Fast Track Yachtmaster Program

Located in Courses | FastTrack

RYA/YA Accredited

Aim

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is for those who are planning to work in the international charter industry as professional yachtsmen and women or who simply want the best qualification available as a recreational sailor. The RYA Yachtmaster Certificate requires 50 days sea time and 2500 nautical miles. The exam can be taken once the miles have been accumulated.

This program provides all the qualifying requirements to sit your Yachtmaster exam. It is a 13 week course which may be extended to 14 weeks at our discretion. There is no additional cost if the program is extended.

Includes

  • RYA Competent Crew to Yachtmaster Offshore Practical sailing courses
  • Accommodation on board yachts during practical sailing
  • All meals except main meals on weekends
  • 2500 nautical miles sailing
  • VHF/HF radio license
  • All required RYA coastal passages
  • All practical and theory RYA certificates
  • All text books and theory materials
  • RYA exam fees and boat hire
  • Senior First Aid Certificate
  • Radar
  • Diesel Engine Maintenance

Please note the full AMSA approved Certificate of Safety Training (STCW95) is an optional extra.

Why do your Yachtmaster with Chardonnay Coast Sailing?

We aim to provide an excellent Yachtmaster program in one of the best cruising grounds in Western Australia. Because we are a small family school we can provide personalised service to help you gain the skills you need to succeed in the RYA Yachtmaster cruising scheme.

Effective Structuring

The course has been structured to provide plenty of opportunity for yacht handling as well as undertaking coastal passages.

Open Water Sailing

Our training area extends along the coast of Western Australia from Cape Naturaliste to Fremantle and up to Geraldton, with future plans to extend through to Exmouth. It is open waters exposed to the Indian Ocean includes some of the remotest shorelines you will find anywhere. As a result our courses demand effective planning and independence when at sea with an ability to deal with all weather conditions.

Complete 13 week course

Fastrack assumes no prior experience and takes you right through the RYA / MCA syllabus in 13 weeks. You will complete all the requirements to take the Yachtmaster exam and skipper yachts up to 200grt with commercial endorsement if you need it. If you have previous experience in sailing why not look at our Half Fast Track Course

We take all the worry out, all you need to do is stay focussed and committed. During your course you will cover all of the requirements of the syllabus and complete the requirements for the Yachtmaster examination.

  • 2500 sea miles
  • 50 days live aboard experience
  • 5 passages over 60 miles
  • 2 of the five as skipper
  • 2 of the five overnight

Our mile building passages are designed around learning outcomes, you will act and learn about being the skipper. This is different from simply being crew on a delivery or race yacht where you are stuck with one task and little opportunity to learn.

Commercial endorsement is available to MCA standards enabling you to qualify as a Master of Yachts to 200gt and 24 meters. This is an international certificate that provides access to professional careers in the sailing industry.

An investment in a Yachtmaster fastrack is one of life’s big decisions. We recognise that and will do all we can as a team to help you achieve your RYA Yachtmaster and your sailing dream.

This course prepares you for the Yachtmaster examination. This is conducted jointly by the RYA and Yachting Australia.

Certificates Obtained and Course Features

  • RYA Competent Crew Certificate.
  • RYA Day Skipper Theory Certificate.
  • RYA Day Skipper Practical.
  • RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Certificate.
  • RYA Coastal Skipper practical.
  • Full VHF, MF and HF license (not just the VHF provided by other schools).
  • Senior First Aid.
  • Engineering Systems including batteries, electrical and plumbing systems, gas systems winches and rigging
  • Practice Yachtmaster practical exam.

Conditions

  • 50% deposit required on booking and balance paid 4 weeks before course commences
  • Day Skipper and Yachtmaster theory must be completed using on line course before arrival at the school. Theory will be revised during the course.
  • Includes meals on board during practical sailing
  • Includes on line theory course materials
  • The Fastrack Course does not include
  • Exam fees payable to the RYA
  • Weekend accommodation (available as an extra)

The program is on board a Jeanneau Sunfast 37 and a Beneteau 411. The yachts are well maintained and you will have quality space on board. We do not under any circumstances expect students to share their bunks. You may occasionally share a cabin with twin bunks.

Our Beneteau is equipped with the latest in Raymarine navigation equipment. It has a Raymarine E80 Chartplotter interfaced with wind, autopilot and radar. Our courses include electronic passage planning and routing together with radar navigation systems. When you graduate with us you will not only be an accomplished traditional navigator using paper charts and visual fixing techniques but you will also have an excellent knowledge of the role of electronic navigation

Our aim is to create an enjoyable educational experience and graduate you with the best skills possible. The below is our schedule although due to weather conditions and outside forces this can change without notice.

Week 1:

In the first week you will get on board to complete your RYA Competent Crew certificate. You will learn all the ropes, sail trim, helming and what it’s like to live aboard a cruising yacht. It is a great introduction.

Week 2:

This is another practical sailing week polishing sail trim and steering. You will do your first passage and complete night sailing exercises while you cruise within our sailing grounds. Our aim this week is to really bring together your skills in sail trim, helming and handling the yacht under sail. You will learn about watchkeeping and how yachts are organised on extended cruises

Week 3:

Complete your radio certification for both short and long range radio together with practising your berthing skills in the marina

Week 4:

We put some theory into your practice. By now you will have done over 500 sea miles and had plenty of watchkeeping and sailing experience. You will complete your Day Skipper practical learning about tides, pilotage and navigation

Week 5:

This week you will revise your RYA Coastal Skipper theory. We cover weather collision regulations and advanced chart work. It will involve practical demonstrations of the theory on board the yacht. We also will look at the yachts engineering systems

Week 6:

In this week we do your Coastal Skipper practical sailing to Rottnestt Island, a great offshore holiday spot, Hillaries Marina and Two rocks marina north of Perth

Week 7:

We complete a longer passage to Geraldton and return to gain experience in offshore watchkeeping for an extended cruise. We make sure you get a balance of both longer and shorter passages to maximise your knowledge development

Week 8:

Return passage from Geraldton taking in Dongara, Jurien Bay, Fremantle and Mandurah.

Week 9:

Second self skippering week

Week 10:

This week we will take you on a passage to Fremantle to practice night manoeuvres in a busy sea port. This week really sharpens your identification of lights and pilotage in busy port areas.

Week 11:

One day diesel engine course and yachtmaster preparation

Week 12:

Yachtmaster preparation. During this week we revise the syllabus and make sure you are polished in your yacht handling skills. It is a tough week but we make sure you are well prepared for the exam.

Week 13:

Additional week for any lost sailing time due to weather

Week 14: Yachtmaster Exam.

This is what you have prepared for over the past 13 weeks. After a few initial nerves you will find that everything you are asked to do will be familiar. There are no surprises in the exam. You will have worked with your crew and you will have confidence in each other. Our aim is for you to preserve our schools record for turning out well prepared candidates and for you to feel good about the experience.

What we Provide

  • All accommodation
  • All meals except while on the practical courses ( Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner – individual snacks are purchased by the participant- self catering)
  • RYA text books and radio handbooks as required
  • Full linen, bedding and towels changed weekly
  • Fresh clean yachts
  • Fully qualified RYA yacht master instructor.
  • Wet weather gear

What you need to bring

  • Warm and cool clothing for 13 weeks
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses (polarised)
  • Non marking deck shoes
  • soft bag
  • Swim gear
  • Camera
  • You will need to allow Au$460 payable to the RYA for your examination

Cruising as a retirement or change of lifestyle option

  • Many people who are leaving career choices are opting for a cruising lifestyle
  • We will arrange briefing sessions with people who have been cruising so you can find out what it is like and help you plan a cruising adventure
  • We have many people in their fifties and sixties who see this as a new life option and a long held ambition
  • Both Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster qualifications suit this lifestyle
  • Courses are available as either fast track or to suit your time availability
  • It is not that hard to make the break!!!

New: Half Fast Track Yachtmaster

The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is for those who are planning to work in the international charter industry as professional yachtsmen and women or who simply want the best qualification available as a recreational sailor.

The Half Fast Track program is designed for those sailors who already have experience sailing but have little or no formal qualification. The Half Fast Track Sailing Program provides you with approximately 1000miles, 20 days of sea time and 10 days of classroom theory. It is run over 6 weeks.

There is no minimum sea time or mileage requirement to start this course. During the course you will gain the minimum sea time requirement to get a RYA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence. If you haven’t already acquired it, extra sea time will be required before you can go for your RYA Yachtmaster Certificate.

New: Flexitrack Yachtmaster

If you already have sailing experience or you cannot commit to a continuous program Flexi Trac is a great opportunity. We will manage your complete program to Yachtmaster enrolling you in those components you really need. If you need to build your sea miles up that’s not a problem. Using Flexitrack our clients have achieved a Yachmaster in as little as two weeks preparation based on existing sea time and experience.

Contact us to discuss your experience details and we will design a program for you and give you a fixed quote for your training.