5 years and limited to 60 nm offshore) and ENG1 (valid for 2 years and for unlimited operations). Full details are available here. The MCA also accepts a range of international seafarer medicals, including the Australia-issued AMSA 303 medical for unlimited operations.

Once you have completed the above, you can apply for your RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Commercial endorsement here.

To work commercially in Australia on a sailing yacht, you must hold an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Sailing Master Certificate of Competency.

To get an AMSA Sailing Master certificate complete the following steps

Step 1 – Gain your RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence.

Step 2 – Apply to the RYA for one of the following endorsements:

• A full commercial endorsement for your RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Certificate (see section above), or
• An Australia limited endorsement if you only intend to work in Australian waters. This is often easier and cheaper because you do not need a UK medical — you can use an AMSA medical instead.

Both endorsement pathways require:

• An approved sea survival course, such as AS Offshore Safety and Survival
• The RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR) course

Step 3 – Apply to AMSA for your Sailing Master Certificate (apply here), and submit:

• Your RYA Yachtmaster Certificate with either a full commercial endorsement or an Australia Limited Endorsement
• An RYA Diesel Engine Certificate
• An RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate
• A valid medical fitness certificate — either AMSA 1850 (simpler and cheaper) or AMSA 303

Find out more about the various job opportunities and career pathways for qualified Yachtmasters here