The Sunshine Coast Sailing Academy now offers professional Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Yachtmaster training. The scheme is accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is emulated throughout the world. The certificates of competence are required by commercial yacht skippers on sailing and motor vessels up to 200 gross tonnes irrespective of length, and as entry to Megayacht qualifications. Additionally, many recreational sailors take RYA Yachtmaster exams as a measure of their competence.

The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) administers these qualifications. For yachts over 24 metres, the MCA usually require a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or RYA Yachtmaster Ocean as an entry qualification to their courses.

A Yachtmaster is "a yachtsman or woman competent to skipper a cruising yacht on any passage that can be completed without the use of astro navigation." This means coastal and offshore passages within 150 miles of a safe harbor. As any yacht skipper will tell you, those passages that are close to land or across shipping lanes are the most difficult, particularly if the weather is rough or the visibility poor. A Yachtmaster needs a wealth of knowledge, not only to cope with plain sailing or motor cruising in sunny weather and flat seas, but also to be able to cope when things go wrong.

To take the RYA Yachtmaster exam you need a Marine Radio Operator's Certificate, a current Senior First Aid Certificate and a minimum sea time of 50 days, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles, including 2 over night and 2 as skipper. Go to our Fastrack Course page for details. Remember that the examination is essentially a test of ability to take charge of a yacht, so your experience as skipper is most important.

It is an intensive course designed for experienced crew with sufficient on the water experience. This program is not for beginners.

Yachtmaster Shorebased Course
A course for the more experienced skippers that takes them up to the theory knowledge required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Practical Examination. For more info CLICK

Yachtmaster Practical Course
This is an advanced skippering course for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation and are usually aspiring towards a Certificate of Competence. For more info CLICK

Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course
Previous experience necessary - You should have experience of coastal and offshore sailing and possess knowledge of all the subjects covered in the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course.

This course in astro navigation and worldwide meteorology assumes a thorough knowledge of the subjects covered in other shorebased navigation courses. In addition to learning about all aspects of sextant navigation, this course, designed for who aspire to blue water cruising, covers passage planning, yacht management, and electronic navigation aids.

Ideal for qualified Offshore Yachtmaster who want to gain knowledge of astro navigation before attempting their ocean qualifying passage. For more info CLICK

Ocean Qualifying Passage
Previous experience necessary: You must have completed the OceanYachtmaster Shorebased course to fully understand and get the maximum from this qualifying passage. Practical ability to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore level is highly recommended. Candidates should hold a HF/VHF Radio Operator's Certificate and a Senior 1st Aid certificate. For more info CLICK

The full syllabi for all RYA courses are detailed in the RYA G15/03 Cruising logbook. Copies can be obtained through the Sunshine Coast Sailing Academy or the RYA.

Those completing the RYA Yachtmaster program successfully will receive the following:
(1) An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Certificate
(2) An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
(3) The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Certificate
(4) The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence

How is the course constructed?
The program consists of four separate modules. Each module stands alone and can be taken individually or together. A number of practical courses are run after each theory module.

(1) A five day comprehensive shorebased module with assessments and written examinations incorporating subjects including navigation, tidal calculations, international collision regulations, pilotage, meteorology, anchoring and berthing, bouyage, safety, first aid, passage planning and seamanship. Candidates are advised that a considerable amount of private study and varied cruising experience is required in addition to the formal instruction provided.

(2) A five-day RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical course is conducted on board a yacht. This part of the instruction covers seamanship skills such as nautical terms, tides, ropework, anchor work, boat handling, docking, yacht presentation, general yachting skills, weather, navigation and passage planning. This course will be a preparation course for your final RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination.

(3) A five day comprehensive shorebased module with assessments and written examinations incorporating subjects including astro navigation and worldwide meteorology. In addition to learning about all aspects of sextant navigation, this course is designsed for those who aspire to blue water cruising; covers passage planning, yacht management, and electronic navigation aids.

STCW95 Course Description
This 4-day course will provide participants with required theory and practical exercises in elements of Occupational Health & Safety at Sea. On successful completion of this course the participant will be able to:

	Carry out the duties required of crewmembers during onboard emergencies
	Use onboard life saving equipment to implement survival techniques during periods in the sea and in survival craft
	Use onboard life saving equipment to assist in rescuing a person from the water
	Identify potentially hazardous situations arising in the work environment and take appropriate action to minimize the risk of injury

(4) First Aid Component
A valid Senior First Aid Certificate is also required as part of Occupational Health & Safety at Sea, this must be completed before you attend this course, either through Qld Ambulance or St Johns Ambulance locally.

Follow these links
to learn more about our other courses:

	DINGHY COURSES		YACHT PRACTICAL COURSES		CAREER COURSES
	Level 1 - Start Sailing		Introduction/start sailing		RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
	Level 2 - Basic Skills		Competent crew		RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
	Seamanship		Day Skipper Practical		RYA Fastrack Course
	Day Sailing		Coastal Skipper Practical
			Ocean Qualifying Passage
	HOBIE CATS		YACHT THEORY COURSES		SPECIALTY COURSES
	Hobie Cat 16s NEW!		Day Skipper Shorebased		Safety & Sea Survival
			Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster		Diesel maintenance
			Shorebased		First Aid
			Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased		Radio Operator
					Radar
					Powerboat