What is a Yachtmaster™ Offshore?

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate is the internationally recognized gold standard for experienced sailors demonstrating advanced seamanship and navigation skills. This prestigious qualification proves your ability to skipper sailing yachts safely on passages up to 150 miles from shore, making it essential for professional sailing careers, yacht deliveries, and charter operations worldwide.

The certificate is highly valued by employers in the marine industry, yacht owners seeking competent skippers, and insurance companies requiring proof of competency. It opens doors to opportunities including commercial yacht operations, sailing instruction, worldwide yacht deliveries, and positions on superyachts.

Achieving the Yachtmaster Offshore requires extensive practical experience, theoretical knowledge, and successful completion of a rigorous independent assessment covering all aspects of yacht handling, navigation, meteorology, and crew management.

	Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam pre-requisites
Minimum seatime	50 days at sea, 5 days as a skipper, 2500 miles including at least 5 passages over 60 miles long of which 2 overnight and 2 as skipper.
Form of exam	Practical
Certification required	A GMDSS compliant Marine Radio Operator's Certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher. A valid First Aid certificate such as the RYA First Aid at sea. A photographic ID card or document, such as a passport or driving license.
Minimum exam duration	8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-18 hours for 2 candidates. No more than two candidates can be examined in 24 hours and no more than four candidates can be examined in one 2 day session.
Minimum age	18 at the time of the exam

More about 'qualifying passages'
After every practical course you need to consolidate your acquired skills. Build miles and broaden your experience in a variety of areas and in different circumstances.

For Yachtmaster Offshore you need at least 5 qualifying passages as a bare minimum:
1) Over 60 nm non-stop by the shortest navigable route with no change of skipper. Passages such as recognised races which may not comply exactly with these requirements may be submitted to the RYA for approval.
2) Trainee skippers undertaking 60 mile passages are strongly advised to obtain a Coastal Skipper qualification first!
3) Supporting testimonials or a Seaman’s Discharge book

• Skipper: The skipper is the person nominated and responsible for the planning and execution of a passage including vessel and watch management. The skipper is not necessarily the most experienced or qualified person on board, but must be the person with responsibility for the safe execution of the passage. If the skipper's role is transferred to another person at any time during a passage then neither person can claim to have skippered that passage.

• Mate: For the purpose of qualifying passages, a mate is any person on board who has sole responsibility for managing a navigational watch during a passage. They must be actively engaged in the planning and execution of a passage.

• Tidal: An area is deemed tidal if published stream, current or tidal range data is available, the influence of which is significant enough to require the effects to be taken into account to plan and execute a safe and efficient passage.

• Days on board:A day on board or as skipper is a period of eight consecutive hours living on board, the majority of which the vessel should have been at sea. Periods of less than eight hours cannot be aggregated to make up eight hours. Only one eight-hour period may be counted in any 24 hour period.

What does it mean to be commercially endorsed?

If you need a Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft, subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to 150 miles from a safe harbour. For a commercial endorsement, in addition to your practical certificate of competence you will need:

• Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate, acquired with a short online course

• A completed ML5 Medical Report Form or ENG1 medical fitness form provided by a doctor

• A RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or World Sailing's Offshore Personal Survival Course