Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

A person holding a Yachtmaster Ocean qualification is experienced and competent to skipper a yacht on passages of any length in all parts of the world.

The Yachtmaster Ocean exam is an oral and written test of your knowledge of ocean passage making including planning, navigation, worldwide meteorology, crew management, yacht preparation, maintenance and repairs. You will also be questioned on your sights taken at sea during an ocean passage. The written test is not required if you hold the Yachtmaster Ocean certificate.

In order to take this exam you must first hold the Yachtmaster Offshore licence. Your ocean passage must be as skipper or mate of watch and you must be fully involved in the planning, navigation etc. During the passage a minimum non-stop distance of must have been run by the log, the ship must have been at sea continuously for at least 96 hours and it must have been at least 50 miles from land whilst sailing a distance of at least 200nm

The exam is oral and takes about 1.5 hours. The cost in 2024 is £180