RYA Yachtmaster Coastal - Course FAQ's

How much does the Yachtmaster Coastal course cost including exam fees?

£800-£1000 (approx. $1,250-$1,560 or 1,000-1,260 EUROS) depending on where you do it and whether you have already done the RYA Coastal Skipper course, as well as a £205 (approx. $320 or 250 EUROS) practical exam fee.

What will you get out of this course?

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal is one of the top sailing qualifications, and is recognised all over the world as a certification of a high level of competence. 

It is a gentle step towards the Yachtmaster Offshore.

What are your limits on passing this?

You will be able to sail competently and confidently on extended coastal passages in all weather conditions.

Is it shorebased theory, practical or both?

If you have done the RYA Coastal Skipper your theory exam will count towards the Yachtmaster Coastal certificate. If you have moved straight to this from Day Skipper you must sit a theory course and exam.

Either way you must do an intensive practical course prior to the practical exam.

Where can you take it?

You can do this wherever the course is offered by an RYA accredited sailing school offers it.

Can you do the Yachtmaster Coastal course in another country?

Yes.

What level of experience do you need before you begin?

If you have not done the RYA Coastal Skipper you must have 20 days aboard of which two days must have been as skipper. You must have 800 logged miles at sea, and 12 night hours. Half of this experience must have been done on tidal waters.

If you have done the RYA Coastal Skipper course, you can have 400 logged miles.

Put in perspective, 400 – 800 miles of sea time really isn’t that much. You can sail from Dover to the Orkneys and surpass this distance while gaining a truckload of experience sailing in all weather conditions along the way. With this you will qualify to sail around most European waters without being too far from shore.

How long does the course take to complete?

If you have not done the Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster theory exam, the theory course can be done in six days as an intensive course or over a series of evenings at night school.

The practical course requires you to do 7 days of training, five days of exam preparation and a two day exam.

What does the course involve?

You need to be a very good navigator and skipper in order to pass this. The course covers the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea, extensive knowledge of safety at sea, and procedures for getting out of trouble in most conditions.

You must be an expert boat handler, have strong seamanship skills whilst being able to repair and maintain the vessel at sea. You will be aware of your responsibilities as a skipper with strong navigation skills in all conditions, using electronic and manual navigation aids as required. 

How do I progress after completing the course?

You will be able to do the Yachtmaster Offshore.

Does this course give you international accreditation?

Not automatically. You can apply for an International Certificate of Competence or sit further training and examinations for professional Maritime and Coastguard Agency accreditation. For the syllabus for professional accreditation, have a look at the RYA website here.

Where can I learn more about the Yachmaster Coastal?

Look at the RYA website for exact details of the course here and browse our website for details of where to do the course in your preferred location. 

Further information can be found here.