RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster™ Theory Online
Your path to offshore sailing and working in the industry
The RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory course takes your navigation skills to the standard required for offshore passages by day and night and prepares you for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal or Yachtmaster™ Offshore practical exams. Physical charts, RYA Yachtmaster™ Shorebased Notes, and all course materials shipped free worldwide. 12 months to complete, then lifetime access.
Taught by Yachtmaster Examiners · Backed by RYA Practical School
What's Included
Your course will include the following...
Physical Materials — Shipped Free Worldwide
- Quality Portland plotter & ultralight dividers
- RYA Training Charts 3 & 4
- RYA Training Almanac
- RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Notes
- RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster Electronic Resources Booklet
- RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster Electronic Weather Resources Booklet
- All shipped FREE in your Sailing Course Online bag (UK next-day, international 2-3 days)
Online Course
- Full access to all modules, videos and animations
- 12 months to complete at your own pace
- Lifetime access after passing — revise before practicals and charters
Exams & Certification
- All 4 exam papers included (IRPCS, Chartwork, Passage Making A & B)
- Passage Making Pre-Assessment Appraisal included
- Unlimited retakes at no extra cost
- RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Shorebased Certificate
Support
- Unlimited access to RYA Yachtmaster Instructors and Examiners
- Contact via messaging, email, phone, Teams or Zoom
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Everything included. No hidden costs.
What Our Yachtmaster™ Students Say
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The Only RYA Provider With Full 24-Hour Access
Our Platform
Sailing Course Online is designed to work seamlessly across PCs, Macs, tablets and smart phones enabling you to learn at home or on the move.
What You'll Learn on the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Theory Course
Twenty comprehensive modules covering everything from advanced position fixing to offshore meteorology. Master the theory that underpins professional seamanship.
Advanced Position Fixing
Astronomical position lines and running fixes. Radar plotting and interpretation. Electronic navigation integration. Position accuracy assessment and error sources.
Advanced Chartwork
Ocean passage planning. Great circle and rhumb line navigation. Routing charts and pilot books. International chart symbols and foreign chart conventions.
Offshore Meteorology
Synoptic chart interpretation. Wind strength and the Beaufort scale. Weather routing for passages. GRIB files and modern forecasting tools. Tropical weather systems. Fog prediction and avoidance strategies.
Passage Planning
Complete passage plan preparation. Port entry procedures worldwide. Pilotage planning for unfamiliar harbours. Contingency and emergency planning. Watch systems and crew management.
Collision Regulations (IRPCS)
Complete International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Traffic separation schemes. Restricted visibility rules. Sound and light signals in detail.
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Heavy weather tactics. Damage control and emergency repairs. Search and rescue coordination. EPIRB, SART, and distress communications. Distress signals. Liferaft deployment and survival.
Electronic Navigation
Chartplotter passage planning. AIS interpretation and ARPA. Radar overlay and integration. Redundancy and backup systems.
Each topic builds on your Day Skipper knowledge with more complex scenarios and offshore applications. Interactive exercises using a variety of learning techniques throughout let you test your understanding before the exams.
Ready to Get Started?
Is the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Theory Course Right for You?
This advanced theory course is designed for sailors ready for offshore passages, offshore racing, or a professional career afloat.
RYA Day Skipper Theory Required
Knowledge to the level of RYA Day Skipper is required. This Coastal / Yachtmaster™ Theory Online Course builds directly on Day Skipper foundations and assumes you're already confident with basic chartwork, tides, and coastal navigation.
Haven't completed Day Skipper? Consider our Fastrack to Yachtmaster™ programme instead.
Who This Course Is For
- Cruising sailors planning offshore or overnight passages
- Racing sailors wanting to understand complex weather and tactics
- Anyone pursuing Yachtmaster™ Coastal or Yachtmaster™ Offshore certification (Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper explained)
- Professional sailors needing the theory foundation for commercial qualifications
- Superyacht crew working towards MCA certification
How the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Online Course Works
Sign Up & Receive Your Materials
Immediate access to all online content. Your physical materials — charts, RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Notes, plotters, and all booklets — ship the same day (UK next-day delivery).
Study at Your Own Pace
Work through the advanced modules in order. Complete the exercises, practice chartwork with your physical materials. Most students need 50-60 hours over 3-4 months.
Complete the Pre-Assessment
Before your Passage Making exams, you'll complete the Passage Making Pre-Assessment Appraisal. This is untimed preparation work — not an exam.
Take Your Four Exams Online
Complete all four exam papers from home, whenever you're ready. Exam feedback sent within 24 hours. Unlimited retakes included.
Receive Your Certificate
Once you've passed all four papers, we'll post your official RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Shorebased Certificate. You'll also retain lifetime access to the course content.
The Four RYA Yachtmaster™ Theory Exams
You'll complete four exam papers to earn your RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Shorebased Certificate. All are taken online, from home, whenever you're ready. Unlimited retakes included — no extra cost.
IRPCS Assessment
Tests your knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Covers steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, sound signals, and traffic separation schemes.
Chartwork Assessment
Tests your advanced navigation skills using your physical charts, plotter and dividers. Complex position fixing, course to steer calculations, tidal stream planning, and pilotage.
Passage Making Section A
Tests your passage planning skills. Complete passage plans, weather interpretation, crew management, emergency procedures, and practical decision-making.
Passage Making Section B
Continuation of passage planning assessment covering the complete syllabus. Building on your pre-assessment preparation.
Passage Making Pre-Assessment Appraisal
Before the Passage Making exams, you'll complete the Passage Making Pre-Assessment Appraisal. This is NOT a timed exam — it allows you to prepare all the information you'll need. Take as long as necessary to research and plan thoroughly.
How It Works
- Take each Yachtmaster theory exam when you're ready — no booking required
- We will work with you until we are mutually happy that you will be as safe as possible when you navigate at sea
- Exam feedback sent within 24 hours
- You don't need to complete all four exams on the same day — you manage your exam time to suit your personal commitments
- If you don't pass first time, retake as many times as needed at no cost
Using Your Yachtmaster™ Theory for Commercial Qualifications
Invigilation is not required for commercially endorsing an RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore Certificate. However, if you're pursuing higher level MCA courses such as OOW 3000gt or Master 200gt, your exams must be invigilated at an RYA Recognised Training Centre.
What Commercial Endorsement Allows
- Work on commercial vessels up to 200gt
- Skipper charter yachts professionally
- Deliver yachts commercially
- Work as paid crew on superyachts
- Progress to MCA Officer of the Watch qualifications
Read our guide to commercial endorsement, or get in touch and we'll guide you through the process.
After Yachtmaster™ Theory: Your Pathway to Certification
Your RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Shorebased Certificate opens multiple pathways depending on your experience and ambitions. How long does it take to become a Yachtmaster™?
RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Theory
Online course with all 4 exams included — what you're completing now.
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
Advanced skippering course covering day and night passages. Awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal
The gold standard for coastal sailing. Requires passage planning, pilotage, and boat handling to Yachtmaster standard.
RYA Yachtmaster™ Offshore
For extended passages. Celestial navigation required. The professional standard for yacht delivery and charter.
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory
For unlimited ocean passages. Covers celestial navigation and worldwide meteorology.
We're backed by a recognised RYA Practical Training Centre. We can support your practical training from our base at Hamble Point Marina.
Explore Practical Training →Why Choose Sailing Course Online for Your RYA Theory Course?
We're not just an online provider — we're a recognised RYA Training Centre with real instructors, real boats, and real experience.
Backed by a Recognised RYA Practical School
We're an RYA Recognised Training Centre at Hamble Point Marina, offering practical courses too.
Taught by Yachtmaster Examiners
Not instructors reading scripts. Your teachers examine Yachtmaster candidates.
Passage Making Pre-Assessment Appraisal Included
Untimed preparation with instructor feedback before your Passage Making papers.
Materials Shipped Free FREE
Charts, plotter, dividers, RYA Shorebased Notes and two resource booklets, shipped worldwide.
Try the Full Course Free for 24 Hours FREE
Every module, video and animation. Not a limited preview. No card required.
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee Risk-Free
Risk-free trial of the full course. Not happy? Full refund, no questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore theory course.
