• 50 days on board a yacht at sea as an active crew member. A day is defined as a period of 24 consecutive hours. Parts of a day may be included in this total, but a day is not invalidated by a candidate leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise. The term “at sea” is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbour – natural or artificial – in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.
• Logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea (power or sail). This mileage must be logged on genuine cruises or passages but not short day trips. At least 2,000 miles must have been completed on coastal voyages and not ocean crossings. It is important that the candidate has considerable time of actual vessel handling.
• Thirty hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yacht’s crew. For at least six hours of this night time experience, the candidate must have been acting as the vessel’s captain/watchleader. “Night,” in this context, is defined as the time between sunset and sunrise.
• A current medical examination and a colour blindness eyesight examination, which allows the participant to safely perform the relevant duties on a yacht, including being able to see and distinguish lights and signals of other vessels and navigational marks in typical weather conditions without risk to him/herself, other crewmembers or the safe operation of the vessel.
• A six-hour VHF Radio Operators course covering the general rules and procedures for the safe operation of a VHF marine radio. If you do not have a valid VHF certificate this course may be conducted on board the yacht or in the classroom prior to joining the practical course.

Candidates must either hold a recognised VHF Radio Operators Certificate or must take the full IYT VHF-SRC Marine Communications course and school must place order for this certificate while placing order for the Yachtmaster Certificate of Competency.  If ordering VHF at the same time as Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate please upload a note to this effect.  We have provided a sample note to upload when placing order.
* Please note that we do not accept ISSA VHF qualifications.
 (If you are unsure if your radio license will be accepted, please send a scanned copy of the front and back of your license to [email protected].  We will verify that your license is sufficient to receive the IYT Yachtmaster Offshore license).  

• Command of a vessel up to 24 meters in length
• Up to 150 miles offshore
• Not for commercial use

Attention: Please note that the IYT Yachtmaster certification is intended for recreational use only and cannot be upgraded to a professional certificate. Therefore, all candidates enrolling in the IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore, or Ocean courses are required to complete an acknowledgement prior to taking the course.

• International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
• Meteorology
• Chartwork Instruments
• Charts, Chart Projections & Publications, Lat & Long
• Distance, Speed, Time and Direction
• The Magnetic Compass, Variation & Deviation
• Position Lines and Position Fixes
• Dead Reckoning and Estimated Positions
• Tides
• UK Tides
• Currents, Tidal Streams, Overfalls, Tide Races and Bars
• Course to Steer to Counteract a Current
• Pilotage
• Passage Planning
• Electronic Navigation Aids
• Construction
• Vessel Stability & Drydocking
• Ropework – Refresher/Reference
• Towing
• Anchors, Anchoring, Mooring & Docking
• Emergency Procedures
• Vessel’s Power Plant
• Maritime Business & Law

The courses are designed to provide the highest standard of maritime education for the recreational yachtsman and woman and for those who are serious about obtaining the best nautical qualifications available. They are ideal for those who greatly want to expand their knowledge and experience and increase their confidence in commanding a yacht. For those who are taking the courses, completion of the five-day STCW Basic Safety training courses is not required but highly recommended. The five-day STCW course covers Firefighting, Sea Survival, First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities.

It is important to understand that an IYT certificate is a qualification that can be used across the globe. Therefore, unlike other training organisations, IYT insists on an understanding of IALA Regulations in Areas A & B, weather systems in the North & Southern hemispheres, tidal calculations for the Mediterranean and North America and the effects of tropical revolving storms.

Yachtmaster courses are not for beginners. This six-day comprehensive high-level shore based course includes assessment papers and written examinations. Candidates are advised that a considerable amount of private study and varied cruising experience is required in addition to the formal instruction provided.

IYT’s Yachtmaster Offshore Sail Certificate covers command of a sailing vessel with a sail area of greater than 80 square metres/861 square feet. Please see the official statement here.