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RYA YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE

(AMSA Sailing Master Offshore near coastal)

​An RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate is a highly respected, world recognised qualification 

General Information for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore THEORY course

Timing

      NEXT COURSE STARTS 03 October 2026 

  • Taught over 6 days, on 3 alternate weekends so you don't need to cram!

  • These weekends are as follows 03 & 04 October,  17 & 18 October , 31 October & 01 November 2026

  • Call Brien to enquire or to book your place +61 427 333 353 

  • It is important to contact us first so that you ensure you are enrolling in the most appropriate course.

  • Register now, payment is not required until after we speak with you and confirm the course is a good fit for you

      CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS COURSE: 

  • Taught over 9 days, on 3 alternate weeks so you don't need to cram!

  • These days are as follows: -  21, 22, 23 December,  04, 05, 06 January  then 11, 12, 13 January 2027.

  • That's Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1000hrs to 1430hrs. This way you have time to absorb the course content without cramming. This is important. 5 day Yachtmaster courses have a very low pass rate. 

  • Call Brien  +61 427 333 353, to ensure you are enrolling in the most appropriate course.

  • Reister now, payment is not required until after we speak with you.

Venues:

  • Mosman Bay Marina, Mosman, Sydney

   or

  • Newport, Sydney

  or

  • Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Newcastle

Price:

$1,895 (includes the following books: RYA Training Almanac and Charts (3 & 4 Ntorthern & 5 & 6 Southern Hemisphere), Instruments, RYA Navigation Exercises, RYA Navigation Handbook, Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Paper Charts, RYA Yachtmaster Logbook and Syllabus, RYA YAcvhtmaster Exercises and Course Information - (see below for sample photos)

Discounts apply for

Course bundles that include RYA Day Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Coastal Skipper come with discounts. Discounts also available for groups, couples and families. Call 0427 333353 to take advantage of these savings.

Yachtmaster detailed info:

An RYA Yachtmaster™ Certificate is a highly respected, world recognised qualification.

  • ​Your RYA Yachtmaster Certificate is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers

  • You are endorsed by both AMSA (Australia) and the MCA (United Kingdom) for commercial use up to 200 tonnes and less than 24metres, as either Yachtmaster™ Sail or Yachtmaster™ Power certificate. 

  • Should you wish to use your RYA Yachtmaster™ qualification as a commercial ticket, your qualification is only possible after “face-to-face” classroom tuition for your theory component. 

  • A commercial qualification is not possible without face to face tuition. You must have at least 40 hours in a classroom if you are seeking RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore commercial qualifications that are endorsed by the MCA. Yachting Directions provides this to you in a fun, easy to learn format, so you don't need to cram.

  • Your theory course equips you to navigate safely & confidently on coastal & offshore passages. 

  • Your course will take your knowledge to the highest world standard required for the RYA YachtmasterTM Coastal and YachtmasterTM Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation, meteorology skills, and detailed understanding of IRPCS.

  • Only Yachting Directions includes ALL your text books, charts, teaching aids and more.

  • You will also be taught using both the southern and northern hemisphere versions of the RYA teaching aids, ensuring that your theory course is relevant to you, wherever you may be.

  • Yachting Directions RYA Yachtmaster Theory course is 40 hrs minimum, over 3 non sequential weekends (4 weeks). This means you can easily and enjoyably retain all the course information. It's embedded permanently.

  • Course content is delivered over 8.0 hrs/day, Saturday and Sunday with the last day set for assessments.

  • Optional homework is delivered via Zoom,  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings 0500 to 0700. You can attend the homework sessions without enrolling in a Yachting Directions' course.

  • So, you can do any number of homework sessions even if you are doing another course at another school.

  • Theory Course size is minimum of 3, maximum of 12.

  • Prerequisites: RYA Day Skipper or Coxswain.

  • Your theory course is a prerequisite for your RYA YachtmasterTM Coastal Skipper Practical Course.

  • Your theory course is a prerequisite for your RYA Yachtmaster practical exam

  • There is no RYA YachtmasterTM Offshore practical course, just the practical exam Preparation Course. You can elect to do the Coastal Skipper Practical Course and then the Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Prep course. Although this is entirely a personal decision, we recommend this combination.

Homework sessions

Receive face-to-face tuition on Zoom

  • Each weekday evening you receive tuition on a topic that you may require added help.

  • You get to ask questions and have them answered in detail on the spot.

  • You can attend homework sessions without signing up for a Yachting Directions' course

        MONDAY  wk1          TUESDAY  wk1            WEDNESDAY  wk1            THURSDAY  wk1              FRIDAY  wk1

               IRPCS                       Tidal Theory                     Course to Steer                 Estimated Position.             Electronic-Nav       

​

        MONDAY wk2           TUESDAY   wk2.         WEDNESDAY  wk2.            THURSDAY.  wk2.           FRIDAY. wk2

              Pilotage.                 Passage Planning.                    Weather                                Free range.                     Free range

Syllabus:

  • Chartwork:

    • Chart information & symbols,

    • position fixing, course shaping & plotting,

    • Zones of Confidence,

    • Use of traditional instruments,

    • Rising and Dipping Distances,

    • Course to Steer to compensate for tide and wind,

    • Estimated Position (EPs), Projected EPs.

  • Pilotage, use of soundings, lights and nav aids, "signposts",

  • Passage Planning and preparation,

  • Use of almanacs and admiralty publications,

  • Electronic aids to navigation, including Radar, AIS and GPS intensive,

  • Tides and tidal anomalies, Streams and Currents, Tidal Curves and Secondary Port Calculations, Computation of Rates, 

  • Navigation in Restricted Visibility,

  • Customs Regulations, Flag etiquette,

  • Magnetic Compass and Gyro Compass,

  • Meteorology, taking and interpreting forecasts, plotting weather systems,

  • Weather predictions using a barometer and by observations,

  • IRPCS,

  • Customs & excise regulations for cruising abroad

  • Electric propulsion/Advanced battery management systems,

  • Safety at Sea,

  • Maintenance,

  • Stability,

Advantages of a Yachting Directions course

  • You receive 12 months mentorship to bring your aims and aspirations to fruition​.

  • Build your Miles for free, only with Yachting Directions. Sign up for any Yachting Directions course and build your sea Miles to contribute to your RYA Yachtmaster recommended minimum Miles and sea time. We pair you with one of our alumni, who are passage-making in the world's most iconic locations. All you need do is pay for airfares and food. Press the button below to choose from the current trips.​

  • Alternatively, join Brien Daniel for personal tuition on one of our regular trips between Airlie Beach and Pittwater. These journeys are taken on a luxury performance catamaran.

  • Yachting Directions’ commitment is to bring you through the learning process to not just make a Commercially certified RYA Yachtmaster, but to make you the best commercially certified RYA Yachtmaster, that you can be.

  • Be a part of our homework sessions to receive more face-to-face tuition.

  • Learning is spread out over 4 weeks to facilitate deep absorption of the course content, not a 5-day cram session. We believe a 5 day cram session generally does not result in a pass, or retention.

What is included?

What is included? -The Yachting Directions Coastal & Offshore Yachtmaster shore-based course kit.

  • RYA Yachtmaster Course Exercises and Information for Southern Hemisphere

  • RYA Navigation Exercises for Northern Hemisphere,

  • RYA Yachtmaster Shore-based Notes,

  • RYA Training charts, - 3 & 4 for Northern Hemisphere, 5 & 6 for Southern Hemisphere

  • Extra RYA Practise Charts 5 & 6 

  • a soft lead pencil and eraser.

  • RYA Navigation Handbook,

  • Weather handbook,

  • International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea

  • Symbols and Abbreviations of Admiralty Charts

  • Your course plotter (referred to as a Portland Plotter).​

Included with your course

RYA Yachtmaster Course Exercises & Information fSouthern Hemisphere

Included in your course pack

RYA Yachtmaster Electronic Navigation Resourses Southern Hemisphere

Included in your course pack

RYA Yachtmaster Training Almanac Southern Hemisphere

Included in your course pack

Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Paper Charts

Normally $85.00 Now, included in your course pack

RYA Navigation Exercises

Normally $65.00 Now, included in your course pack

RYA Navigation Handbook

Normally $59.95 Now, included in your course pack

RYA Training Chart 3 Northern Hemesphere

Included in your course pack

RYA Training Chart 4 Northern Hemesphere

Included in your course pack

RYA Training Chart 5 Southern Hemesphere

Included in your course pack (plus an extra one for practise normally $20.00)

RYA Training Chart 5 Southern Hemesphere

Included in your course pack (plus an extra one for practise normally $20.00)

Portland Course Plotter

Normally $49.95 Now included in your course pack

RYA YAchtmaster Scheme Logbook and Syllabus

Normally $24.95 Now included in your course pack

RYA Yachtmaster Shore-based Notes

Included in your course pack

You can elect to receive some of these publications as e-books, or in hard-copy.

On successful completion of this course assessment you receive the RYA Yachtmaster / Coastal Skipper Theory (shore-based) certificate. This is a prerequisite for the RYA Yachtmaster Practical Assessment

RYA Yachtmaster practical courses

RYA YACHTMASTER EXAM PREP (+ Build Your Miles)

28, 29 and 30 October 2026

In collaboration with Atlas Sailing. Courses taught by Brien Daniel.

Call Brien to enquire and book your place +61 427 333 353                                                No payment is required to register

RYA YACHTMASTER EXAM PREP (+ Build Your Miles)

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS COURSE:  14, 15, 16, 17 January 2026

In collaboration with Atlas Sailing. Courses taught by Brien Daniel.

Call Brien to enquire and book your place +61 427 333 353                                                No payment is required to register

RYA YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE     Mile builder and exam Preparation

Leg one: Airlie Beach to Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast)

09 to 17 November (latest 19 November) - 9 to 10 days                                                 No payment is required to register

​​

​​

RYA YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE     Mile builder and exam preparation

Leg two: Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) to Pittwater

23 to 30 November (latest 24 November) - 8 to 9 days                                               No payment is required to register

Cost for Combined leg 1 and 2: $5,500  Apply for discounts for couples                 

These two legs are intense, immersive learning experiences designed as the best prep for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore prac exam.

Venue:

Price

Boats

Maximum number of students:

Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour for classroom courses.

Airlie Beach to Pittwater for Mile Builders

$2,450 - for a 4 day course.

$2.950 - for leg one

$2.950 - for leg two

Performance monohull

Performance catamaran

4

Choose your boat and its purpose

Boat ownership tailored to your sailing aspirations

CURE-48-GT-Sailing-hero-front-2-edited!-low.jpg

   Luxury performance catamarans in the South Pacific

Call Brien to chat about the amazing McConaghy boats

Boat share ownership

Shares in luxury performance catamarans are in 2 or 4 bundles​

 

You receive RYA training for the boat suits you, included in your share ownership.

Royal Yachting Association Training gives you all the know how you will need to take to the seas. Read more about our different offers by clicking the button below
 

RYA training
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