RYA Yachtmaster — Everything You Need to Know

The RYA Yachtmaster is the most widely recognised small craft qualification in the world — and one of the most misunderstood in terms of what it does and doesn't qualify you to do commercially. This guide covers the three levels, the requirements for each, what the qualification means for commercial work, and how it fits into the broader MCA yachting certification picture.

The Three Levels

Yachtmaster Coastal

For skippers of sailing or motor yachts in coastal waters. Limits apply to the area of operation.

• Sea miles required: 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 8 night hours
• Theory pre-requisite: RYA Day Skipper or equivalent navigation theory
• Exam: Practical assessment by an RYA examiner — typically 8–12 hours on a vessel, covering pilotage, anchoring, man overboard drills, passage planning, and a night exercise
• Certificate validity: 5 years, then revalidation required

Yachtmaster Offshore

The most commonly held level. For offshore passage making up to 150 miles from a safe haven.

• Sea miles required: 50 days, 2,500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles, 2 as skipper, 5 night hours
• Theory pre-requisite: RYA Yachtmaster Theory or equivalent (covers celestial navigation, meteorology, passage planning)
• Exam: Practical assessment by RYA examiner — typically 2 days, including an overnight passage

Yachtmaster Ocean

For ocean passage making worldwide. No area restriction.

• Sea miles required: Qualifying ocean passage of at least 600 miles, at least 2 overnight passages as skipper
• Theory pre-requisite: RYA Ocean shorebased course covering celestial navigation by sextant
• Exam: Oral examination — no additional practical exam, the qualifying passage itself is the assessment

Costs

The RYA sets examination fees rather than course fees (courses are provided by RYA-recognised training centres). Approximate costs:

• Yachtmaster Offshore theory course: £400–£700
• Yachtmaster Offshore practical exam: £300–£500 (plus any vessel hire costs)
• Yachtmaster Ocean theory course: £300–£500
• Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam: £150–£250

Commercial Endorsement

An RYA Yachtmaster certificate alone does not permit you to work commercially as a skipper. To operate commercially, you must obtain the MCA Commercial Endorsement (CE) on your Yachtmaster certificate. This requires:

• Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean certificate
• Commercially endorsed first aid (STCW A-VI/1-3 or equivalent)
• MCA-approved sea survival (STCW A-VI/1-4)
• Valid ENG1 medical
• An approved marine radio licence (SRC or above)

With the Commercial Endorsement, you can legally work as a skipper for reward on vessels up to 24m in Category 2–6 waters (depending on your qualification level). For larger vessels, the MCA's Officer of the Watch (Yachts) ticket or higher is required.

Yachtmaster vs MCA Yachting Tickets

The MCA yachting CoC ladder (OOW Yachts 200GT, Chief Mate Yachts, Master Yacht 200GT, Master Yacht 3000GT) operates separately from but is compatible with RYA Yachtmaster qualifications. Many yacht captains hold both — Yachtmaster Ocean for the internationally recognised credential, and MCA CoC for the legal working authority on larger vessels.

If you are targeting command of vessels above 24m LOA, you will need the MCA ladder regardless of your RYA qualifications. The RYA Yachtmaster qualifications don't directly count toward MCA CoC sea service, but your sea time does — the time, not the certificate, is what builds your path upward.