Ever Thought Of Taking Your Yachtmaster Exam?

By Sandi Shiret

Many of us have but don't seem to get round to it, there is always a reason why not, no time, too expensive, don't know what's involved. I had the same list, but last year won a two for one offer with our favourite sailing school and ran out of excuses. As I write this we are moored in pretty Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, it is a hot, sunny, windless morning. The sky is mediterranean blue, Bob Marley is playing on the CD, & I am considering putting up the shady bimini already. Yes I did say on the Isle of Wight. We must just be lucky this is part of our annual holiday and the weather has been fantastic. We are not moving on today, so the lack wind is not a problem. But last weekend it could have been.

Colin & I have just completed a Yachtmaster preparation week with Devon Sailing. The Yachtmaster Offshore exam was scheduled to start on the Friday at 12pm and the weather forecast had predicted a worrying lack of wind. In the exam you are expected to sail. On & off moorings, anchors, over shallow spots, along transits, 'in to the pub' oh… that last one is not approved by the RYA.

RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams are designed to assess your skills as a Skipper. Our examiner explained that he was looking for a skipper who can take a boat safely, on a trip of up to 150 miles, by day or night and can enter a strange harbour at night, with a relatively inexperienced crew. There is a lot more information in your Cruising Log Book & on the RYA website. Setting yourself a target like taking one of the exams increases your knowledge and experience, and consequently your enjoyment, which can only be a good thing.

We joined our boat in Dartmouth, Cass Lass, a Halberg Rassy 34, a lovely boat with tiller steering and a fully battened main she was a great sail. Our instructor Roy, whose most obscure request of the week was "take me to the Marigold" and simplest was "find the nearest pub" was deceptively relaxed considering he had to polish up three of his students skills for their exam. In reality he did not get us to the bar before last orders, if at all. Martin was the third man for yachtmaster, he owned a Contessa 32 which he kept in Wales, whilst he lived in Loughborough, a mere three hours away! The final member of the crew was John, who was on a coastal skipper practical week. We settled in and then cooked supper on board; afterwards we chatted about the week ahead over a glass of wine.

The first day dawned, A grey and windy force six blew through the rigging of our moored boat. At breakfast Martins laptop gave us a forecast of a week of wind, we decided to head down to Plymouth Sound for the week. Martin was skipper and after a lively sail we arrived at the River Yealm in sunshine. We picked up a mooring buoy in Newtown Ferris for supper and then it was off for a night sail & navigation exercise to Plymouth. It was my turn to skipper; it was dark as we edged our way out of the winding river and past the bar at the entrance. The moon had decided not to come out to play, and I was glad of the waypoint I had entered set in the centre of the bay. After that we headed towards the Eddystone lighthouse, and then picking up the lights of Plymouth eastern entrance found our way to our berth in the marina. A very late finish for us all, it was past midnight.

Night entry in to a strange harbour is one of the tasks you are likely to be set in the exam. The next four days passed very quickly, under sail and power we practised picking up buoys, Man over Board & anchoring. One windy day we went in to a marina and undertook close quarters manoeuvring, after an hour of seeing this yacht apparently unable to find a berth the well meaning skipper of a gaff rigged wooden barge asked us if we would like to tie up alongside for a rest. We smiled and explained we were looking for our Teddy lost over board and could be some time. Next day we practised Blind Navigation. By simulating the circumstances in fog you navigate your way to a defined point. In the exam the examiner will tell you where this is. The chosen Skipper is sent below & curtains are closed, the only information the skipper can receive from the crew is restricted to a 'circle of visibility'. Using depth contours and the log you will navigate to your destination. The Marigold was Colin's expected destination, she was a beautiful black hulled french pilot cutter moored inside Plymouth Sound, which he did with remarkable accuracy. It was his first time at this, and an uncharted buoy was passed by just to confuse him.

That day as we sailed under the Tamar Bridge a rainbow bracketed Cass Lass, a good omen we hoped.

On Thursday we returned to Dartmouth, via ice creams in Salcombe, and moored up river from the town at Dittisham.

The Exam

Friday was exam day, the morning was gusty and grey, and the examiner was joining us a 12pm, so with a few hours to spare we went out of the river and practised Man over Board. We were all apprehensive but spending the week preparing helped a great deal. Roy our instructor left us and the examiner stepped aboard. With his direct gaze and firm handshake you were instantly aware that your assessment had started. It was 12pm and we were under scrutiny for the next 28 hours. First we each gave a safety brief on different aspects of the boat. Then individually we were each given a set of tasks which included pilotage to a harbour or bay and on the way locating and sailing over a specific point selected by the examiner, and calculating the height of tide at the time you pass over it, anchoring under sail, and picking up and leaving a mooring under sail. The bucket and fender were nudged over the side for MOB and always when the skipper was below, again done under sail. A night exercise, night entry into a harbour or navigate up an unlit river, and a blind navigation exercise. This took from Friday through to around 4pm Saturday.

Then it was time for an individual talk with the examiner wherein he asked questions on passage planning, the weather, the collision regs, including lights and buoys and any other subject associated with the syllabus.

After this the examiner gives you an appraisal of your performance highlighting your strong points and areas that can be improved, and tells you if you had passed or not. We were both delighted to have passed. It is impossible to describe the sense of achievement derived from passing such a thorough assessment of your skills.

Conclusion

This was a great way to increase our sailing skills, and we thoroughly enjoyed our week. However it is good to be aware that the exam nerves mean that you need to be familiar with the theory. For instance the weather including forecast terminology, light & shapes of buoys, the symbols on charts and collision regulations, need to be second nature. We found there was no time to brush up on these during the course, as you are fully occupied with preparation of your practical skills. We were pleased that we had spent some time revising.

I can not speak highly enough of Devon Sailing the company we took the course with, they are professional, friendly and very well organised. The boats were immaculate and in perfect order, the food they provided for the week was excellent and easy for us to prepare and the 12 bottles of wine much appreciated.

We finished the exam on Saturday late afternoon, and decided to stay on board for the night. It was the last night of Regatta Week. The celebrations started with a display from the Royal Navy Helicopters stationed at Dartmouth, followed by the Red Arrows swooping low down over the river. Sometimes they looked like they would touch the masts of the moored boats. And then after dark the most fantastic firework display all viewed from the deck of Cass Lass on her mooring in the centre of the harbour. A perfect ending.