Yachtmaster

[Rastafafou]

Hey everyone,
I being working on a Sailing yacht for almost 2 years as a deckhand and I am doing my yachtmaster at the end of the month and I am so really worried!
I am french so english is not my first language and there is so many info to take!!!
But of course I am studying!
Good evening to all

[boatman61]

Yo' Rasta...
Good ta have you on board... don't sweat it... it'll fall into place on the day, most is common sense...
Good luck.. let us know how you got on

[Rastafafou]

Please any tips will be welcome

[Rastafafou]

Cheers boatman!
I will let you know ;-)

[s/v Moondancer]

The Yachtmaster practical is about command and handling a boat...if you can do a MOB drill or pick up a mooring ball under sail in 30 knots of wind you do not have much to worry about.

The theory course on land is really more of a week long tutorial and the teacher will do his best to ensure you know the theory. I did mine with a Belgium student and the teacher was very sympathetic to the language gap.

If you do not take the theory courses on land you will have to pass a 'rules of the road' test so you must know the COLREGS perfectly. The examiner will also test your 'paper' navigating skills.

The easiest way to fail the practical is to spend time at the chart table and not on deck commanding the boat because they are really testing your ability to command.

Good luck
Phil a Yachtmaster Ocean.

[goboatingnow]

if this is a RYA Yachtmaster, remember you will not be tested on Theorectical knowledge. Its doesnt really matter whether you have the YAchtmaster shorebased Cert, thats not tested.

I would reccomend you look for a 5 day on the water exam lead in course, most schools do them, if there isnt time heres some pointers

Sail the boat like you normally do, make sure you feed the instructor properly, provision the boat adaquately as if for a 2 day sail, ensure a hot evening meal. ( dont laugh you can fail on this stuff).

The key area is MOB under sail, and passage planning. Usually there is a series of nav tests undereway, running fixes, sail to a place on the chart, and the infamous "BLIND NAVIGATION" test.

Underway handle the crew normally, the instructor is looking to you as a normal leisure skipper. There is usually a night excercise, though I know sometimes it just get asked . Underway he'll usually quiz you about safety, weather, boat handling MOB techniques etc. He expects normally practical answers. If you seem like your remembering it from a book, hell ask you more.

Some instructors seem to focus on the COLREGS, mine didnt, never rally asked any signaificant questions on it at all.

Ensure you know your sound signals


Dave

[barnakiel]

Good luck! Why not take an equivalent exam in your mother tongue?

b.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Good luck! Why not take an equivalent exam in your mother tongue?

b.

There isn't one really. French certificates are basically competency Certs

Dave

[Rastafafou]

Thanks you,
S/Y Moondancer and Goboatingnow,
I am actually doing the Yachtmaster theory first then the coastal skipper practical and if I pass, I will carry on the following week with the yachtmaster practical.
Thank again guys for your messages.

[s/v Moondancer]

The coastal skipper test is the same as yachtmaster but to a lower standard...MOB under power in stead of sail or more leeway under sail. Just keep calm and stay in command but do it quietly.

I am sure you will pass.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Rastafafou

Thanks you,
S/Y Moondancer and Goboatingnow,
I am actually doing the Yachtmaster theory first then the coastal skipper practical and if I pass, I will carry on the following week with the yachtmaster practical.
Thank again guys for your messages.

Why bother with the coastal skipper practical. If you have the sea miles to do the yachtmaster do it the difference with Coastal skipper is tiny. Usually most people do the Coastal because they haven't got the mileage

Dave