Yachtmaster pre-requisites

[martini]

I'm getting confused again (easily done) depending who I ask I'm getting different answers.

Do passages undertaken in a rib count towards the required sea time for a yachtmaster offshore exam? Even cross channel passages etc?

[Alan Priddy]

Not as far as I am aware Your sea miles have to be in the same sort of boat you are getting the qualification for. If it is a sail Yachtmaster it has to be a cabin yacht and if it's a power Yachtmaster it has to be a cabin rib.Alan P

[cyberstoker]

If the vessel used to make the passages was one that the practical exam could be taken in then I would have though it was fine.

But if you're after a Yachting YM then I would say not.

[GaryC]

I thought there was a minumum standard for YM. I'm sure the Sail YM states greater than 7 metres in length and cabable of overnight accommodation. i.e you have to live on it so it must have a cabin and catering facilites. Would of thought there was one for power YM too.

Gary

[Channel Ribs]

From the RYA site:

"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."

* There is even some flexibility in the 7m limit, I imagine that if a boat were equipped for regularly making passages of over 60nm and the examiner were satisfied of it's suitability then something just under would be ok.

No mention in there of accommodation.

Though G18 used the phrase 'Motor Cruiser' in place of boat.

The log section of G18 uses the phrase 'Motor Yacht'.

Page 40 is perhaps the most important...

"... it would be impossible to lay down absolute requirements without producing an unduly complicated and restrictive set of rules."

"Motor Cruiser is a generic term covering a very wide range of boats with different handling characteristics and sea-keeping abilities."

There is an over-night element to the pre-exam requirement of Coastal Skipper, but not in the same section for Yachtmaster Offshore. (Page 41)

Yachtmaster Ocean carries a requirement of 96 hours non-stop, which effectively demands accommodation.

Since the requirements for Offshore is five trips of over 60nm, then any motor vessel capable of safely undertaking such trips would qualify? If you tell the examiner you have regularly done Weymouth to Jersey in a 5m dory then he is likely to question your experience and wisdom.

In your case Matt I suggest that you contact John Elliot who is the man that would asses you if you took the exam in the Channel Islands. At the end of the day he is the one who has to be satisfied that you and the boat you use have met the criteria.

(My understanding of the exam is that it is not a specific set of boxes to tick, it is about making a very experienced examiner confident in your ability and your breadth of knowledge.)

[GaryC]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

There is an over-night element to the pre-exam requirement of Coastal Skipper, but not in the same section for Yachtmaster Offshore. (Page 41)

From the RYA G15 Logbook...

Pre YM experience. "50 Days on board. A day on board is a period of 24 consecutive hours living on board the vessel. Periods of less than 24 hours may not be aggregated to increase the total but a day is not invalidated by leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise."

I am assuming the few hours is not to go and get shore accommodation. That is also from the Sail YM Log book. I would presume the motor YM would be similiar? (30 days are required for Coastal Skipper)

Gary

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by GaryC

I am assuming...

... That even though the RYA produce two separate sylabi for sail and power, that the requirements are the same?

In the case of power, the book to refer to is the one I have extensively quoted from. As far as I can see there is no requirement to live aboard in the (power) Yachtmaster coastal or offshore sections and it is necessary for Ocean only because of the durations required.

The reason for the living aboard stipulation with the sail exam may have more to do with the time it takes to cover great distances when under sail. 60nm at 6 knots is clearly a very different boating experience to doing the same at 20kn.

[SPR]

the RNLI definition is of motor boat is one that has a head! maybe buying s porta loo & solar power might convert rib to motor boat!

s.

[Alan Priddy]

I am a Yacht Master Ocean both power and sail and at this time Commercialy Endorsed and I think that some of you may not be interpeting the "rules" correctly. What you think is ok is not so. Call the RYA MCA and ask for the exact requirements. Alan P

[Channel Ribs]

My advice to Matt stands Alan

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

In your case Matt I suggest that you contact John Elliot who is the man that would asses you if you took the exam in the Channel Islands.