Yachtmaster™ Coastal
The Yachtmaster™ Coastal has the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA's Sail Cruising Logbook (code G15) and the Motor Cruising Logbook (code G18), both available from the RYA webshop (see right).
Yachtmaster™ Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. The candidate or a training centre provides the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.
The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology and signals. Candidates will be set tasks to demonstrate their ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to Yachtmaster™ Coastal level.
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Yachtmaster™ Coastal exam pre-requisites
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| Minimum seatime |
30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters. |
| Form of exam |
Practical |
| Certification required |
A restricted (VHF only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio certificate. A valid first aid certificate* (first aid qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services are acceptable). |
| Minimum exam duration |
6-10 hours for 1 candidate, 8-14 hours for 2 candidates |
| Minimum age |
17 |
The boat used must be between 7m (23ft) and 24m (78ft) LOA and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA book Cruising Yacht Safety (code C8). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications and be efficiently crewed, as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.
Before you book your exam please check that you:
- can provide a boat
- have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
- hold a VHF Radio Operators License or Short Range Certificate
- hold a valid first aid certificate
- have read the syllabus in RYA publications; G15 (sail) or G18 (power)
- have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.
If you need a Yachtmaster™ Coastal Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed - see left. You can then work on commercial vessels up to 24m in length, operating in category 3, 4, 5 and 6 waters - that is up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point in fine weather and daylight.
For the commercial endorsement they need to hold a RYA First Aid Course or STCW 95.
*All candidates are required to hold a first aid certificate. Acceptable certificates include the RYA’s First Aid Certificate, First Aid at Work, First Aid at Sea, or any other certificate issued on completion of a course which is a minimum of one day’s duration, recognised by the Health and Safety Executive and includes the treatment of hypothermia, cold shock and drowning.
See Also
How to use your Coastal Skipper certificate for work
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