
The YachtMaster Ocean is the highest recreational qualification. It is the most difficult to obtain and demands not only an existing YM Offshore certificate but also extensive time at sea. It is meant for ocean crossing sailors who want to be prepare for either electronic failure or solar flares that could damage GPS navigation. It primarily teaches celestial navigation or the art of finding one's position by either noon sighting or other celestial object triangulation.
Sailors with this certificate are qualified to skipper a sailing yacht up to 24 metres in length (78 feet) in any weather conditions and are not limited by distance to shore.
It is widely recognised around the world and a real accomplishment. This credential marks an important point in you yachting career and your CV/resume looks far more attractive to charter companies as it removes the maximum distance to shore. Ideally you are doing this course for your own personal development because you consider that being in the middle of the ocean with just GPS can represent a risk or you want to move to commercial endorsement and this is a necessary step.
The Yachtmaster Ocean is an advanced level certification and is available in a 2 week + exam program combining shore based theory and practical hands-on techniques for a sailing Yacht and the final Examination. You need to have at least the Yachtmaster offshore, or similar level, plus the properly logged and signed sea miles. Students enrolling in this course will be required to understand spherical trigonometry and other complex topics. In this course we teach several methods for solving celestial positionning, some are more heavy on the maths than others. We don't expect all our students to remember their high school trigonometry and we will review all the basic maths necessary to succesfully pass the final exam.
We recommend that the STCW 2010 Basic Safety Training Course be completed by aspiring Skippers. This is not mandatory but is highly recommended.
The Ocean Yachtmaster is a serious qualification that demonstrates your tested theoretical knowledge and practical yacht handling skills. Anyone applying for this advanced course should hold the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate or equivalent to be accepted on this course.
- The pre-course requirements must be met!
- VHF Cert
- First Aid Cert
- STCW 2010 (is strongly advised)
- 3000 NM sailing minimum
- Medical Certificate
- 50 Days at sea including night watches
This is a high level course and we can accept only accomplished and knowledgeable yachtsmen and yachtswomen. Essentially the course refines their skills ready for the examiner.
Students registering for thisĀ program is advised to do some pre-study. Once you are booked we will send you the course materials and it will significantly increase the likelihood of passing the theory examinations if you read it carefully.
You will be examined on the final day of the course and, if successful, application will be made for the award of a Yachtmaster certificate. A VHF radio operators certificate is required, as is a medical. You need to get these before we can accept your application. STCW Basic Safety Training is mandatory before you apply for the MOY 200 Certification.
ARE YOU READY??? As we have outlined above this is an advanced course. If you are not at that level you will fail the course. To help you assess if you are ready please download the Yachtmaster self-assessment. If you are still unsure call us or email us and we will make every effort to help you.

Additional Details:
The course covers:
- The Earth and the celestial sphere
- The sextant
- Measurement of time
- Basic Spherical Trigonometry
- Sight planning
- Sun sights (noon sight and sun run sun)
- Planet sights
- Moon sights
- Star Sights
- Reading the Almanac
- Positioning by trigonometry
- Plotting
- Sight reduction : Sumner's lines
- Sight reduction : Intercept method (with/without HO229 tables)
- Latitude by Polaris
- Great circle sailing, bearings and distances
- Meteorology
- Oceanography
Certificate Limitations:
- Command of a vessel up to 24 meters in length
- All oceans / anywhere in the world
Previous experience:Ā Ā IYT Coastal Master. Ā Minimum 3000 Sea Miles Experience including Watch keeping and Skippering, VHF Radio Certificate & Medical Certificate
Duration:Ā 14 days
Qualifications: IYT Yachtmaster Ocean
What's included:Ā Safety equipment, Instruction, Yacht, Bottled Water, Fuel and Insurance
What's Optional:Ā iPad, Sailing Gloves, SiA T shirts, SiA Caps and Log Books
What's required: Sun protection. Sun hat. Shorts that cover the knees when sitting are best. Footwear for on-board tennis shoes / trainers / Crocs. Some people like to use gloves. Lightweight wet weather clothing. Navigation Tools (Bretton Plotter and Dividers).
1. 50 days on board a yacht at sea as a skipper. 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 āat seaā is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbour ā natural or artificial ā in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.
2. Have logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea. 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.
3. Thirty hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yachtās crew. For at least six hours of this night time experience, the candidate must have been acting as the vesselās captain/watchleader. āNight,ā in this context, is defined as the time between sunset and sunrise.
4. A current medical examination and aĀ 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 crew members or the safe operation of the vessel.
5. A six-hour VHF Radio Operators course covering the general rules and procedures for the safe operation of a VHF marine radio.
Minimum sea time must have been met prior to the final examination.
What does the exam consist of?
In the event that the examiner considers an examinee not to have achieved the required standards, a certificate will not be issued. In this case, a confidential report will be sent to the candidate outlining the reason or reasons for failure and suggesting remedial action that could lead to the successful completion of the course. Completion of the Worldwide Yachtmaster Ocean course is not a guarantee of passing the examination and receiving your certificate.
We can help you with the following on request:
- Accommodation
- Airport Transfer
- Motor Bike or Car Rental
- What to do and where to go in Palawan

Yachtmaster Ocean Course Prices
Location | Duration (days) | Early Booking Discount Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
60 Days Before | 30 Days Before | Full Price | ||
Palawan | 14 | 2700 EUROS | 2700 EUROS | 2700 EUROS |
**TBA**
