Plot Your Course to Becoming a Yachtmaster This Season

As the Mediterranean season kicks into gear, crew are busy prepping boats, polishing rails, and managing charters — but for many of you, there's a bigger goal on the horizon: professional progression. And one of the most recognised, respected qualifications in the maritime world is the RYA Yachtmaster® Offshore.

If you're serious about a long-term career in yachting — aiming to step up to mate or even command your own vessel — the Yachtmaster is a critical milestone. But it’s not a course you simply sign up for. It’s a professional-level exam, and it demands real experience, preparation, and maturity on the water.

Here’s how you can set yourself up for success this season

1. Logging Miles: Your Season Starts with Your Logbook

The backbone of your Yachtmaster application is your logged experience. Without the requisite sea miles, you won’t be eligible to sit the exam — although your sea miles are self-declared, a detailed logbook with credible entries is very valuable.

Minimum requirements:

• 2,500 nautical miles logged (ideally on vessels <24m)
• 50 days at sea
• 5 passages over 60 nautical miles, 2 as skipper, and 2 overnight
• 5 days of command (skipper) experience
• At least half your sea time (1250nm) must be in tidal waters

Log everything: date, vessel name, route, distance, weather conditions, tides, your position (crew or skipper), and any decision-making responsibilities. A well-kept logbook isn’t a requirement — but it does show professionalism and credibility during your exam.

If you’re on a busy charter boat, look out for deliveries, repositioning trips, or winter crossings — they’re perfect opportunities to tick off those 60+ mile passages. Always be proactive about getting helm time and recording it.

2. Know Your Baseline — Are You at the Right Level?

It’s essential to understand that the Yachtmaster is not an entry-level qualification. At a minimum, candidates must be operating at Day Skipper level — both in theory and in practical seamanship — before considering Yachtmaster.

This means you should already be confident with:

• Coastal navigation and chartwork
• Tidal height and stream calculations
• Passage planning
• ColRegs and buoyage
• Crew management
• Handling a twin-engine motor vessel

If you haven’t yet reached this level, or you’re unsure of your readiness, the RYA Day Skipper course is the perfect place to start. At Seascope France, we offer both Day Skipper Theory and Day Skipper Practical courses designed to give you the solid foundation you’ll need to progress with confidence. Day Skipper is not just a box-tick — it’s the skill level you need before stepping up to Yachtmaster.

3. This Is Not a Beginner’s Course — It’s a Professional Assessment

One of the most important things to understand is that the Yachtmaster practical is not a training course in the traditional sense. This course is not designed to teach you the basics — in fact, it assumes you already know them.

The Yachtmaster exam is a refinement and testing of your existing seamanship. That includes your:

• Boat handling under pressure
• Navigation (traditional and electronic)
• Passage planning and execution
• Crew leadership and communication
• Emergency procedures
• Knowledge of COLREGS, tides, buoyage, and more

The prep week leading up to the exam is not a time to learn these concepts from scratch. Instead, it’s a focused, high-level coaching period to hone your skills, polish your confidence, and make sure you’re demonstrating the professional standard the examiner is looking for.

The instructors are there to elevate your seamanship — not build it from zero. If you’re not confident with IRPCS, radar, MOB drills, or tidal planning, we strongly recommend you do a refresher or skills builder before booking your prep and exam.

3. Be the Skipper Now — Not Later

If you want to be assessed as a skipper, you need to think like one now. This season, take every opportunity to plan passages, make decisions, and lead on deck.

• Offer to plan the route when the boat relocates.
• Start using your radar and chart plotter actively.
• Review weather forecasts and tides as if it were your responsibility.

The more you get used to managing the whole picture, the more natural it will be during the exam — because you will be treated as a skipper, and expected to act like one.

4. Prepare Your Theory – Don’t Let It Be Your Weak Link

Even if you’ve completed the Yachtmaster Theory, you’ll need to revisit it. The examiner expects you to apply theory fluently and accurately during your assessment.

You should be confident with:

• Tidal height and stream calculations
• Secondary port workings
• Course to steer and ETA planning
• Lights, shapes and sound signals
• Buoyage and collision regulations
• Meteorology and interpreting forecasts

Use tools like RYA workbooks, Navionics, or apps like Tides Planner to stay sharp. Don’t let rusty knowledge undermine an otherwise excellent performance.

5. Why Choose Seascope France in Antibes?

At Seascope France, we specialise in preparing crew just like you — hardworking, capable, and ready to take the next step. We know exactly what examiners are looking for, and we aim to prepare you for their level of expectation.

Here’s what sets us apart:

🔹 Expert Instructors: Our team is made up of career yachting professionals with thousands of miles under their belts. We know what it takes — and we know how to get you there.

🔹 Realistic Training Environment: Based in Antibes, we train in a live yachting environment.

🔹 Top-Tier Vessels: Our training boat is clean, well-maintained, and designed to mirror the vessels you’ll be working on in the industry.

🔹 Personalised Prep: At Seascope France, we believe in setting our students up for success from the very beginning. Before you commit to registering for your Yachtmaster course, we’ll take the time to review your experience, qualifications, and sea time to ensure you meet all the necessary prerequisites. This means no surprises — just clear guidance, honest feedback, and a training path that’s right for you.

Our Yachtmaster Prep Weeks are intensive, hands-on, and dynamic. We adapt our coaching to your strengths and weaknesses, ensuring you are exam-ready — not just course-complete.

Final Thought

If the Yachtmaster is your goal this year, don’t wait until the season ends to prepare. Start now. Log everything, take responsibility, refresh your knowledge, and when you're ready — come train with us at Seascope France.

The next big step in the yachting world starts with the right preparation and the right team behind you.

RYA Yachtmaster® isn’t just a certificate — it’s a statement.

📍 Visit us in Antibes, or drop us a message to discuss your mileage, plan your route to Yachtmaster, or book your course.