The Yachtmaster Ocean equips you with the knowledge you need to navigate long ocean passages.

Certificates You Must Hold

In order to gain your Yachtmaster Ocean you must hold your Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence, VHF licence and a valid First Aid certificate.

Minimum Sea Time

You must also have completed an ocean passage as skipper or mate of a watch; prior to this voyage you must have been fully involved in the preparation and planning for the passage. During the passage you must have covered a minimum distance of 600 miles without stopping, 200 of these miles must be a minimum of 50 miles away from land and the yacht must have been at sea continuously for a minimum of 96 hours. You must have completed you ocean passage no more than 10 years before you complete the Yachtmaster Ocean course.

Minimum course duration

5 Days

Exam Format

The exam has two parts, a write assessment and an oral exam. If you already hold your Yachtmaster Ocean theory certificate, Royal Navy Ocean Navigation Certificate or a DoT Certificate of Competence as a Deck Officer you will not have to take the written exam.

Course Content

The Yachtmaster Ocean course covers; communications, passage planning, passage making, meteorology, satellite navigation, compass checking, great circle sailing, stars , the sun and other sights, meridian altitudes, measurement of time, the Sextant and the PZX triangle.

How the Courses Can Be Taken

The Yachtmaster Ocean course is usually taken as an intensive course over a period of 5 days.

Ability after the Course

Those skippers who hold their Yachtmaster Ocean have proven they have the ability to skipper a yacht, commercially or otherwise, on passages of any length all over the world.

What is provided

All necessary course materials will be provided. You will need to provide a 2B pencil and sharpener, an eraser, paper and a pen. A calculator is not compulsory but can sometimes be helpful.

Guide price

Yachtmaster Ocean Courses can cost between £485 and £675 if you require accommodation. As with all our other courses the Yachtmaster Ocean can be taken abroad.