Before taking either the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore exam most students will wish to take part in a exam preparation course. This is typically a 4 to 5 day course that does not in itself lead to any formal qualification but is there to prepare you for the Yachtmaster exam. As its not a formal RYA course there is some flexibility to configure the course if a student has a particular requirement.
At the start of the course, the instructor will assess your level of competence and after discussing their assessment the instructor will tailor the rest of the week to target areas that need improvement. There will be advanced close quarters boat handling techniques under sail/power, a significant amount of night sailing, sailing in congested waters and the full spectrum of the syllabus will be covered as shown in the RYA’s Sail Cruising Logbook (code G158). By the end of the course the instructor will have given you an honest debrief on your abilities in preparation for you exam.
| Pre-course Practical Requirements: | Students should be above the minimum days, miles and passages required to take the subsequent exam normally taken shortly after the course (see the exam page for details). |
| Pre-course Theory Requirements: | Theory knowledge to the level of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Course. Hence most candidates will be required to take the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased Course prior to this practical course unless they can clearly demonstrate they already have the necessary knowledge (note that the Hong Kong PVOL Grade 1 or 2 is not sufficient for this requirement). |
| Course duration: | 4 or 5 days with some sleeping on-board due to an overnight in a remote location |
| Minimum age: | 18 years. |
| What’s Included: | Mooring fees, accommodation on-board, all meals and snacks from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day. All drinks including water and soft drinks. |
| Maximum Students: | 5 maximum which may be a mixture of exam preparation students and other sailors. |
| Cost: | HK$14,000 for the 5 days or HK$11,200 for 4 days. For the exam after the course the cost of flying in the examiner, their hotel and F&B is divided up amongst the candidates and charged at cost (approx. HK$4,000-HK$6,000) + RYA exam fee paid direct to RYA of GBP 231 (2023 price) |
| Award: | The RYA Yachtmaster preparation course has no certification as its in preparation for taking the RYA Yachtmaster exam. |
The itinerary is dependant on weather but below is a typical 5 day course:
Day 1. Arrive RHKYC Causeway bay at 0930hrs. Crew briefing and leave mooring.
Day 2-4. The itinerary will depend on an assessment of each students learning requirements. The course can cover the entire waters of Hong Kong and in particular making use of the western side with its bridges, tidal streams and high-speed vessels. Students’ abilities will be extensively tested with the likes of complex passages, extended night sailing and emergency situations.
Day 5. Sail back to RHKYC Causeway Bay. Course ends approximately 1600hrs.
Students require to bring the following (see FAQs for more detials):
- Lightweight sleeping bag or equivalent and pillow.
- Clothes suitable for 5 days sailing.
- Kit backed into a soft bag (no hard suitcase).
- Photo ID.
- Weather proof clothing suitable for the time of year.
- Footwear such as deck shoes or trainers with good grip.
Full coverage of syllabus as detailed in the RYA’s Sail Cruising Logbook (code G158).
If you have enough qualifying experience and feel confident in your abilities then take the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal CoC Exam or RYA/MCA YachtmasterTM Offshore CofC Exam or consolidate what you have learnt by undertaking more sailing either on your own yacht, chartering or by joining a course under the Experience & Mile Building programme to gain valuable experience.
Booking
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