Last updated · Researched from official sources · By Studyforge Labs
The RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course is the shorebased navigation and seamanship course that brings your knowledge up to the standard needed for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams. It is aimed at skippers who already know the Day Skipper syllabus, involves around 40 hours of learning plus exam time, and can be taken in a classroom, online or by distance learning. The theory course and the practical exam are separate steps: the course finishes with written assessments, while the Yachtmaster exam itself is a practical test at sea in which the examiner can question you on the theory.
Yachtmaster theory key facts
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Awarding body | The Royal Yachting Association (RYA), delivered through RYA Recognised Training Centres. |
| Course length | About 40 hours of learning, plus time for the exams. |
| Entry level | The RYA expects knowledge to Day Skipper shorebased standard. There is no minimum age for the theory course. |
| Delivery | Classroom, online or distance learning. |
| Assessment | Written papers at the end of the course, built around chartwork, the collision regulations (IRPCS) and passage making. The exact number of papers, timings and arrangements are set by your training centre. |
| Where it leads | The Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore Certificates of Competence, both awarded by practical exam afloat. |
Practise with Yachtmaster Theory Prep
Yachtmaster Theory Prep offers 550+ original multiple-choice questions covering chartwork, tides, meteorology, IRPCS/COLREGS and passage planning, with timed mock exams and topic drills. It works offline, so you can revise on board or ashore.
How Yachtmaster theory relates to the practical exam
Yachtmaster theory is not the exam that makes you a Yachtmaster. There are two distinct steps.
The shorebased theory course is a taught course with written assessments. Passing it gives you a course completion certificate showing you can do the navigation, tidal, weather and rules work on paper, under time pressure.
The Yachtmaster practical exam is a Certificate of Competence exam held on a boat. There is no compulsory training course before it; instead you must show documented sea time, hold a GMDSS-compliant radio certificate such as the RYA Short Range Certificate, and hold a valid first aid certificate. During the exam the examiner tests skippering, boat handling, seamanship, navigation, safety, IRPCS, meteorology and signals. For the Coastal exam, the RYA says you can be questioned on any part of the practical and shorebased syllabus up to Coastal level; the Offshore exam extends this to the full syllabus up to Yachtmaster Offshore.
In other words, the examiner will expect the theory to show up in what you do: a sensible passage plan, a correct tidal height before you enter a harbour, a quick and accurate position fix, and the right action when you meet another vessel at night. The RYA’s course page also describes the theory course as a prerequisite for anyone seeking a Yachtmaster qualification, so check the current requirements with the RYA or your training centre before booking an exam.
Practical exam prerequisites at a glance
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Yachtmaster Coastal | Minimum age 17; 30 days at sea, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles and 12 night hours, logged within the last 10 years with at least half in tidal waters. Holding the Coastal Skipper practical certificate reduces the sea time needed. |
| Yachtmaster Offshore | Minimum age 18; 50 days at sea, 5 days as skipper, 2,500 miles and 5 passages over 60 miles (including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper). |
| Exam length | The Offshore exam typically takes 8 to 12 hours for one candidate; the Coastal exam is a little shorter. |
Yachtmaster theory exam format
The RYA publishes the syllabus and the course length, while training centres run the assessments. Centres describe the written assessment as covering three areas:
- Chartwork: position fixing, course to steer, estimated positions and tidal calculations on a training chart using a training almanac.
- IRPCS: the collision regulations, including lights, shapes, sound signals and steering and sailing rules.
- Passage making: appraising and planning a passage, then executing and monitoring it. Several centres split this into two papers and give you an appraisal exercise to prepare beforehand. Tides, pilotage and weather interpretation are tested here.
Meteorology at this level focuses on interpreting forecasts and observed conditions to make passage decisions. Pass marks, timings and resit arrangements are not published centrally, so ask your provider how their papers work.
What the Yachtmaster theory syllabus covers
The RYA lists these core topics for the course, for both sail and power:
- Position fixing, including techniques that do not rely solely on GPS
- Course shaping and plotting over several hours of tidal stream
- Tidal knowledge, including secondary ports and clearance calculations
- Using almanacs and Admiralty publications
- Electronic position finding equipment, which the course emphasises strongly
- Taking and interpreting forecasts, plotting weather systems and predicting weather from a barometer
The IRPCS run through the whole course. At this level you are expected to identify vessels from their lights at night and in restricted visibility, not just recall the basic give-way rules.
How to prepare for Yachtmaster theory
- Audit your Day Skipper knowledge first. The course assumes you can already do a basic course to steer, a standard port tidal height and a three-point fix. If those feel rusty, revise them before the course begins.
- Do chartwork little and often. Short, timed plotting sessions build speed and neatness better than one long weekend.
- Learn lights by drilling, not reading. Use flashcards or a quiz for lights and shapes until you can name a vessel in a couple of seconds.
- Practise passage plans end to end. Pick a real stretch of coast, then appraise hazards, tidal gates, ports of refuge and weather, and write the plan you would hand to your crew.
- Link the theory to sea time. While logging miles for the practical exam, check your own fixes and tidal predictions against reality.
Yachtmaster theory practice questions
These five original questions reflect the level of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore syllabus. Work them out before reading the answers.
Question 1
A harbour bar has a charted drying height of 1.2 m. Your yacht draws 1.9 m and you want 0.5 m of clearance under the keel. What is the minimum height of tide needed to cross?
- A. 1.2 m
- B. 2.4 m
- C. 3.6 m
- D. 3.1 m
Answer: C. A drying height is above chart datum, so the tide must first cover it (1.2 m) and then provide your draught (1.9 m) plus clearance (0.5 m): 1.2 + 1.9 + 0.5 = 3.6 m.
Question 2
In the northern hemisphere, which set of changes most typically accompanies the passage of a cold front?
- A. Wind backs, pressure falls steadily, visibility deteriorates in drizzle
- B. Wind veers, pressure starts to rise, visibility generally improves outside showers
- C. Wind dies away, temperature rises sharply, fog forms
- D. Wind backs, pressure rises, continuous rain begins
Answer: B. Behind a cold front the wind veers, pressure begins to rise, the air turns cooler and clearer, and visibility is usually good apart from in showers. Option A describes the approach of a warm front.
Question 3
At night you see three all-round lights in a vertical line: red over white over red. What is the vessel?
- A. A vessel constrained by her draught
- B. A vessel not under command
- C. A vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre
- D. A vessel aground
Answer: C. Rule 27 gives a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre red, white, red all-round lights in a vertical line. A vessel constrained by her draught shows three all-round reds, and one not under command shows two all-round reds.
Question 4
Your tidal vector plot gives a water track of 090°T. The wind is from the north and you estimate 5° of leeway. Variation is 3°W (ignore deviation). What course should the helm steer by the compass?
- A. 082°M
- B. 088°M
- C. 092°M
- D. 098°M
Answer: B. A northerly wind pushes the boat south, so steer 5° up into the wind: 085°T. Converting true to magnetic with westerly variation means adding it, giving 085 + 3 = 088°M.
Question 5
With no tidal stream, a lighthouse bears 30° on the starboard bow at 1000. At 1030 it bears 60° on the same bow. Your speed is 6 knots. How far off the lighthouse are you at 1030?
- A. 1.5 nautical miles
- B. 3 nautical miles
- C. 6 nautical miles
- D. 5.2 nautical miles
Answer: B. This is “doubling the angle on the bow”: when the relative bearing doubles, the distance off equals the distance run between the two bearings. Half an hour at 6 knots is 3 nautical miles.
Common mistakes in Yachtmaster theory
- Treating drying heights like depths. Underlined figures are above chart datum and must be added to, not subtracted from, the tide you need.
- Applying leeway the wrong way. Always steer towards the wind, and sketch the wind arrow on the chart before you adjust.
- Using the wrong tidal hour. Count stream hours from high water at the correct reference port, and check whether the plot spans two tidal hours.
- Writing a vague passage plan. Give specific tidal gates, timings, bolt holes and a clear go or no-go weather decision.
- Trusting GPS without a cross-check. The syllabus expects you to confirm electronic positions with independent fixes.
Practise for the Yachtmaster Theory on your phone
Yachtmaster Theory Prep by Studyforge Labs. Yachtmaster Theory Prep offers 550+ original multiple-choice questions covering chartwork, tides, meteorology, IRPCS/COLREGS and passage planning, with timed mock exams and topic drills. It works offline, so you can revise on board or ashore.
- 550+ original multiple-choice questions
- Chartwork, tides, meteorology, IRPCS/COLREGS and passage planning
- Timed mock exams and topic drills
- Works offline
Free to download for iPhone and iPad. Full access is unlocked with an in-app purchase; the price is shown in the App Store before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Yachtmaster theory certificate before the practical exam?
The RYA’s exam requirement pages focus on sea time, a GMDSS radio certificate such as the SRC, and a first aid certificate. However, the RYA’s course page describes the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course as a prerequisite for those seeking a Yachtmaster qualification, and the examiner can question you on the shorebased syllabus. Confirm the current position with the RYA or your training centre before you book.
How hard is the Yachtmaster theory course?
It is a significant step up from Day Skipper theory. The chartwork involves longer, multi-hour plots, secondary port tidal calculations and more weather interpretation, and the passage-making assessment asks you to make and justify real skippering decisions. Candidates who arrive confident with Day Skipper navigation generally find it manageable with steady practice.
How long should I study for Yachtmaster theory?
The RYA course is around 40 hours of learning plus exam time. Many candidates add their own revision on top, especially chartwork and IRPCS lights. Spreading the course over several weeks, with regular short practice sessions, tends to work better than cramming.
How much does the Yachtmaster exam cost?
The RYA’s 2026 exam fee list shows £266 for Yachtmaster Offshore and £230 for Yachtmaster Coastal. These are the RYA exam fees only; the theory course, any preparation week and boat costs are priced separately by training centres. Check the RYA exam fees page before booking, as fees can change.
Can I do the Yachtmaster theory course online?
Yes. The RYA states that the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course can be taken in a classroom, online or by distance learning. The syllabus is the same whichever format you choose, so ask the provider how their final assessments are set and supervised.
What is the difference between Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore?
Yachtmaster Coastal certifies you to skipper coastal passages, while Yachtmaster Offshore covers passages up to 150 miles offshore. Offshore needs more sea time, including 2,500 miles and five passages over 60 miles, and a longer practical exam. The same shorebased theory course prepares you for both.
Official resources
- RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory Course
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam requirements
- RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam requirements
- RYA exam fees
This guide is published by Studyforge Labs Ltd for study purposes and was last reviewed on 6 November 2026. Studyforge Labs and its apps are independent and are not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Exam details, fees and dates can change, so always confirm them with the official sources above before you book.
