What age is RYA?
Our Start Yachting and Competent Crew courses are suitable for children aged 8 and 12 respectively. The minimum age to do the RYA Day Skipper course is 16. To achieve the qualification you need to pass a practical on the water exam that can last for up to 12 hours. That is correct – a 12 hour exam! The exam can be tough and stressful. To be successful a Yachtmaster Offshore candidate you must be able to not only cope with plain sailing but also with demanding situations.The Yachtmaster Coastal Exam requires 30 days experience at sea, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles including 12 night hours. The Yachtmaster Offshore Exam requires 50 days experience at sea, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles, including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper.Sea time requirements for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam 50 days at sea on yachts up to 500GT and a minimum of 2,500 miles logged before you sit the exam. At least half the sea time must be in tidal waters. During this time you would have completed five passages of over 60 miles**.For the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate, the requirements are more stringent, with at least 200 days of sea time, including at least 20 days as skipper, 10 of which must be on offshore passages, and have completed a qualifying passage of at least 2,000 miles, including at least 5 days, 5 nights and an offshore .
What is an RYA qualification?
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence. Yachtmaster Offshore. The benchmark for professional and experienced skippers. This external exam assesses your ability to skipper a yacht up to 150 miles offshore. The RYA Day Skipper certificate does not have an expiration date; once obtained, it remains valid indefinitely. This means that the skills and qualifications it represents are recognized for the lifetime of the holder.Required certificates Five years, if under 70 years of age or two years from the age of 70. Prior to the validity expiring candidates will need to attend and pass a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor revalidation on the water. Revalidation is carried out over one day for motor and two for sail.All Yachtmaster Commercial Endorsement certificates must be renewed every 5 years, and for this, you must be in possession of or justify the following aspects: The shipments of the last 5 years, dates and data of the companies for which you have worked. At least 150 days of navigation should be justified.If you have never sailed before it’s wise to ensure that your sailing tuition is broken down into modules with the appropriate RYA certificates upon completion. If for some reason you have to stop studying, module certificates can easily prove to others, including future employers, the standard you have reached.
How long is RYA level 1?
For someone with no previous experience on the water, Level 1 Start Sailing offers an ideal introduction. The course is entirely practical and can be taken in approximately 2 days, 16 hours or equivalent number of sessions. No prior boating experience is necessary. The course equally suits those new to boating and those who have been boating for years. Most people take Level 2 and bypass Level 1. You do not need to already have Level 1 before you take Level 2.The RYA Powerboat Level 2 course is the perfect entry point for anyone looking to enjoy boating safely and independently. It equips you with practical skills, recognised certification, and a path to the ICC, your licence to explore waters abroad.
What is the highest rya qualification?
The Yachtmaster Ocean is the highest qualification awarded by the RYA. Recognised worldwide, the Yachtmaster Ocean certificate proves you have the knowledge, experience, and confidence to skipper a yacht across an ocean. Yachtmaster’ is a trademarked term by the RYA, which is a Certificate of Competence to prove you have enough experience to skipper a yacht. As described on the RYA website, a Yachtmaster does not need any formal training, rather with sufficient logged experience and seatime, you can take the Yachtmaster exam.The holder of a Yachtmaster qualification can skipper a yacht, lead the crew and deal with both plain sailing and emergencies.The RYA Yachtmaster Theory course is challenging but extremely rewarding, providing a robust foundation for any serious sailor’s education.