The Yachtmaster Exam – The Inside Track Part 1 by Ian Jinks – RYA Examiner

Most students find any examination process stressful, and the Yachtmaster unfortunately is no exception. Stress can only be lessened if you are well prepared, and have some expectation of what will be required of you. Hopefully, this post will help with the latter!

As an RYA Examiner, my goal is to try to get the candidates to perform to their best ability during the exam, and I try to do this by communicating as effectively as possible. I will always strive to ensure that the student understands what I have requested, but if in any doubt, YOU must be clear on what has been asked. All examiners will be happy to repeat, or clarify what they need, but are not expecting to tell you how to do it!

I always start off each exam by ensuring that the examination forms are completed, photos ready, and you are ready to sit the exam. Examiners generally prefer well organised candidates who have got all of their documentation ready, all completed, rather than having to do it during the examiners time, hopefully you can read between the lines here!

My next point is to run through the Exam Report Form. I show all of my candidates, without fail, the report form. I do this to show the candidate what iIhave to complete after the exam, and I do this for two reasons:

1) I can show the areas that I must assess during the exam.

2) I can state that I have to write something positive into each of those boxes on the form, and nothing negative, in order for me to recommend you for a pass.

I normally leave the form for all to see during the exam, and most candidates are therefore fully capable of understanding how they are doing during the exam.

The exam report has 9 sections:

1) PRIOR TO GOING TO SEA

•Preparation of boat and crew

•Passage planning

2) LEAVING/ENTERING HARBOUR

•Boat handling

•Pilotage

3) AT SEA

•Seamanship and boat handling

•Navigation and chartwork

4) SPECIFIC SUBJECTS

•IRPCS

•Meteorology

5) OVERALL ABILITY AS SKIPPER

Exam Report Form is attached below.

The largest of these boxes, and ultimately the most important is the overall ability as skipper. The performance during the exam is an overall performance, and provided you do nothing dangerous in any of the others, a pass is still the likely outcome if you remain calm and in command. At the end of the day, is more important that you clearly communcate and make safe decisions, vs knowing every single word from the rule of the road.

Remember, help your Examiner out to give them something positive to say in each of the boxes. Something simple like using sound signals whilst going astern, or goind around a blind bend in a marina show the Examiner you know IRPCS!! Simple win for you and the Examiner.

As an RYA Examiner, I often feel sorry for some of the schools and their instructors, who have to teach students who have made absolutely no effort to learn for themselves. After teaching Yachtmaster Preparation Courses for many years, my opening line as an instructor was:

“If your here to do your Yachtmaster, I am assuming you are already have that knowledge. This week, I will show you techniques that may be done during the exam with the examiner. I cannot teach you the whole Yachtmaster Syllabus in 5 days”

For those of you who are looking to attend a “prep” course shortly, you will be advised to revise the following thoroughly before attending the course:

1 COLREGS – All lights and shapes as a minimum. All sound signals. Risk of Collison. Who gives way to who? Action to avoid collision. Most of this is just a memory test, and impossible for even the best instructor to stuff it in your brain in a few days!

2 Buoyage – IALA A and B, all of it!

3 Navigation – Be able to do a Course to Steer, and Estimated Position, and a Tidal Height for a Standard Port. (All of this to be at least day skipper standard, or you wont pass your YM with only 1 week prep).

4 Metoerology – Know the basics at least, including land and sea breezes, radiation and advection fog, and frontal depressions.

If you learn all of this stuff, either by doing extra courses before you arrive, or study at home or on your yacht, you will have a better chance of passing first time. Do not blame the school that they didn’t teach you it, as prospective Yachtmasters, you should already know it.

Finally, if you prepare yourself well, perform well and continue to study during your prep course, your exam will be an much more enjoyable experience.

Your Examiner will normally be doing this because they enjoy getting out on the water, so think about the fact that you are taking them for a cruise, perhaps with their family, and do so safely.

Hope this helps,

Ian Jinks

RYA Examiner for Sail, Motor, Powerboat and Ocean

MCA Master 3000t