The scheme
Courses and exams
The RYA cruising scheme as delivered in Australia, in order. Courses are attended; the Yachtmaster levels are examined. Click through for prerequisites, syllabus and what each one leads to.
Foundation courses
For people with no experience. Learn to be useful, safe crew.
Start Yachting
A short taster weekend on a cruising yacht for people who have never sailed. It exists so you can find out whether you enjoy living and working on a yacht before committing to a full course.
Duration: 2 days on board
Competent Crew
The proper starting point for most people. Five days living aboard a cruising yacht learning to be a useful, safe member of the crew.
Duration: 5 days on board (or 3 weekends)
Skipper courses
Theory and practical courses that teach you to navigate and take charge.
Day Skipper Theory
The navigation and seamanship knowledge you need before you are allowed to skipper. Chartwork, tides, buoyage, collision regulations and weather.
Duration: About 40 hours: a five-day classroom course, evening classes, or online at your own pace
Day Skipper Practical
Your first course as skipper. Five days learning to take charge of a yacht on short passages by day in familiar waters, with the instructor stepping back.
Duration: 5 days on board
Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Theory
The advanced theory block. Secondary-port tides, course-to-steer over several hours, offshore passage planning, weather systems and the collision regulations in depth. This is the knowledge tested in the Yachtmaster exam.
Duration: About 40 hours: a five-day intensive, evening classes, or online
Coastal Skipper Practical
Skippering coastal passages by day and night. The course that gets you exam-ready and reduces the sea time required for the Yachtmaster Coastal exam.
Duration: 5 consecutive days on board
Yachtmaster certificates
The examined levels, plus the Ocean theory course that supports the top one.
Yachtmaster Coastal
The first Yachtmaster certificate of competence. An on-board exam that proves you can skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
Duration: Practical exam: 6 to 10 hours for one candidate, 8 to 14 hours for two
Yachtmaster Offshore
An independent assessment of experienced skippering: passage planning, navigation, boat handling and crew management. A foundation for further ocean training and, with additional requirements, commercial pathways.
Duration: Practical exam: 8 to 12 hours for one candidate, 10 to 18 hours for two
Yachtmaster Ocean Theory
Celestial navigation, ocean passage planning and world meteorology. The written-paper exemption requires a final exam invigilated at an RYA-recognised training centre.
Duration: About 40 hours: a five-day intensive or online
Yachtmaster Ocean
The top of the scheme. A certificate of competence for skippering yachts on passages of any length, anywhere in the world, earned through a real ocean passage and an oral examination.
Duration: Oral exam of about 1.5 to 2 hours, plus a written paper unless exempt
Not sure where you fit?
The pathway page explains the order, and the sea miles page shows which prerequisites you already meet.
Part of the YouSail network
Your next step is on the water.
Find your sailing school
Explore schools on YouSail, then ask about Yachtmaster preparation, available boats and exam dates.
Community / YouSailSpend more time afloat
Find a local club and ask about crewing opportunities. Build experience before booking your exam.
Tools / YouSailPut your theory to work
Practise passage-time and distance calculations with YouSail’s maritime tools.