Getting ready for your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam can be a stressful time, so we at Ardent Training, an RYA-certified teaching school, have put together some frequently asked questions to help you!

This information is valid both for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor. For more information about these, click here for motor and here for sail.

What Are The Pre-Requisites for an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam?

50 days spent at sea

2500nm cruised, with at least 50% in tidal waters

5 days as skipper

5 x 60nm passages, 2 as skipper

Do Motor Sailing Miles Count Towards My Sail Mileage?

Motoring on a sailing vessel counts towards your total required mileage for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail. The motor on a sailing vessel is classed as an auxiliary engine.

However, motoring (or sailing) miles on a sailing vessel does not count towards your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor mileage.

How Much Does an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Cost?

The cost of the exam is fixed by the RYA, and you can find out the current costs and how to pay here.

Most RYA schools organising exams will run a ‘Pre Practical Training Course’. This is where you will be guided by an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor who will fine-tune your skills for the practical exam. These courses are a separate cost and billed by the training school.

How Do I Organise an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam?

If you go through an RYA training school and have an ‘RYA Yachtmaster Exam Prep Course’ then they will organise it for you.

Otherwise, the RYA has provided the following info here. 

What Are The Vessel Requirements For The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam?

The vessel must be from 7m to 18m. It must be in seaworthy condition and equipped to a standard set out in G103 ‘RYA Boat Safety Handbook’. The boat must have up-to-date charts, working instruments and a chartplotter/GPS.

However, the examiner and RYA do have the final say on the suitability of the vessel. 

What Paperwork Do I Need To Take With Me On My RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam?

• Completed application form​
• RYA exam payment​
• VHF certificate​
• First aid certificate​
• Personal ID​
• Personal sailing logbook

What First Aid Certificate Is Required for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam? 

All exams need a valid, (in-date), first aid certificate. You can find the exact requirements here.

How Should I Present My Personal Logbook for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam? 

It is important to show your voyages and confirmed mileage in a clear and concise manner. The tried and tested way to do this is to break down each voyage.

Our logbooks should detail the dates of our voyage, the vessel we were on, including type and size, the details of the voyage ports visited, weather conditions during the voyage including maximum wind force, position you held on board, the number of days spent aboard, the distance travelled, noting both tidal and non-tidal miles, any night hours stood watch for and skipper of the vessels signature.

It is key that for those going for an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam that any skippered passages, particularly those over 60M, should be clearly identifiable.

Our Ardent Training logbook, seen here, can be downloaded from our free online resources.

What Are The Timings for the Exam? 

For RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exams, 1 candidate will take in the region of 8-12 hours while for 2-4 candidates, it will be closer to 5-9 hours per student.

No exam should last longer than 48 hours.

What Is The Examiner Looking For During an Exam? 

During an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam, each candidate is under constant evaluation. It is important for the candidate to remember that it is not a series of exercises, and the examiner is looking for a candidate’s overall ability as a skipper and so looking for a boat skippered as such.

Does The Examiner Participate in Manning the Vessel?

No, the examiner’s job is to observe. You should have a minimum of 2 other crew members to act as crew for you. These can include other exam candidates.

How Do I Commercially Endorse My RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Ticket?

Upon passing an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam, you can commercially endorse your ticket straight away if you have all the relevant pre-requisites. More info can be found here.

The additional courses that need to be completed are RYA PPR, RYA Sea Survival or RYA Personal Survival and a personal medical, ML5 or ENG1.