Quarterdeck Skipper Academy Partnership

This programme is suitable for those with basic yachting experience and dinghy sailors looking to transfer their skills to skippering yachts. If you have no previous experience, please get in touch and we can suggest some options. Please note, this is a tough programme for those without prior yachting experience and mileage, but it is doable, hence we encourage everyone to chat with us before they enroll.

While you're not expected to have all of the requirements prior to the course, we want to make you aware of what pre-requisites are required before undertaking the RYA Yachtmaster Assessment. The programme we have designed is aimed towards getting you to a standard ready to undertake the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam.

Exam Preparation | You will need...

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competency

• A Radio Operator’s Qualification: GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher
• A valid first aid certificate
• Sea time - 800 miles logged within 10 years prior to examination, 30 days living on board, two days as skipper and 12 night hours. Half of the qualifying sea time must have been accrued in tidal waters.

* For holders of the Coastal Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate the seatime requirement is 400 miles, 20 days living on board, 12 night hours and two days as skipper. Half of the qualifying sea time must have been accrued in tidal waters.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competency

• A Radio Operator’s Qualification: GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher,
• A valid first aid certificate
• Sea time – 50 days, 2,500 miles which includes at least 5 passages over 60 miles – with the candidate acing as skipper for at least two of these passages and two that have involved overnight passages. The candidate must have a minimum of five days as skipper. Half of the qualifying seatime must have been accrued in tidal waters.

Following the training programme you undertake the Yachtmaster Exam. It is conducted by an external RYA Yachtmaster Examiner. This exam will be the final step on your program with us and once you pass the Yachtmaster Exam then you will be eligible to work as a skipper.

* Please note: the training programme aims to cover 100 miles per week. Assuming the crew competency is such that this is possible, and that you successfully reach the standard of the coastal skipper you would have the 400 miles requirement for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Assessment. Prior experience and recorded miles are a considerable advantage for the yachtmaster assessment, and we would encourage you to have as much of both prior to joining the programme as possible.

The next step for you will be attend the Quarterdeck’s International Flotilla Skipper 8-day course. This is booked separately with Quarterdeck. More Information...

Do I have to attend the full course?

We would very strongly recommend this. The programme is not just designed to cover the various RYA Cruising Scheme Courses (Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper) but instead is structured to build on each week’s content to prepare for the Yachtmaster Assessment.

Even those with Day Skipper qualifications are advised to start at the beginning. Meeting RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam pre-requisites are not a guarantee of success, instead that is why the entire programme is structured to make you into as competent a skipper as possible.

How will payment instalments be managed?

We’re happy to be flexible. A booking deposit of €400 is required and we will register you for the online theory course once a second €400 instalment has been paid.

After that, we can work an arrangement with you to schedule a series of instalments. We don’t mind the frequency or schedule so long as the course fees are paid in full upon commencement of the programme.

Do I need to complete the theory before the course?

In short, yes. The course is not designed to teach you theory elements that you have not yet covered. Even though we’ll start with the Competent Crew syllabus we’ll be using elements of your theory training from day 1. As a training programme for professional skippers, we would suggest that being organised and undertaking proper preparation is one of the most important skipper attributes and this would extend to being ready for the training course.

What don’t the fees cover?

The programme fee is inclusive of all course fees, exam costs, accommodation for the duration of the course, and meals while practical courses are underway.

You’ll have to organise meals on the days-off and while shore-based courses are underway, however, there’ll likely be plenty left over from during the week.

The fees also cover the RYA Yachtmaster Assessment fee.

Got more questions?

Please get in touch. We’d be delighted to help.

Our currently scheduled programmes can be viewed below. Please look at the agendas for each course set out to see exactly when each component is due to be covered.

Course Agendas...

• Full Agendas Here...

Amendments to bookings due to COVID-19

If you make a future booking, please be reassured that if the course is unable to go ahead due to public health restrictions we will reschedule the course to a time of your convenience or refund the fees.

EU Digital COVID Certificate

Since the 7th of December 2021 the EU Digital COVID Certificate is required for attending programmes such as the ones we offer. We will apply, expand and restrict this measure in line with regulations in place at the time of the programme. We will not refund fees where someone is unable to produce an EU Digital COVID Certificate at the time of their programme.