The RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course is the advanced navigation and passage-planning theory course for experienced sailors and motor cruisers progressing beyond Day Skipper level.
Often shortened to Yachtmaster Offshore Theory or Yachtmaster Shorebased, the course develops the navigation, meteorology, collision regulations and passage-planning knowledge required for coastal and offshore skippering.
Chieftain Training offers the course in several formats, including
- Intensive 6-day classroom course in Hamble
- Split weekends, classroom course in Hamble
- Winter evening classes in Southampton or Hamble
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased online training, UK & worldwide
Who is the Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course for?
The course is designed for experienced recreational and professional boaters who already have navigation knowledge to the level of the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course and some experience of putting it into practice
It is particularly suitable for candidates progressing towards;
- RYA Advanced Powerboat Course
- RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat CoC Exam Preparation
- RYA Coastal Skipper practical Course, Power or Sail
- RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC Exam Preparation, Power or Sail
- RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC Exam Preparation, Power or Sail
- MCA Master 200/OOW500
- STCW OOW 3000 (yacht)
How Long Is The Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course?
Choose the format that suits you.
- Six day course: 6 consecutive days commencing on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
- Night School: 15 evenings (usually 1 per week over the winter)
- Night School Plus: 1 weekend plus 9 evenings
- Weekends: A mixture of weekends and/or long weekends to make up 6 days
- Online: in your own time, at your own pace
Each variation of the RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Shorebased course can be booked at the bottom of this page.
What Are The Prerequisites For Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Theory?
- RYA Day Skipper Shorebased or equivalent knowledge (essential)
- Some experience of putting the above knowledge into practice (essential)
- A working knowledge of the IRPCS (essential)
- RYA Short Range Certificate (desirable)
RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Course Ratio:
The RYA allow centres to run with up to 12 students on this course. While this works for night school we find it is far too many for our 6-day and weekend courses so we limit our six-day and weekend courses to a maximum of 8 students., which means you each get a double desk to spread your charts out on. In reality the class size is often smaller and we run with as few as 3 students.
What will I learn on the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course?
On arrival at our centre you will receive the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased pack and handbook. Those who opt for the online course will have the relevant resources couriered to them. The course covers;
- advanced coastal and offshore chartwork and position fixing
- tidal heights and tidal streams
- course to steer and estimated position
- pilotage and harbour entry
- electronic navigation and GNSS
- meteorology and weather forecasting
- International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS/COLREGs)
- lights, shapes and sound signals
- navigation in restricted visibility
- safety equipment and emergency situations
- coastal and offshore passage planning
- marine environmental considerations
There are four assessment papers, Collision regulations, Chart-work and Passage planning 1 and 2. At the end of the course your Instructor will give you a full debrief.
Included
RYA Yachtmaster training at Chieftain Training is comprehensive. We aim to make life as easy as possible for our students and provide the following within the course fee:
- Instruction
- 2 RYA Training Charts
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Handbook
- RYA Yachtmaster Exercises
- RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Certificate
- Use of plotter, dividers and training almanac whilst at the training centre
- Tea & Coffee at the training centre
- Free Parking
Not Included
6-day and Split Weekend Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased
- Meals and accommodation
Night School Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased
- Meals and accommodation
- Plotter and dividers to take away for homework (available to buy from us)
Online Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased
- Plotter and dividers (available to buy from us)
- Overseas postage- (Click for charges)
Invigilation For Online Courses:
If you are taking the online version of the course you will complete the same four assessment papers as our classroom students. For the majority of our students these papers do not require invigilation. However if you intend to use the certificate as entry into the OOW 3000 or Master 200 certification route then you will require invigilation. This does not have to be carried out here in Southampton, we can arrange for invigilation with an RYA Instructor near you (for which there may be a small fee).
Can I Trial The Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Online Course?
A demo of the pilotage chapter is below. Click on it and enlarge it for your screen to see how the online course works
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased the same as Yachtmaster Theory?
Yes. The full RYA course title is Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased, but it is commonly called Yachtmaster Theory, Yachtmaster Offshore Theory or Yachtmaster Shorebased.
Do I need Day Skipper before Yachtmaster Theory?
You do not necessarily need to hold the certificate, but you should have navigation knowledge to approximately RYA Day Skipper Shorebased standard and some practical boating experience.
Can I take Yachtmaster Theory before I have enough sea miles for the Yachtmaster exam?
Yes. The shorebased course itself does not require the Yachtmaster exam sea-time requirement. Many candidates complete the theory course while building their practical experience and qualifying mileage.
Is the theory course the same for sail and power candidates?
Yes. The RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased syllabus provides advanced navigation and passage-planning knowledge applicable to both sailing yachts and motor cruisers.
How difficult is Yachtmaster Offshore theory?
It is a significant step up from Day Skipper theory. Candidates should be comfortable with basic chartwork, tidal calculations and collision regulations before starting.
Does Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased expire?
The certificate does not expire.
Can I take Yachtmaster Theory online?
Yes. Chieftain offers both classroom and online RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased training.
Do I need Yachtmaster Theory before taking the Advanced Powerboat, Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam?
Strictly speaking there is no mandatory requirement to hold the shorebased certificate but you will need the knowledge. During your practical exam your examiner will test content from the theory course and if you are missing that knowledge, you are unlikely to be successful. If you progress onto Master 200 or OOW3000 then a Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased certificate is mandatory.
Where do you run classroom Yachtmaster theory courses?
At Chieftain Training’s Hamble centre near Southampton, with free parking. Night school is run at both Hamble and Southampton.
How long is the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course?
The standard classroom course is approximately 40 hours of teaching plus 6 hours of assessment. At Chieftain, you can complete it as an intensive six-day course, over split weekends, as 15 winter evening classes or online at your own pace.
Booking The Yachtmaster Shorebased Course:
Booking options for the 6-day, weekends and night school courses are all shown below. If you would like to book the online course, please click the “online courses” tab below.
If the dates below do not suit you, please let us know. It may be we can offer something else, particularly if you are booking several months in advance and/or there is more than one of you.