Recreational Courses.
"IYT Yacht Master"
Sail Endorsement

Is it worth me doing the
"IYT Yacht Master Coastal" first ?

We would recommend that unless you have a great deal of experience, knowledge and sea time, that you do it first before going on to do the "IYT Yacht Master Offshore".
The sail endorsement syllabus at all levels

is extensive and for most students / candidates it is too much to do, just in one course. Also it is an essential building block for the "IYT Yacht Master Offshore".
Each of the "IYT Yacht Master" courses and qualifications are developed for different needs, all are highly regarded.

Why should I do the
"IYT Yacht Master -Sail Endorsement" ?

For one simple reason, the "IYT Yacht Master" sail endorsement is the only recreational sail yacht course that teaches the professional way of handling and navigating medium to large sail yachts.
During the course, you will learn the professional theory and practical techniques both under sail & power, of docking, mooring, anchoring, pilotage, navigation, man over board, sail handling, just to name a few.
The depth of knowledge and skill of each theory and practical subject will depend on which course you choose to do.

Are the IYT Yacht Master
practical examiners fair ?

It must be emphasised to all of you, that the IYT Yacht Master practical examiners, who are independent, are not there to pass or fail you, but more to assess whether you really are at this level or not.
They are not looking for perfection or know-all experts. Nor will they try to trick you into doing something to cause you to fail. If for any reason, your assessment is below the required "Yacht Master" standards, simply it means that you either need more sea time or experience or knowledge. What happens if my assessment is below standard?

Course cost ....

7 Day combined theory/practical course, with 2x exams.

Course cost ....

13 Day course, 6 days of theory & 4 exams + 6 days practical & 2x exams.

Course cost ....

6 Day theory course & 4 exams, with final assessment.

How much seatime do I need?

This is the minimum requirement and must be logged or recorded.
The seatime must be done on a sailing yacht to be sail endorsed.

25 days (24 hours) at sea.
800 Nm.
2 days (24 hours) as watch leader or captain/skipper.
12 hours on watch at night underway.

What other courses do I need to do?

A VHF restricted radio operators course and licence.
Current medical fitness certificate.
Eye test certificate.

What is this course about?

The first step on the professional ladder and a vital building block for the higher level qualifications. Not as easy as it looks, and often under estimated as a professional qualification.
It really puts the theory into practice which is never easy to do. 6 days on board a boat, with constant learning 8-12 hours a day (allowing for sleep and eating of course!), and on the 7th day a full "IYT Yacht Master Coastal" practical examination by an independent IYT Yacht Master examiner.
It is a great course for those of you with a lot of sea time and experience but have as yet never qualified professionally.

What is the course syllabus?

The following is a brief resume of the syllabus, which is concentrated upon the theory & practical of coastal passage making.

Rec-Coastal 1.
1.0. Provisioning a boat.
1.1. Reviewing boat systems.
1.2. Safety equipment & checks.
1.3. Passage planning.
1.4. Coastal navigation review.
1.5. Planning for night entry voyage.
1.6. Position fixing, beam bearings, DR, EP.
1.7. Boat handling, sail handling & trim.
1.8. MOB principles.
1.9. Anchoring & mooring principles.

Rec-Coastal 2.
2.0. Preparations for sea.
2.1. Safety & survival at sea.
2.2. Radio & VHF.
2.3. Coastal navigation review & practice.
2.4. Chartwork & plotting.
2.5. Tides & currents, course to steer.
2.6. Rules of the road, lights & shapes.
2.7. Boat handling, sail handling & trim.
2.8. MOB principles.
2.9. Anchoring & mooring principles.

Rec-Coastal 3.
3.0. Preparations for sea.
3.1. Coastal navigation review & practice.
3.2. Pilotage & passage planning.
3.3. Meteorology.
3.4. Electronic navigation aids.
3.5. Boat handling, sail handling & trim.
3.6. MOB principles.
3.7. Anchoring & mooring principles.
3.8. De-briefing.

Pro-Coastal 4.
4.0. Rules of the road.
4.1. Lights & shapes.
4.3. Chartwork.
4.4. Plotting.
4.5. Tides & currents.
4.6. Course to steer.
4.7. Close quarters manoeuvering principles.
4.8. Anchoring & mooring.
4.9. De-briefing.

Rec-Coastal 5.
5.0. Pilotage planning.
5.1. Passage planning.
5.2. Meteorology.
5.3. Boat handling, sail handling & trim.
5.4. Close quarters manoeuvering.
5.5. Anchoring & mooring.
5.6. Complete syllabus review.

Rec-Coastal 6.
6.0. Complete syllabus review.
6.2. IYT Yacht Master independent examiner.
6.3. Coastal theory examination.
6.4. Coastal practical examination.
6.5. Final course de-briefing.

How much seatime do I need?

This is the minimum requirement and must be logged or recorded.
The seatime must be done on a sailing yacht to be sail endorsed.

50 days (24 hours) at sea.
3000 Nm, of which 2000 Nm have to be of coastal.
5 passages with rhumb lines of over 60 Nm, two of the passages have to be as captain or watch keeper.
2 days (24 hours) as watch leader or captain/skipper.
12 hours on watch at night underway.

What other courses do I need to do?

A VHF restricted radio operators course and licence.
Current medical fitness certificate.
Eye test certificate.

What is this course about?

Fundamentally different to the "Yacht Master Coastal", you have to demonstrate 4 vital qualities to professionally command a sailing yacht offshore;
1. general experience.
2. all round ability.
3. overall confidence.
4. extensive knowledge.
5 days of advanced theory including written exams and oral assesments.
6 days of practical on the water advanced training, and on the 7th day a full "Yacht Master Offshore" practical examination by an independent IYT Yacht Master examiner.
This course is one of the toughest and the most demanding, and it assumes that you have already a considerable amount of all round experience and knowledge.

What is the course syllabus?

The following is a brief resume of the syllabus, which is concentrated upon the theory & practical of offshore passage making.

Rec-Theory Offshore.
Th.1. Navigation drawing instruments.
Th.2. Navigation charts.
Th.3. Definition distance, speed, time, direction.
Th.4. Magnetic compass, variation, deviation.
Th.5. Position lines & position fixes.
Th.6. Dead reckoning & estimated positions.
Th.7. Tides.
Th.8. Currents.
Th.9. Course to steer to counteract a current.
Th.10. Meteorology.
Th.11. Pilotage.
Th.12. Passage planning.
Th.13. Electronic navigation aids.
Th.14. Int.Regs. for preventing collisions at sea.
Th.15. General ships knowledge.
Th.16. Knowledge of aids to navigation.
Th.17. Marlinspike seamanship.

Rec-Practical Offshore.
Pr.1. Pre-departure checks incl. engine checks.
Pr.2. Safety briefings.
Pr.3. Usage of pilotage & passage plans.
Pr.4. Usage of domestic & float plans.
Pr.5. Dinghy usage & stowage.
Pr.5. Usage of plots.
Pr.6. Anchoring.
Pr.7. Towing a vessel.
Pr.8. Sail trim & sail manoeuvres.
Pr.9. Vessel docking manoeuvres.
Pr.10. Man over board power manoeuvres.
Pr.11. Man over board sail manoeuvres.
Pr.12. Strong wind sailing.
Pr.13. Heavy weather tactics & preparation.
Pr.14. Damage control & abandoning ship.
Pr.15. Aground drills.
Pr.16. Simulation of fire & flooding.
Pr.17. Command ability & crew coordination.
Pr.18. Medical emergencies.
Pr.19. Collision regulations.
Pr.20. Lights & shapes.
Pr.21. Night entry into port.
Pr.22. Night passage tactics & watch systems.
Pr.23. Weather synopsis.
Pr.24. Victualling.
Pr.25. Local current & tidal effects.

Rec-Offshore Examinations.
Ex.1. Colregs written exam.
Ex.2. Tides & currents written exam.
Ex.3. Meteorology written exam.
Ex.4. Navtheory written exam.
Ex.5. Practical offshore exam.

How much seatime do I need?

This is the minimum requirement and must be logged or recorded.
The seatime must be done on a sailing yacht to be sail endorsed.

An non-stop qualifying ocean passage of at least 600 Nm, of which 400 Nm has to be at least 150Nm from land.
During the ocean passage, you must have acted as captain, skipper or watch keeper. And also you had taken a full part in the navigation and passage making decisions.

You must submit the actual passage plan for this qualifying ocean passage, as well as the sights, compass checks and notes for assessment.

What other courses do I need to do?

Must hold an "IYT Yacht Master Offshore" qualification.
A VHF restricted radio operators course and licence.
Current medical fitness certificate.
Eye test certificate.

What is this course about?

Leading on from the "IYT Master of Yachts 200 tons (Offshore)", it indicates that the person has the ability to globally navigate using a sextant and is able to plan, undertake and manage ocean passages.
The course is designed to give you the all round knowledge to command a vessel on an ocean passage and covers all aspects.

What is the course syllabus?

The following is a brief resume of the syllabus, which is concentrated upon the theory of ocean passage making.

Rec-Theory Ocean.
Oc.1. The earth & celestial sphere.
Oc.2. The PYZ triangle.
Oc.3. The sextant.
Oc.4. Measurement of time.
Oc.5. Meridian altitudes.
Oc.6. Sun sights.
Oc.7. Planet sights.
Oc.8. Star sight planning.
Oc.9. Star sights.
Oc.10. The pole star.
Oc.11. Moon sights.
Oc.12. Compass checking.
Oc.13. Satellite navigation systems.
Oc.14. Great circle sailing.
Oc.15. Ocean meteorology.
Oc.16. Ocean passage planning.

Rec-Ocean Examinations.
Ex.1. Ocean written exam.
Ex.2. Ocean written exam.
Ex.3. Ocean written exam.