The Whitsunday Sailing School conducts examinations for both the RYA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence and the RYA YachtMaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.

The format for the exam is strictly set and monitored by the RYA to ensure that the high level of standard that these qualifications have is maintained.

The Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence exam takes between 8 and 10 hours per candidate, and the YachtMaster exam will take between 10 to 12 hours per candidate, with a maximum of two students in any 24 hour period.

Prior to the exam, students will be given a passage planning exercise, to be completed using the RYA training charts and Almanac. This plan is given to the examiner on the day of the exam for checking.

The exam itself will test each candidate on their skill, knowledge and confidence in every area of yachting such as, navigational techniques, handling the vessel both under power and sail, berthing and anchoring, IRPCS's, meteorology, delegation and communication with the crew, general seamanship and much more.

As the standards for these certificates is so high, even very experienced sailors will require some training beforehand to both polish existing skills and perhaps introduce some new techniques in both seamanship, navigation and boat handling.

The pre-requisites for these certificates are as follows:

Coastal Skipper:

30 days seatime, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours,

Radio operators certificate, current first aid certificate and a passport photo.

YachtMaster Offshore:

50 days seatime, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60m, including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper, Radio operators certificate, current first aid certificate and a passport photo.

Prices:

The exam fee is payable directly to the RYA/YA by credit card on the day of the exam. The price is $450.00. For commercial endorsement an extra fee of $50.00 is applicable.

The vessel hire for the exam is $150 per person.

If you have completed a practical course with us the vessel hire fee is $100, and if you have completed both the theory and practical courses with us there is no vessel hire charge.