RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Prep

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Prep Course.

Each and every preparation course that we run will differ as we coach you to your full potential. Your instructor will dissect your current skillset and coach you to improve and polish these skills ready for your Certificate of Competence (CoC) exam.

This course can be attended at our Training Centre in Kinlochleven in the Scottish Highlands or on your own vessel. We can also run this course on commercial vessels and workboats too.

Your instructor will develop your knowledge in the key subject areas such as boat handling and use of engines, pilotage, passage planning and passage making, use of radar, meteorology, collision regulations (IRPCS), tides, and distress at sea.

The Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore Prep course runs over 4 days typically starting on a Monday. During this time your instructor will be preparing and practicing exam theory and skills, before the examiner boards the vessel on the Friday morning for either 1 or 2 days of exams (maximum of 2 candidates per day).

The initial day is used to familiarise yourself with the boat, including equipment, safety briefings, boat handling, anchoring and the broad subject of seamanship skills. During the second and third day you will hone in your navigation skills and plans around the Oban, Firth of Lorne and Sound of Mull areas on the west coast of Scotland. We intend to run a night navigation exercise on each of these nights. The final day is about polishing and honing your skills and consolidating your knowledge ready for the exam.

In preparation for your exam, you will be asked to appraise and plan a longer distance passage (which you will not be required to execute). Your examiner will expect you to explain your plan, considering the route, hazards, tidal gates to name a few. Time during the course will be spent on developing this but some study in your own time will be required.