Yachtmaster Ocean Course
Overview
Our Yachtmaster Ocean Course takes you from beginner to Yachtmaster Ocean on one 16-week course in and around the beautiful waters of Sydney Australia. If you want to combine training while having the experience of a lifetime down under then please read on.
Why Yachtmaster Ocean
The Yachtmaster Ocean certificate of competence is the highest qualification achievable within the RYA scheme. Holders of the Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate have the depth of experience and skills to skipper a yacht up to 24m on a passage of any distance all over the world.
Customers who choose the Yachtmaster Ocean course would like the option to skipper a yacht across the Medettarainian, Atlantic, or the Pacific Ocean.
Working as a Professional skipper
Gaining the Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate opens more doors and provides an excellent starting point when entering the yachting industry as a professional skipper on yachts under 24m or as a Deckhand on a Superyacht. If working as a professional is your choice then we would recommend adding STCW Basic Safety Training, required by all professional skippers and crew.
We would advise all customers to complete the ENG1 medical before enrolling on this course if working as a professional skipper is your preferred route.
Course programme
The Yachtaster Ocean course starts with Dingy sailing to home wind awareness and key sailing skills before moving onto the yachts to put those skills into practice. During the course, your time is divided between live-aboard passages and shore-based day sailing or theory classes. Weekends are usually free but customers are encouraged to join the local yacht racing scene with yacht owners at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
You will first complete all modules for the Yachtmaster offshore course then an additional four weeks of Ocean Master training. The East coast of Australia is a perfect destination for long offshore passages; you will find yourself sailing from Tazmania to Sydney or from Sydney over to the beautiful Lord Howe Island.
We have a great fleet of boats, dinghies, and RIBs for you to use. Arctos, the flagship of our Sydney fleet, is loved by all.
Course options
Our September start date includes a two-week break over Christmas giving you time to relax, visit family or join the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Training starts again in the new year with a flight to Hobart, Tasmania to begin your Ocean passage. Your Ocean passage takes you from Hobart to the beautiful Lord Howe Island, then back to Sydney.
Our January course is our standard 16-week programme. Your Ocean Theory is followed by the two-week Ocean passage which leaves Sydney for Eden, then over to Lord Howe Island before returning to Sydney
Both course options are subject to weather and may have to be adapted to suit.
Accommodation
Flying Fish can provide accommodation in one of our crew apartments, located in the heart of Manly, a stone through from the beach and 15 minutes bus ride to the training centre at Middle Harbour Yacht club. The accommodation is self-catering and a popular choice for customers who want to stay on the beach!
Please note if you choose the September start date there is a two-week break over Christmas before your ocean passage begins. Our accommodation package for September is 18 weeks.
Inclusions
- Meals provided while on live-aboard passages
- All safety equipment, publications, and tuition
- 3,100-3,700 sea miles logged
- First Aid training
- Watch keeping experience
- ACMA HF Radio Licence
Please note Yachtmaster exam fees are not included: a fee of approximately $465 is payable to the RYA examiner for Yachtmaster Offshore.
The Yachtmaster Ocean oral exam fee is approximately $350 in Australia.
The last 4 weeks of the course are eligible for ELCAS funding.
Dates & pricing
| Starts | Ends | Location(s) | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/09/2023 | 26/01/2024 | Sydney, Australia | Waitlisted, please contact +44 01983 280 641 | |
| 29/01/2024 | 17/05/2024 | Sydney, Australia | Available | |
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Pre-requisite experience and qualifications
All seafarers applying for certification as Yachtmasters and Deck Officers need full colour vision. You must be 18 or over to train with Flying Fish in Australia.
All students are required to secure travel insurance for the duration of their course.
We also recommend you have your ENG 1 medical before you join our course. If you start the course as a beginner you will log all the miles and passages needed for the practical and oral exams.
Full itinerary
Week 1 – Dinghy Level 1 and Level 2 (2 days) and RYA Powerboat Level 2 (2 days)
Week 2 – RYA Competent Crew (5-day live-aboard)
Week 3 – RYA Day Skipper Theory (5-day shore-based)
Week 4 – RYA Day Skipper Practical (5-day live-aboard)
Week 5 – Mile builder including qualifying passages
Week 6 – RYA Yachtmaster Theory (5-day shore-based)
Week 7 – RYA Coastal Skipper (5-day live-aboard)
Week 8/9 – Mile builder and qualifying passages (12-day live-aboard)
Week 10 – Race training and Spinnaker Handling Course (2 days)/Yacht Maintenance course (2 days)/ RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance (1 Day)
Week 11 – Yachtmaster prep/skills and drills (5-day live-aboard)
Week 12 – RYA Yachtmaster Ocean theory (5-day shore-based)
Week 13 to 15 – Ocean passage planning/qualifying passage (16-day live-aboard)
Week 16 – Yachtmaster Offshore Prep and exam week (5-day live-aboard)
*Once you have passed your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore practical certificate you are then able to apply for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral exam.
Related courses
We would recommend supplementing your training with our STCW Basic Safety training course, which will allow you to skipper a sailing yacht over 24 meters.