RYA Yachtmaster Offshore
Yachtmaster Offshore guides
Clear, exam-focused explanations of the topics candidates find hardest, free to read.
How to prepare for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam
What happens in the Yachtmaster Offshore exam and an eight-week theory revision plan, plus boat handling practice and what to bring on the day.
Yachtmaster Offshore requirements, and a sea time checker
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore requirements in one place: 50 days, 2,500 miles, 5 days as skipper, five 60-mile passages. Check your own sea time in seconds.
Yachtmaster Offshore oral exam questions, with answers
The questions Yachtmaster Offshore examiners ask most, with model answers: COLREGS, lights, buoyage, tides, passage planning, weather and safety.
Cardinal marks: topmarks, colours and lights
How to read north, east, south and west cardinal marks: which side to pass, memory aids for topmarks and colours, and the clock-face rule for their lights.
COLREGS Rule 19: conduct in restricted visibility
What COLREGS Rule 19 requires in fog: safe speed, radar-only contacts, which way to alter course, when to take all way off, and the common exam traps.
Secondary port tidal height: a worked example
A step-by-step secondary port tidal calculation for Yachtmaster theory: interpolating time and height differences, the UT and BST trap, and checking the answer.
Tidal height at a standard port: a worked example
How to work out tidal height at a standard port: height at a given time, time for a given height, clearance under the keel and the rule of twelfths.
Tidal stream calculation: diamonds and atlases
How to work out a tidal stream from a tidal diamond or atlas: picking the right tidal hour, interpolating spring and neap rates, and set and drift.
Variation and deviation: true, magnetic and compass
Converting between true, magnetic and compass for Yachtmaster: variation from the compass rose, deviation from the card, the sign rule and memory aids.
Course to steer: a worked example
How to work out a course to steer allowing for tide: the vector triangle step by step, leeway, converting to compass and passages over an hour.
Navigation lights and day shapes, explained
Every COLREGS navigation light and day shape for Yachtmaster: arcs and ranges, then power, sail, towing, fishing, NUC, RAM, pilots, anchored and aground.
Yachtmaster Offshore for superyacht crew
Yachtmaster Offshore for a superyacht deck career: how big-yacht sea time counts, the tidal-waters catch, commercial endorsement and revising around watches.
IALA buoyage: lateral marks explained
IALA Region A lateral marks for Yachtmaster: port and starboard shapes, colours and lights, preferred channel marks, the direction of buoyage, and Region B.
COLREGS sound signals explained
COLREGS sound signals for Yachtmaster: short and prolonged blasts, manoeuvring and warning signals, overtaking in a narrow channel, fog signals and equipment.
COLREGS steering and sailing rules explained
COLREGS Rules 4 to 18 for Yachtmaster: lookout, safe speed, risk of collision, overtaking, head-on, crossing, stand-on duties and who keeps clear of whom.
How to send a Mayday or Pan-Pan on VHF
How to send a VHF DSC distress alert and a Mayday or Pan-Pan call, word for word, plus Mayday relay, Sécurité, radio silence and cancelling a false alert.
Yachtmaster glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms you need for Yachtmaster Offshore: COLREGS, tides, chartwork, lights, radio and weather, from underway to veering.
Free quizzes
Free Yachtmaster practice questions
Free Yachtmaster Offshore practice questions on COLREGS, navigation lights, buoyage and sound signals, with every answer explained. No sign-up needed.
Free COLREGS quiz: Rules 1 to 3
Free COLREGS quiz for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore: application, responsibility and definitions (Rules 1 to 3), with explanations and examiner tips. No sign-up.
Free navigation lights quiz
Free navigation lights quiz for Yachtmaster Offshore: light arcs, fishing, towing, pilot and anchor lights, with every answer explained. No sign-up.
Free IALA buoyage quiz
Free IALA Region A buoyage quiz for Yachtmaster Offshore: lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water and special marks, with answers explained.
Free sound signals quiz: Rules 32 to 35
Free COLREGS sound signals quiz for Yachtmaster Offshore: manoeuvring, warning and fog signals (Rules 32 to 35), with every answer explained. No sign-up.
Revise the whole syllabus
Lessons, spaced repetition and timed mock exams, five minutes at a time.
Start freeDeckPrep is an independent revision tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the RYA.