RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore – Lough Derg

Who this course is for:   Experienced and up-coming skippers.

Length of course: The course is taught over 45 hours. It will be covered over two weekends and a series of one night per week classroom sessions.

Objective:  To reach the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.

Assessment: There are three exam papers.

Prerequisites: Significant previous sailing or boating experience is expected.  Some mathematical ability would be useful.

Format of the course:   The course allows some time for revision of the basics and then moves on to advanced navigation techniques.

Syllabus:

• Position fixing
• Course shaping and plotting
• Passage planning
• Tidal knowledge
• Use of almanacs and admiralty publications
• Electronic position finding equipment and chartplotters
• Taking and interpreting weather forecasts
• Plotting weather systems
• Weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
• Collision regulations
• Customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad.

This course will be classroom based (not online) on the following weekends:

Fri 14 evening, Sat 15 and Sun 16 March 2025, and

Fri 25 evening, Sat 26 and Sun 27 April 2025

In addition, there will be a number of evening classroom-based sessions on Tuesday evenings in March and April.