The Yachtmaster Offshore

The Yachtmaster certificates are required for officers, i.e. mates and captains. The certificate is the most internationally recognized qualification for yachting. It is a course that is designed for those who have a basic understanding of yachting. Courses are held all over the world. Double check to make certain that your course is being run by a recognised body. None of the yachtmaster courses are considered suitable for beginners/novices to sailing. There are three different levels of Yacht Master: Coastal, Offshore and Ocean. Each is slightly more comprehensive than the last with Ocean being the highest.
As always we advise that the course you do is recognised by an official body and recommend the RYA.

The Yachtmaster Offshore
The completion of the Yachtmaster Offshore will give you following qualifications.

• The Yachtmaster Offshore – Shore Based Certificate
• Radio Communications Certificate
• Basic Sea Survival Certificate (STCW 95)
• Fire Fighting Certificate (STCW 95)
• First Aid Certificate (STCW 95)
• Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (STCW 95)
• MCA Recognized Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competency.

Yacht Master Offshore requires that all candidates have signed proof of:

• 50 days logged at sea as a participating and active member of crew. A ‘day’ is a period of 24 consecutive hours. Parts of a day may not be included in this total although a candidate leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise does not invalidate a day. ‘At sea’ is defined as being out of a harbour and not at anchor.
• 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea must be logged. Short day trips are not considered valid. The mileage must be logged on genuine cruises or passages. At least 2,000 miles must have been completed on coastal voyages and not ocean crossings.
• Five varied cruises extending further than 60 miles from shore must also be logged. The duties of captain must have been undertaken for at least two of these five.
• A candidate must also have spent 30 hours or more on watch, at sea, at night. Night being the period between sunset and sunrise. Six hours must have been spent as acting captain/watchleader.

It is also necessary to have a current medical exam and eyesight test.