yachtmaster course scotland

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Knowledge to RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster® Shorebased Level is assumed

- but the course certificate is not required.

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An RYA / MCA Yachtmaster® needs a wealth of knowledge, not only to cope with plain sailing or motor cruising, but also to be able to cope in more demanding situations.

Yachtmaster ® is split into two grades -Yachtmaster ® Coastal & Yachtmaster ® Offshore.   There is no 'Yachtmaster Course' so-to-speak - you have to be at the required standard already through your own experience.    Once you think you have the necessary experience and knowledge, you can apply to book a 5 Day RYA Yachtmaster ® Preparation Course + RYA / MCA Examination.

You will spend a Sunday to a Thursday afternoon, preparing for your RYA / MCA Yachtmaster ® Examination, getting used to the yacht , crew (who are other RYA Trainees), and practicing your sailing and navigation techniques with an experienced ScotSail ® Yachtmaster ® Offshore Instructo r.

The examiner is an independent RYA / MCA Examiner, booked and chosen by ScotSail ® - if you wish you can speak to your Examiner beforehand - nobody is trying to trick you or trip you up and everything you might be asked is straightforward and open.

The exam will normally take place from about 1600hrs on a Thursday, thus giving you time to practice before, and so that the exam can start in the day-time, and then proceed into darkness.  There can be up to 4 candidates on an Exam at any time.

Before the exam starts, your Examiner will greet you, and will want to sit down to have a chat with you to determine your previous experience, and check that you have the pre-requisite certifications and logged experience - it is your responsibility to ensure that you have everything required, and we would advise that you check this info at www.rya.org.uk .

The Yachtmaster® Preparation courses are 5 Days & Nights / Full Board (Sun-Fri) with Check-In/ Arrival from 1800hrs on Sundays, at our LargsCentre.   Each night is spent on board in cabins, at a different island / location / marina, in the Firth of Clyde & Islands sailing area.    Sailing exercises take place during the day, and there is plenty of opportunity to visit local attractions and go ashore to visit islands and villages.   You will certainly experience longer passages, navigation exercises and night-sails.   There is an external examination, and only a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor may lead this preparation course.

See What To Bring, & Other Frequently Asked Questions >

What Is a Yachtmaster®? >

Yachtmaster® Coastal Requirements >

Yachtmaster® Offshore Requirements >

RYA / MCA Exam Fees >

Commercial Endorsements >

Where You Can Work With RYA Qualifications >

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One of the great advantages of a ScotSail® Yachtmaster® Prep Course is that you and your crew can choose where you want to go.

A typical course or experience will entail leaving our centre at Largs Yacht Haven and engaging in sailing activities and training during the day , whilst en route to a destination - that you will decide.   A Yachtmaster® needs to be able to get the boat and crew from A - B, and then to C - safely and probably through more challenging waters and passages than a Coastal Skipper would be expected to.

You and your crew will be completely involved in the decisions about where to travel to - and how to get there.   This is all part of the course, is vital learning and all part of the fun!    There are plenty of places to travel to - Isle of Arran , Kyles and Isle of Bute, Rothesay, Tartbert, Portavadie, Holy Loch, Rhu, Loch Long and Loch Riddon to name just a few - you can't explore it all in just one week!

Experience stunning mountains , castles, whales, dolphins , seals and birdlife - even sail past Royal Navy submarines and other interesting marine traffic too!

We operate Yachtmaster® on selected weeks and weekends, from February to October.

We require advance notice of a Yachtmaster® Prep + Exam so that we can ensure we have an Examiner available, and make other relevant arrangements.

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Sailing Training Scotland

Rya certified courses, sailing adventures, yacht charter scotland , sailing courses in largs, from only £275, rya sail training, offshore sailing adventures & charter.

We are an RYA Recognised Sailing School and Offshore Sailing Adventures company based in Largs, Scotland.

We provide high-quality sailing tuition with both practical and shore based courses, as well as yacht charter  on our modern, spacious four- and five-cabin yachts. We offer unique offshore sailing adventures aboard our round-the-world 70ft yacht, Global Surveyor.

All our skippers and instructors are fully qualified RYA Yachtmasters or Cruising Instructors with many years of experience sailing in Scotland, as well as extensive offshore experience navigating seas and oceans. They also hold various additional RYA qualifications and are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise with you.

We offer sailing adventures along the stunning west coast of Scotland , visiting locations such as Barra, the Orkneys, St. Kilda, the Hebrides, and the Isle of Man. For those seeking more distant and adventurous voyages, our offshore sailing adventures aboard Global Surveyor will take you to bucket-list destinations like Antarctica, South America (including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Patagonia), Greenland, Iceland, the Azores, and more.

Our sailing courses and adventures are all inclusive: fuel, onboard food, harbour fees are included - there are no hidden charges . The only optional extra is wet weather clothing hire and boat cleaning if required. We can help arrange airport transfers and accommodation before and after the course.

We have a wide range of yachts available to charter - you can choose from the Beneteau Oceanis (45, 411, 393), Dehler Varianta 44, Bavaria (44, 42, 40, 38), Elan 434, Ovni 43, Jeanneau 42.2 and 379 Sun Odyssey, and Hanse 325. Our charter prices include 24/7 shore support, a handover by a qualified skipper, weather and routing, a dinghy with an outboard engine, and detailed charts and pilot books to help you make the most of your sailing adventure.

If you have any questions, please contact us either by email , enquiry form or Facebook . We'll get back to you within 24 hours.

RYA Courses

Whatever your RYA level, be part of the crew at Go West Sailing - let our Yachtmaster Instructors show you ropes!

Yacht Charter

Explore the beautiful west coast of Scotland with our wide range of yachts available for charter.

Sail Global Surveyor

From beginners to experienced sailors, Global Surveyor offshore adventures will to take you from Greenland to Antarctica.

Adventures in Scotland

Unique sailing adventures along the stunning west coast of Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Our theory courses run from our new and fully equipped classroom in Largs. Excellent to prepare you for your practical exam.

Practical Courses

Unforgettable sailing adventure to Antarctica from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage and back.

Yachtmaster Shorebased

This course will give you the experience and confidence to plan and achieve your passage in offshore and coastal routes.

Start Yachting

All good things start at the beginning: enjoy a taster weekend, learn the ropes, and explore Scotland’s west coast.

Day Skipper

The practical sailing course for all aspiring skippers: learn to take charge of your yacht and crew!

Coastal Skipper

The qualification before Yachtmaster, a coastal skipper will be able to sail day or night in tidal waters.

Yachtmaster Preps

Bespoke training before your Yachtmaster exam: have the opportunity to practice skills as you would in exam conditions.

Testimonials

The flexibility of the course lends itself to changes in weather and practice time for participants who would benefit for more hands-on time such as pontoon arrival and departures. Great event with good crew.

Danny allows participants to make small errors where safe to do so as this enhances learning but is always ready to step in when or if required. This built my confidence through the week. Danny provides constant feedback and reinforces positive outcomes. A most enjoyable week with mixed weather from strong winds to brilliant sunshine on the Clyde.

Dear Danny,  just a short note to thank you most sincerely for safely delivering our recently purchased Hallberg Rassy 42 from Medenblik in Holland across the North Sea, to Inverness. You came highly recommended and I appreciate the fact that at short notice you rearranged your busy schedule to help us with this delivery Although you and your crew had a very rough crossing the yacht was handed back to us cleaned and in first class condition, which was appreciated. So a big thanks to you and your crew for your outstanding professionalism and courtesy. I would highly recommend your services aa a professional delivery skipper and crew.

Sailing to Antarctica and back from Ushuaia (which is, we now know - not the end of the world 😄) on a fantastic sailboat such as Global Surveyor was definitely a life-changing experience!

A big thanks to the amazing team which organised the trip and made this dream come true! And of course a special thanks to our Captain Danny who brought us safely there and back! We discovered Paradise bay, the fabulous half moon island, the famous Port Lockroy and many other places! Also had the chance to spot many whales ... Fabulous adventure!

I have sailed with Go West Sailing on several occasions including the ocean passage from Ushuaia to Antarctica and my RYA DS course in Scotland. I always had a great time and expectation-exceeding experience. With no exception, everyone in the team has been friendly, helpful and professional. And many thanks for accommodating my dietary requirements! The 'Ultimate Adventures' have ticked quite a few items off my travel bucket list. Simply amazing! A special mention goes to the 70 foot cutter, the Global Surveyor. She is comfortable, safe and robust and sailed us across the Drake Passage in high winds and heavy seas.

I have been on sails with Danny and his team and I must say they are great instructors, amazing cooks and very easy to speak people. They can teach you a lot about sailing and still show you beautiful Scottish nature and keep fun on board. Strongly recommended.

Awesome Sailing, RYA Courses, Yacht Charters & Adventure Sailing. You will not be disappointed.

I had an incredible experience sailing to Greenland and Antarctica with Go West, as well as the Coastal skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore course.

Best sailing company I've been with. Had a great prep course and exam. The team were very accommodating at the last minute and the course was a great price. Professional instructor and a first class boat. Highly recommended.

Bespoke courses to enhance your sailing & skippering skills

Why sailing is the perfect team-building activity, sailing adventure to east greenland: a journey into the wild, experience the beauty of scotland: sailing adventures with go west sailing, book a 2024 rya practical course and get a free online course, comparing five yachts for charter: jeanneau and beneteau models, choosing the perfect yacht to charter: comparing the hanse 325, beneteau oceanis 45, and jeanneau sun odyssey 379 for your next scottish sailing adventure, explore oban’s waters: comparing the bavaria 40, ovni 43, and elan 434 for your next yacht charter, sailing west coast of scotland – where to go by sail scotland, sailing adventures: discover the story of global surveyor with graham lascelles, protecting marine wildlife: how sailors can help preserve our oceans.

Go West Sailing

Largs Yacht Haven, Irvine Rd Largs, KA30 8EZ United Kingdom

Phone: 01475789837

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We will start our cruise in the beautiful tourist port town of Cascais on the outskirts of Lisbon. We will visit Porto, we will stop at the marina right at the mouth of the Douro River, not far from the famous Port wine cellars, which we will visit. We end up in the Spanish port city of La Coruña, home to the world’s oldest lighthouse still in operation. Port & Paella, sun and sailing – a winning combination!

Discovery adventure sail full of interesting, exotic places. It’s not often that you visit four countries on two continents on one holiday! The sailing adventure is planned in such a way that there is time to wander the streets of the towns and cities visited. Each place is completely different, with a different atmosphere and a different culture. Sailing in the Gibraltar area is a powerful experience in itself due to the current, weather and heavy boat traffic – great for revising your col regs! Malaga is easily accessible by plane, as is Lisbon for all major airports.

Three days of ocean crossing to the island of eternal spring. We will sail from Arrecife, stopping at the beautiful and rustic Isla Graciosa, north of Lanzarote followed by Islas Selvagenas which is a Portuguese nature reserve comprising of several small islands about 130 miles northwest of Lanzarote. The next stop will be Porto Santo, a small neighbour of Madeira with a beautiful, almost empty golden beach of several miles. Once on Madeira we will visit some of the marinas in the south of the island and end up in Funchal, the capital of Madeira. The entire trip should be less than 400 miles. Informal coaching on the way, keeping your skills fresh in the winter months.

Jersey – Dublin – Largs

A brisk, action-packed cruise across the English Channel and the Irish Sea.

The area of Brittany and the Channel Islands has one of the largest tidal ranges in Europe, with very strong tidal currents. Yachting paradise and hell at the same time. Amazing sailing experience and good experience.

Who hasn’t sailed the Biscay, it’s as if he wasn’t even a yachtsman. The Bay of Biscay is called the weather kitchen for Europe. The weather here changes quite quickly and with stronger winds, bigger waves can form. That’s why we count on a 10-day cruise so that we can wait for the optimal moment to set sail. The cruise itself should take about 3 days. If there is time left, we will take some cruises along the coast of Brittany around Brest. Both La Coruña and Brest are harbor pearls of the Atlantic Ocean.

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• Course calendar

Intensive fast track yachtmaster at Largs, Scotland

By combining other courses we can create a custom fast track package for any individual to get them to Yachtmaster offshore or coastal level.

The course will focus on building mileage, filling gaps in pre-requisites and training students to get their sailing ability up to RYA Yacht Master level. The final stage of the course is exam preparation completing intensive training and mock exams ready for the final RYA / MCA exam when the RYA Yachtmaster examiner steps onboard to assess you for your certificate of competence.

Details of the RYA certificate of competence can be found here .

The exam fee is not included.

For a bespoke package please email [email protected] with your requirements.

Pre-course experience should be near:

Coastal – 30 days at sea, 800 miles, 12 night hours and 2 days skippering

Offshore – 50 days at sea(including 5 days as skipper), 2500miles, five 60 mile passages (2 of which are overnight and 2 as skipper)

Assumed knowledge : Yacht Master theory (although sometime during the course can be spent revising parts of this or a theory course can be included as part of the program).

Necessary certification: A GMDSS VHF Short range certificate and a valid first aid certificate

Minimum age: 18

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Largs Yacht Haven, Irvine Rd, Largs, KA30 8EZ, Scotland

Fast Track Yachtmaster Professional Sail Training Course

The Hamble School of Yachting fast track Professional Sail Training (PST) course is designed to progress an inexperienced sailor to a fully qualified professional standard.

Hamble School of Yachting follows the globally recognised RYA certification programme that takes students to commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore level - the gold standard in sailing qualifications. The PST course is also a great option for anyone looking for a life-changing experience; either following retirement, during a gap year, sabbatical or taking leisure sailing to the next level.

PST Brochure

Why Hamble?

SETTING QUALITY FOUNDATIONS

Whether you’re looking to embark on a career in the sailing industry, taking a break from work or looking for a new challenge of long-distance sailing in retirement, it is important to set solid foundations for your journey ahead.

Hamble School of Yachting has a reputation in the industry for the high quality of sailors that come from its courses which provides a valuable head-start when seeking employment.

HIGH CALIBRE INSTRUCTORS Hamble School of Yachting employs only the best teaching staff. All instructors are hand-picked for their ability to communicate, their knowledge and sense of humour! Instructors receive ongoing professional development from the Hamble School of Yachting via a programme delivered by the Chief Instructor. Very few schools adopt this policy.

STRICT INTAKE LIMIT Hamble School of Yachting can offer a choice of different yachts on which to sail and a dedicated teaching block equipped with the latest computer and audio visual technology.

Numbers of students on the PST course are strictly limited to an absolute maximum of ten on each intake. This allows incredibly high quality supervision and monitoring of training and enables students to get much more out of that vital contact time with each instructor.

THE VERY BEST PROGRAMME The programme is purposefully organised in such a way that each week has a clear and dedicated set of goals.

Students are debriefed after each task, and at the end of each week, by the instructor and

Chief Instructor. This enables the school to identify student strengths and weaknesses at a very early stage and ensure a personal action plan is put into place to build up skills accordingly.

AN ALL-ROUND EDUCATION Hamble School of Yachting does not try to enrol its students on a ticket collecting exercise for a bewildering array of different courses. This course is focused and carefully designed to turn out high quality sailors with a good degree of all-round seamanship skills.

The school believes there is no substitute for hands on experience and students spend 72 days of the total 98 days tuition at sea learning the skills of their trade. The weeks spent on practical sailing are carefully divided between skipper development and mileage building to destinations in the English Channel, and “drills and skills” weeks closer to home.

THE HAMBLE TOUCHES Hamble School of Yachting is so committed to delivering the best possible experience that it invites prospective PST students to join the team for a weekend of sailing, free of charge. This gives the opportunity for students to meet school’s friendly faces, see how the school operates and chat to the brilliant instructors about their ambitions. It also allows the team to ensure the course is right for the student. For those with more experience it might be suitable to start at module two or three and this will be assessed over the weekend.

Course Dates

For more details about the course and the options open to you, please download a PDF copy of our PST brochure. If you have problems downloading the brochure or would prefer a hard copy please feel free to call us.

If you would like any help at all or would like to discuss the possibilities further, please call Chris Rushton or any of the friendly team here at Hamble School of Yachting with any questions you might have. We would welcome you to the school at anytime to give you a chance to look around and enable us to discuss your requirements further. We all look forward to meeting you.