What it takes to be a Captain

Capable seamanship is necessary to pursue our sport safely and with greatest pleasure. But, increasingly, I am aware that it is not sufficient. Let me explain with a quote from Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander.

“‘Maybe I don’t have to tell you a brig is not a frigate, nor yet a ship of the line, Mr Marshall,’ said the purser warmly. ‘But when you have been at sea as long as I have, Mr Marshall, you will know there is a great deal more than mere seamanship required of a captain. Any damned tarpaulin can manage a ship in a storm, and any housewife in breeches can keep the decks clean and the falls just so; but it needs a headpiece’ – tapping his own – ‘and true bottom and steadiness, as well as conduct to be the captain.’”

If you have not yet discovered the sea stories of Patrick O'Brian then you are in for a treat. The Times described him as 'The greatest historical novelist of all time'.

Patrick O'Brian's hero, Jack Aubrey, joined the Navy at the age of 12; at the age of 19 he became a lieutenant and got his first command at the age of 29. Whilst some of the qualities to command a ship may well have been part of his character, the rest were as a result of experience and training at sea over 17 years. Whilst I don't expect people to go to sea for that long now to be ready for the Yachtmaster exam, it is necessary for candidates to have had some genuine experience and training prior to taking the exam.

James Stevens RYA Training Manager and Chief Examiner explains

The Yachtmaster exam and the thinking behind it.

Responsibility for administering and testing for the Yachtmaster qualification was given to the RYA in 1972. Prior to that, oral tests for Yachtmaster were examined by the Board of Trade, a predecessor of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency MCA. Until 1994 the Yachtmaster was a recreational qualification but following the introduction of Codes of practice for Small Commercial Vessels a commercial endorsement was added which the RYA runs on behalf of the MCA. Commercial skippers, in addition to passing the practical test, must attend a sea survival course and have a medical fitness examination.

Pre Entry Requirements

The pre entry requirement for the Yachtmaster Offshore exam has been the subject of intense debate. Too rigorous and the qualification is inaccessible, to easy and it loses its credibility. The most essential quality for a yacht skipper is the ability to take charge. It is that ability the crew recognise when they are kept informed and feel safe and confident.

Yachtmaster candidates need experience as skipper to become proficient. The RYA has the job of defining how much and in what circumstances. The current requirement is 2500 miles including five passages over 60 miles including two overnight and two as skipper. The Yachtmaster is an unusual maritime qualification in that candidates are expected to have taken charge before they qualify. The RYA reviews this requirement regularly to ensure that candidates are quite sure of the expectations of the examiner.

The Exam

The exam is carried out on a sailing yacht or motor vessel under 24m and is a one day practical test which usually includes some night pilotage.

RYA Yachtmaster Examiners have all been assessed and trained afloat and are required to revalidate by demonstrating their skills every five years. They know what it feels like to have an examiner at their shoulder.

At the start of a Yachtmaster exam, the examiner will establish that the candidate has completed the required mileage and the necessary paperwork. A tour of the yacht normally follows with the candidate giving a safety brief and answering questions on the emergency equipment.

Each candidate (there can be two in a day) is asked to take the yacht on a short passage. During this trip there will be assessments in boat handling, pilotage, navigation and collision avoidance, as well as questions on meteorology, passage planning and a whole range of other subjects in the syllabus. The only deliberate surprise is the man overboard recovery when a fender and bucket slip over the side and the skipper has to retrieve it. A discussion on the problems of having a real person in the water usually follows.

The exam is not intended to be a test of emergency yachting although this subject is raised. The examiner is looking for competence and can obtain a result by observing how the candidate goes about managing the yacht. The sea and weather usually provide sufficient challenges without the examiner having to provide scenarios, although the use of simulated poor visibility (RYA fog) is sometimes used to test blind navigation.

The examiner is required to provide a report to the RYA showing that all sections of the exam have been completed. The time scale for the exam is 8 -12 hours for one examination and 10 – 18 hours for two.

At the end the candidate is debriefed and given the examiner`s recommendation to the RYA. Unsuccessful candidates receive the examiners report. Successful ones receive an RYA certificate.

Commercial Pressures

There has been a rapid expansion of commercial yachting in the last ten years with a consequently increasing demand for RYA qualified skippers and crew. Additionally potential superyacht captains must hold RYA qualifications before taking the new MCA megayacht examinations. This has resulted in sea schools running fast track courses taking would-be skippers through the RYA courses and mileage in about 16 weeks.

A number of old salts feel uneasy about this so the RYA has monitored these courses very closely. Examiners who have experience of assessing such candidates have found that they are no different from other yachtsmen. They can either deliver on the day or they can’t. If they have learned how to take charge and can answer the questions they pass. If not they fail. The standard is certainly much higher than twenty years ago when the mileage was only 500 and the test was an oral exam.

Those embarking on a career in professional yachting, start their first job well trained and knowledgeable but in common with all professionals on their first day at work, with much to learn about the industry. Newly qualified skippers generally sail within their limitations while they build up experience in the first months.

The demand for RYA skippers is worldwide. The New Zealand Coastguard has adopted RYA Training, and the schemes are popular in South Africa and Australia where the RYA has recently opened an office. The RYA Yachtmaster is seen as the gold standard in yachting and has bought the RYA recognition throughout the world.

Note: Yachtmaster® is an EU Trademark of the RYA

For more information on the RYA Yachtmaster exam please look at my own article on this subject which is number 13 under the 'Articles' tab. Martin.

Sailing & Motor Cruising Yachtmaster Training on your own boat with

The Iberian Sea School

A professional skipper practising berthing his Sunseeker Manhattan 84 alongside with me during his Yachtmaster preparation course in 2002. He performed very well in the exam and passed

Following on from James Stevens’ article above, there is an increasing demand for Yachtmaster training, particularly from people who already have a boat and would like to do both the training and the exam in their own boat.

Most of us will admit that had we not had driving lessons prior to taking the driving test it is unlikely that we would have passed. It is exactly the same with the Yachtmaster exam, how can a candidate possibly be expected to know what is expected of him in order to pass the Yachtmaster without having had some sort of training.

As a result of my long experience as an RYA Instructor for sail and power and more recently as an examiner the training that I give in preparation for the Yachtmaster exam is exactly what is required for candidates to reach the required level of competence to pass the exam.

Many people who take the exam are extremely nervous and do not perform in examination conditions nearly as well as they are capable. The techniques that I use to teach people boat handling skills quickly build both ability and confidence, which transform someone with poor to medium ability into someone who can handle a boat under sail and power in all conditions with an impressive style and even a touch of panache!

It is essential for candidates to be proficient at the coastal skipper / yachtmaster theory syllabus. This course is well known to be difficult and easily forgotten without regular practise. Secondary port calculations, tidal diamonds, collision regulations, lights and shapes are all difficult to learn and easy to forget. My teaching methods for both learning these subjects for the first time or just for revision are such that you will quickly become confident of being able to answer questions correctly on any part of the syllabus.

Probably the majority of Yachtmaster candidates do a preparation course and take the exam in a sailing or motor cruising school boat. But if you have your own boat, which you know well, it makes sense to benefit from individual tuition which will give you the skills that you need to handle your own boat with confidence and safety.

Martin.

Below are some examples of Yachtmaster candidates who have passed their

exams following taking a preparation course with me, there have been

many more but I usually forget to have my camera with me!

Yachtmaster Training (sail) in the Caribbean during March 2005

John & Elsie Oliver celebrating with their RYA Examiner Peter Hart, following their both passing the Yachmaster exam on their Yacht 'Ichi Feet' - For more information on their training and exam scroll down to Nevis & St Kitts!! on my 'Stories' page

'We spent last winter in the Bahamas and the summer in the Chesapeake bay in the US the high spot of which was taking Ichi Feet into Washington DC for a week, it was a two day treck up the Potomac river, Capitol Yacht Club is right in the centre of the city walking distance from all the monuments and the Capitol building itself, and next door to the fish market with super seafood. Watching the antics of some US sailors... one in particular secured his bow line, motored back against it and then blamed prop walk when his stern kicked out, nearly bashing the boat on the opposite dock... makes us realise what excellent training we have had, thank you.... The more we sail, the more we appreciate your methods and techniques.

We recently witnessed a British Armed services yacht mooring alongside us with 14 crew on board. They had crossed the Atlantic and had been sailing together for over a month, some for 3 months. There was a cross wind so docking was tricky, but the skipper had not given jobs to her many crew and ended up yelling at them because things started to go wrong. Definately not in the Martin Northey handbook on How to Sail, part one!! We are now spending till May cruising the Caribbean again, and then back to the Med for a couple of years, and see where we go from there'.

'We are currently (August 2007) at anchor off Porto Stephano working our way down to Rome to meet up with friends. I thought the weather in the Med was supposed to be nice and warm, but its only 25C at the moment and we have had 3 big thunderstorms here in the last 3 days. It may be a local effect as nothing is forecast but it certainly can blow.

The sail down from Elba was 'interesting'. A force 3-4 was forecast but half way out it picked up and was soon blowing a 7. Close hauled for 6 hrs half of it F7 is not very comfortable, but at least we arrived earlier than expected.
Sailing in the med is so different from the Caribbean its unbelievable. The seas round the north & south of the islands usually cut up and are rough with unpredictable winds to match. There has been at least one gale a week from the bay of Lyon that often works its way down to Corsica and Sardinia that you really need to be on your toes.

Martin, if you ever tire of Portugal please go to Corsica, Elba and Italy. They just don't know how to anchor. We have genuinely lost count of the number of boats adrift since we got here.It must be well over 20. Some just drift a few yards, others have gone about half a mile, unbelievably in broad daylight with the owners on board. We even saw one public minded skipper 'grab' a passing drifter(a 40ft charter boat with no one on board), walk it to his stern and then cast it adrift!

We were in Azzure Elba 4 nights ago and a thunderstorm arrived after dark. It was chaos. Several boats behind tangled anchors with a drifter, others were dragging at either side. It was a very dramatic sight lit by the flashes into stark silhouette against the rain flattened seas as boats pirouetted, met and parted like reluctant partners at a macabre dance.( I may be tempting fate, but so far we have not dragged anchor once, but I am touching wood, and have fingers crossed.) Seriously they don't know how to anchor. Often still moving forward with the anchor on the bottom, rarely paying it out but just dropping a bit of chain straight down, almost never setting the anchor, and never ever have I seen anyone take bearings. Invariably they will try to squeeze into a small space ignorant of turning circles of different boats, or it seems even their own boat.

Its never a dull moment though, apart from dragging anchors we've had a boat 100yds away in a marina catch fire over night, and another run aground on a break water in front of us, maybe a gust of wind caught him out!
We've been told it like this in July & August when the French & Italians go on holiday so hopefully things should be improving soon and getting much safer for the other sailors.

Yachtmaster Training (motor) from Albufeira Marina in December 2006

I first met Thomas Zander in 2002 when he acted as crew during a Yachtmaster preparation course on board a Sunseeker Manhatton 84 (see photograph above). He was an excellent crew and I encouraged him to make a start on learning navigation by doing the RYA Day Skipper theory course, he took my advice and then two years later did the RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Theory Course followed by the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course with me. On the last day Thomas was examined for the RYA / MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence and passed.

Thomas then did an RYA 1st Aid course and a Sea Survival course to obtain a commercial endorsement and for the last two years has worked as mate on a 120 ft Ferretti. For much of that time I haven't seen that much of Thomas as his employer has based the boat in Italy until the autumn of 2006 when Thomas returned with the boat to Vilamoura.

In December 2006 Thomas did a Yachtmaster preparation course with me, on the 5th day he was examined by RYA examiner Peter Hart and passed the Yachtmaster Exam! To say that I was very pleased would be a massive understatement!! Below are some photographs that I took during the exam. Below left a photograph taken at sea between Albufeira and Portimão, to the right of that one Thomas being de-briefed on his passage plan.

Thomas enjoying a cup of coffee with the examiner having been told that he had passed.

YACHTMASTER EXAM IN TURKEY - August 2007

Paul's Pershing 88

I came back from Turkey on August 4th where I had been giving a client Paul Goldstein, a Yachtmaster Preparation course over five days in his Pershing 88 motor cruiser. He was extremely well prepared having owned a motor cruiser for the past six years, completed both RYA Day Skipper practical and theory courses five years ago and earlier this summer the RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster theory course and finally the practical Yachtmaster preparation course over four days leading up to the exam on the fifth day.

He was examined by RYA Examiner Peter Hart on the 5th day of his course and passed extremely well. His success can only be attributed to his experience; the time spent completing all the necessary courses prior to taking the exam, and making certain that he knew the entire syllabus.

The photographs above I took during the exam and show Paul's boat, Paul navigating, the crew 'Splash' throwing a fender and rope over the stern for a simulated 'man overboard' exercise and Paul and the examiner Peter Hart enjoying our passage to Marmaris from Fethiye at 40 knots!

RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Practical Preparation Course

for Motor Cruising - Syllabus.

• Passage Planning: Coastal passage planning including consideration of the capacity of the motor cruiser, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights & tidal streams, publications required and strategy – Understanding of fuel consumption at different speeds & calculation of fuel required for a passage including reserve – Effects of fouling on boat speed & fuel consumption – Customs procedures.
• Preparation for Sea: Safety equipment for offshore passages – Preparation of a motor cruiser for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegation responsibilities & equipment, fuel & engine checks.
• Pilotage: Revision of pilotage plan preparation, with consideration for soundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations.
• Passage making and ability as skipper: Taking charge of a motor cruiser and directing the crew – organising the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a motor cruiser on passage – Awareness of the significance of meteorological trends – Awareness of crew welfare on passage – Use of electronic navigational equipment for pre-planning and undertaking a passage, using waypoints and routes and can update when underway.
• Radar: Use of the radar as an aid to navigation, pilotage, collision warning and avoidance.
• Boat handling: Controlling the boat effectively in a confined space including all berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide, with and without the use of a bow-thruster – berthing an unberthing in simple situations using one engine on a twin engine boat – avoidance of excessive use of power.
• Adverse weather conditions: Preparation for heavy weather and handling in strong winds – Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.
• Emergency situations: Recovery of man overboard – Understanding of action to be taken when abandoning to a liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues.

RYA/MCA Examinations

Previous experience and sea time requirements prior to taking the Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean Certificates of Competence.

All the required experience must have been within 10 years of the examination and 50% of the mileage must have been in tidal waters.

Coastal Skipper: 30 days seatime, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles and 12 night hours. If a candidate has a Coastal Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate the seatime requirement is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles and 12 night hours. Candidates must have a Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator’s Certificate and a First Aid Certificate. The examination will be of 6 to 10 hours duration for one candidate and 8 to 14 hours for two.

Yachtmaster Offshore: 50 days seatime, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages of over 60 miles which must include 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Candidates must have a Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator’s Certificate and a First Aid Certificate. The examination will be of 8 to 12 hours duration for one candidate and 10 to 18 hours for two.

Yachtmaster Offshore Sail to Power conversion: 25 days seatime, 3 days as skipper, 1250 miles, 3 passages over 60 miles including one overnight and one as skipper. The examination will be of approximately 3 hours duration.

Yachtmaster Ocean: An ocean passage as skipper or mate of watch over a logged non-stop distance of 600 miles, the vessel must have been at sea continuously for 96 hours and have been more than 50 miles from the land while cruising a distance of at least 200 miles. The candidate must have been fully involved in the planning of the passage.

Candidates must have a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate and preferably a Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate. The examination is oral and of about 1 ½ hours duration unless the candidate has not completed a shorebased course in which case the examination will also involve a written test and therefore be longer.

Please note: Yachtmaster Ocean is NOT a qualification in itself, it is an endorsement to the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.