| First and foremost you need your Yachtmaster | | | | problem. |
| Offshore with Commercial Endorsement. This will | | | | To get the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore |
| allow you to skipper a yacht up to 200gt. | | | | Certificate of Competence ticket candidates sit an 8 |
| A commercially endorsed Coastal Skippers ticket will | | | | to 12 hour practical exam. Before sitting the exam |
| get you a few jobs, perhaps with a Med based | | | | they must have at least 50 days seatime, 5 days as |
| yacht charter/sailing activities company or as a mate | | | | skipper, 2500nm, 5 passages over 60nm, including 2 |
| on a delivery but the Yachtmaster opens up many | | | | overnight and 2 as skipper. It is a good idea for |
| more doors. | | | | candidates to do a Yachtmaster prep week before |
| From January 1st 2010 the RYA/MCA Coastal | | | | taking the exam. |
| Skipper Certificate of Competence will be known as | | | | To sit either the Yachtmaster Coastal or |
| the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of | | | | Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence |
| Competence. | | | | exam candidates must also have a restricted (VHF |
| Unlike with the Day Skipper, where you are deemed | | | | only) Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short |
| competent (or not) by the instructor, obtaining the | | | | Range Certificate or higher grade of marine radio |
| RYA/MCA YC Certificate of Competence requires | | | | certificate plus a valid first aid certificate (first aid |
| passing an assessment by an external examiner who | | | | qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services |
| comes on board for a 6 to 10 hour period. | | | | are acceptable). |
| The Yachtmaster Coastal ticket is an excellent | | | | If you need a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of |
| stepping stone on your way to Yachtmaster from | | | | Competence in order to work on board a commercial |
| Day Skipper. It is a lot harder than Day Skipper and | | | | craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will |
| requires a lot more experience. You need 800nm, 30 | | | | need to get it commercially endorsed. You can then |
| days at sea (2 of which as skipper), and 12 night | | | | work on commercial vessels up to 24m in length, |
| hours before you can take the Yachtmaster Coastal | | | | operating in category 3, 4, 5 and 6 waters - that is |
| Certificate of Competence exam. | | | | up to 20 miles from a nominated departure point in |
| Most people that take the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster | | | | fine weather and daylight. |
| Coastal Certificate of Competence exam do a 4 or 5 | | | | If you need a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of |
| day Coastal Skipper prep course beforehand. This | | | | Competence in order to work on board a commercial |
| allows them to really focus on getting up to the | | | | craft subject to the MCA's codes of practice, you will |
| standard the RYA expect and ensures that any bad | | | | need to get it commercially endorsed as well. You |
| habits are ironed out before the examiner comes on | | | | can then work as a Master of commercial vessels of |
| board. | | | | up to 200gt in category 1 to 6 waters - that is up to |
| Some people like to take the Coastal Skipper | | | | 150 miles from a safe haven. |
| practical course before taking an exam. To take this | | | | The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of |
| course only 15 days sea time are required (2 of | | | | Competence can be used commercially in its own |
| which as skipper), 300nm and 8 night hours. So it is a | | | | right. It is also a pre-requisite for the MCA's Officer |
| course that can be taken relatively soon after taking | | | | of the Watch qualification, which enables you to |
| the Day Skipper course. It is deemed that the quality | | | | work worldwide on vessels of up to 3000gt. |
| of experience obtained by taking the CS practical | | | | To get a commercial endorsement on either the |
| course is so good that the requirements to sit the | | | | Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore |
| RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of | | | | certificate you have to send your original YC or YM |
| Competence are reduced to 20 days at sea (2 as | | | | certificate to the RYA along with a commercial |
| skipper), 400nm and 12 night hours. | | | | endorsement application form (issued by the RYA), a |
| The difference between a Yachtmaster Coastal and | | | | ML5 or ENG1 medical fitness certificate, a copy of |
| a Yachtmaster or Yachtmaster Offshore is that | | | | your Personal Survival Techniques STCW95 or Basic |
| Yachtmasters do it better. They are expected to be | | | | Sea Survival Certificate and a passport sized photo |
| slicker, better practised and quicker to react to a | | | | with your name on the back plus an admin fee. |