
The Yacht Master Offshore is a recreational sailing certificate that is highly regarded and difficult to earn. The YMO has to have significant marine knowledge and an advanced practical skill, based on many years of marine experience. Few sailors hold this qualification and ISSA ensure the high standards, enshrined in this course.
Sailors with this certificate are qualified to skipper a sailing yacht up to 24 metres in length (78 feet) up to 150 miles offshore and in any weather conditions. It is widely recognised qualification around the world and a real accomplishment – you can be proud the day that you earn this certificate. This credential marks an important point in your yachting career and your CV/resume looks far more attractive to charter companies and to other yachties. Ideally you are doing this course for your own personal development, but it also tells your friends, peers and charter companies that you know what you are doing.
The YMO Course appeals to those aspiring to command sailing yachts of up to 24 metres. The syllabus is the same for ISSA courses, as it is for IYT and RYA courses. SIA is run by Mike Downard who has held RYA Instructor qualifications as well as IYT Instructor Trainer qualifications over his career. Mike is currently the Instructor Trainer and Consultant for ISSA in Asia and has developed ISSA IP with Rafal Kandar over the last three years.
Yachtmaster Offshore 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 YMO Examination. You need at minimum, to have at least the Offshore Skipper or equivalent (RYA Coastal Master or IYT Yachtmaster Coastal) and probably 3-5 years of seatime, plus the properly logged and signed sea miles. Students enrolling in this course will be required to learn the IRPCS to a high standard prior to starting the course. Apps and YMO handbooks will be sent to candidates after enrollment.
We recommend that the STCW 2010 Basic Safety Training Course be completed by aspiring Skippers. This is not mandatory, but is highly recommended.
Yachtmaster Offshore is a serious qualification that demonstrates a candidate has tested theoretical knowledge and practical yacht handling skills. Anyone applying for this advanced course should hold the Yachtmaster Coastal certificate or an equivalent certification, as a pre requisite.
- 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 this program ar strongly advised to do some pre-study. Once you are booked onto the course, we will send you the course materials and you will significantly increase the likelihood of passing the theory examinations if you start studying 3 or 4 months before the Yachtmaster Offshore course starts.
You will be examined on the final day of the course and if successful application will be made to IYT or ISSA for the award of a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. A VHF radio operators certificate is also required, as is a medical. You need to get these before IYT will accept your application. STCW Basic Safety Training is highly recommended .
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 for this course, please download the Yachtmaster self-assessment. If you are still unsure call us or email us and we will make every effort to assist you.

Additional Details:
The course covers:
- international collision regulations
- nautical terminology
- navigational charts and publications
- dead reckoning and estimated position
- position fixing
- tidal calculations
- currents
- pilotage
- safety at sea
- meteorology
- general ship knowledge
- seamanship
- ropework
- anchoring
- berthing
- buoyage
- boat handling
- docking
- passage planning
- ability to command
- situational awareness
This 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. We strongly advise you to sign up at least 3 months in advance so we can send you our course notes handbook, for revision purposes. (In two weeks it is impossible to cover everything that a Yacht Master should know, understand and be capable of practising).
Previous experience: IYT Coastal Master. Minimum 3000 Sea Miles Experience including Watch keeping and Skippering, VHF Radio Certificate & Medical Certificate
Duration: 14 days
Qualifications: IYT Yachtmaster Offshore (recreational)
What's included: Safety equipment, Instruction, Yacht, Bottled Water, Fuel and Insurance
What's Optional: 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 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.
2. Have 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 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?
Written theory examinations will occur during the course. The final examination is an oral and practical test on board a yacht. Candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient ability to handle, dock, and anchor the boat with a required level of confidence. Candidates can expect to be examined on any subject contained within the syllabus and to be questioned on any of their yachting experience to date.
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 IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Offshore 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 Phuket
Course Dates:
Yachtmaster Offshore Courses start on
2nd-15thof May and August
Book 60 days early for a great discount!
Only available in Phuket or Palawan
Book 60 days early for a great discount!
Yachtmaster Offshore Courses start on
Request dates from El Nido Base
21st Century Apps


Yachtmaster Offshore Course Prices
Location | Duration (days) | Early Booking Discount Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
60 Days Before | 30 Days Before | Full Price | ||
Phuket | 14 | 107,000THB | 122,000THB | 137,000THB |
Palawan | 14 | 3000 Euros | 3450 Euros | 3850 Euros |
