The RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore requirements are about logged experience, not a course you sit and pass. To put yourself forward for the practical exam you need a minimum of 50 days at sea, 2,500 miles, and five passages over 60 miles, two of them overnight and two as skipper, all gained within the last ten years on vessels matching your exam discipline. You also need to be at least 18, hold a valid VHF radio and first aid certificate, and have your navigation theory up to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore standard. This guide sets out each requirement in full, explains what the exam involves, and shows where the theory fits.
What is the RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore?
The RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore is a Certificate of Competence that proves you can skipper a cruising yacht on any passage up to 150 miles from a safe haven, by day or night and in a wide range of conditions. It can be taken under sail or power, and your certificate is endorsed for whichever discipline you are examined in. The qualification applies to vessels up to 24 metres, and once commercially endorsed it allows you to work as skipper on vessels up to 200 gross tonnes. It is recognised worldwide and forms part of the route to professional tickets such as Officer of the Watch.
What are the requirements to sit the Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam?
To book the exam you must meet the RYA's minimum experience and hold the required certificates. All of the experience has to be logged in the ten years before your exam, on vessels of the same discipline as the exam, sail or power, with at least half of it gained in tidal waters and on vessels under 24 metres.
| Requirement | Standard | Reduced figure |
|---|---|---|
| Days at sea | 50 days, on yachts up to 500gt | 25 days |
| Days as skipper | 5 days, on vessels under 24m | 3 days |
| Distance logged | 2,500 miles, on yachts up to 500gt | 1,250 miles |
| Qualifying passages | 5 passages over 60 miles, including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper | 3 passages, including 1 overnight and 1 as skipper |
| Minimum age | 18 at the time of the exam | 18 |
The reduced figures in the right-hand column apply in one situation only, which is covered further down this page.
Qualifying passages and what counts as a day
A qualifying passage is measured along the rhumb line, the straight-line distance from your departure port to your destination, not the longer track you actually sailed. A qualifying day means 24 hours living aboard, so a long day sail back to the marina each evening does not count towards your days, even if you were out for ten hours. This catches people out, so log your time against the RYA's definitions from the start rather than reconstructing it later. The RYA has more on what counts as a qualifying passage.
The certificates you need
Alongside the sea time, you need a GMDSS-compliant marine radio certificate, usually the Short Range Certificate (SRC), or higher. You also need a valid first aid certificate, either the RYA First Aid certificate or another that the RYA accepts, plus photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence. These are checked before the exam, so sort them out well ahead of your dates. If you still need your radio ticket, our guide to the Short Range Certificate explains the course and the exam.
The boat used for the exam
You can use your own boat, a chartered one, or a borrowed one, but it must be between 7 and 18 metres, seaworthy, and equipped to the standard set out in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook. There must be two crew aboard in addition to you, because the examiner does not take part in running the boat. If you sit your exam through a training centre, the centre normally provides a suitable yacht and arranges the examiner.
Do the requirements reduce if I already hold another qualification?
The reduced figures apply in only one situation: when you already hold an RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate of Competence in the other discipline. A Yachtmaster™ Offshore Sail holder being examined for Power, for example, can sit the exam on 25 days, 1,250 miles, and three qualifying passages instead of the full figures. Holding the Coastal Skipper certificate does not reduce the Offshore requirements, despite what some course pages suggest. It is worth checking this before you assume you are eligible, because the experience still has to be in the discipline you are being examined in.
Where does the theory fit, and do you need it?
The Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory is not a formal entry requirement for the practical exam, but the knowledge it covers is. The examiner can question you on anything in the shorebased syllabus, and you are expected to arrive at the exam with your navigation theory already at Yachtmaster™ standard. In practice this makes the theory the sensible first step rather than an optional extra.
Sitting the theory before your preparation week also makes the time on the water pay off. If you arrive having already worked through tidal heights, course to steer, secondary ports and passage planning, you spend the week sharpening boat handling and decision-making rather than relearning the chart table. That is usually the difference between a comfortable exam and an expensive resit. Taking your navigation knowledge to Yachtmaster™ standard before then is the most efficient route, and our shorebased theory, worked at your own pace online, is written to get you there with support from RYA Yachtmaster™ instructors.
The theory assumes Day Skipper shorebased knowledge as its starting point. If you are not yet at that level, begin with the Day Skipper shorebased theory and build up from there.
Do you need a prep course to pass?
There is no compulsory course before the Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam, but the RYA's own exam results show a significantly higher pass rate among candidates who complete preparation training first, whatever their prior experience. A preparation week lets you get used to the boat you will be examined on, work through any weak areas with an instructor, and go into the exam knowing what is expected of you. We run an exam preparation week on the Solent with the exam at the end, on tidal waters with the commercial traffic and pilotage you will be tested on.
What does the Yachtmaster™ Offshore exam involve?
The exam is a practical assessment run by an independent RYA examiner, lasting 8 to 12 hours for a single candidate and up to 18 hours where two are examined together. There is no written paper. The examiner sets you tasks as skipper and may question you on anything in the syllabus up to Yachtmaster™ Offshore, covering boat handling, pilotage, navigation including fog navigation, use of Radar and other electronic aids, the collision regulations, meteorology, engines, safety and crew management.
What separates a pass from a near miss is rarely a single manoeuvre. Examiners are looking for a skipper who stays ahead of the boat, makes safe decisions early, and runs the crew calmly, rather than someone who can perform individual exercises on request. Candidates who struggle tend to be strong on handling but thin on passage planning and contingency thinking, which is the part the theory underpins.
What is the difference between Yachtmaster™ Coastal and Offshore?
The difference is the range you are certified for and the experience behind it. Yachtmaster™ Coastal covers passages up to around 60 miles from a safe haven in favourable conditions, while Yachtmaster™ Offshore covers up to 150 miles by day or night in a wide range of weather. The Offshore exam asks for more sea time and harder scenarios, and the minimum age is 18 rather than 17.
| Criteria | Yachtmaster™ Coastal | Yachtmaster™ Offshore |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Up to around 60 miles from a safe haven | Up to 150 miles from a safe haven |
| Minimum age | 17 | 18 |
| Days at sea | 30 | 50 |
| Distance logged | 800 miles | 2,500 miles |
| Days as skipper | 2 | 5 |
Using your Yachtmaster™ Offshore commercially
On its own, the Yachtmaster™ Offshore is a recreational Certificate of Competence. To work professionally you need it to be commercially endorsed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which lets you skipper small commercial vessels up to 200 gross tonnes within the certificate's limits. The endorsement requires a valid first aid certificate, a GMDSS radio certificate, an RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities (PPR) course, a sea survival course such as RYA Basic Sea Survival or the STCW equivalent, and a medical fitness certificate such as an ML5 or ENG1.
How to reach Yachtmaster™ Offshore from here
Most people reach the Offshore exam by building on Day Skipper, then logging serious sea time while taking their theory and a preparation week along the way. A sensible order is to reach Day Skipper standard, gain your radio and first aid certificates early, complete the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ theory, keep logging qualifying miles and passages, then book a preparation week and exam once you are close to the thresholds. If you are earlier in the journey, our guide to the Day Skipper requirements covers the rung below this one.
Frequently asked questions
How many sea miles do you need for a Yachtmaster™ Offshore?
You need 2,500 miles logged within the ten years before your exam, with at least half gained in tidal waters. This reduces to 1,250 miles only if you already hold a Yachtmaster™ Offshore certificate in the other discipline.
How many days at sea do you need?
You need 50 days at sea, including at least 5 days acting as skipper on vessels under 24 metres.
Do you need the theory before the exam?
The theory is not a formal entry requirement, but the shorebased syllabus is examined and you are expected to be at Yachtmaster™ theory standard at the exam. Completing the theory first is the sensible route, and it makes your preparation week far more productive.
Does the Yachtmaster™ Offshore expire?
The Certificate of Competence itself does not expire. If you hold a commercial endorsement, that must be revalidated every five years.
How long is the exam?
The exam takes 8 to 12 hours for one candidate, and up to 18 hours where two candidates are examined together.
Can I take the exam under power?
Yes. The exam can be taken under sail or power, and your certificate is endorsed accordingly. Your qualifying sea time must be in the same discipline as the exam.
How much does the exam cost?
The RYA practical exam fee is £266 in 2026. A preparation week is charged separately by the training centre, so see our course pages for current prices.