MCA Master Yachts <200 GT
MCA Master 200 / MCA Master Yacht 200
MCA Master Yachts <200 GT is the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency commercial captain licence for vessels up to 200 gross tonnes, the standard qualification for delivery captains on larger sailing yachts and most motor yachts.
TL;DR, MCA Master Yachts <200 GT is the UK-issued commercial captain ticket that covers most sailing yachts above 24 metres and most motor yachts. It builds on Yachtmaster Offshore by adding shore-based maritime law, navigation, stability, and oral exam content.
Who issues it and what it covers
The MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) is the UK's maritime regulator. The Master Yachts ≤200 GT certificate (often abbreviated to "Master 200" or "MCA Master Yacht 200") is the entry-level commercial certificate for skippers of yachts above 24 metres LOA or above 200 GT.
What's on the syllabus
- Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean prerequisite
- Stability theory (shore-based course)
- General Ship Knowledge (shore-based course)
- Navigation, Radar, ARPA
- Maritime law, signals, business management modules
- Oral exam with an MCA-appointed examiner
The combined prep typically takes 12-18 months alongside seagoing service, with most candidates studying at a maritime college (Warsash, UKSA, Bluewater) full-time.
What it lets you do
Hold the MCA Master 200 and you can be hired as captain on:
- Commercial sailing yachts up to ~30 metres LOA
- Charter yachts up to 200 GT
- Most motor yachts up to ~35 metres
- Delivery work where US-flagged or larger-fleet insurance demands a "Master" certificate rather than Yachtmaster Offshore alone
Above 200 GT
For larger vessels the equivalent steps up: Master Yachts ≤500 GT, Master Yachts ≤3000 GT, and finally unlimited Master.
Related reading
Related terms
Yachtmaster Offshore
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore is the British sailing qualification that allows a skipper to command a vessel of up to 24 metres on passages up to 150 nautical miles from a safe haven.
Yachtmaster Ocean
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean is the highest RYA sailing qualification, certifying a skipper to plan and execute ocean passages of unlimited length, including transatlantic deliveries.
Commercial Endorsement
A Commercial Endorsement is the add-on that turns an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean certificate from a recreational qualification into one valid for paid delivery work.
Read further
Yacht delivery captain licences: a quick reference
Yachtmaster Ocean, USCG Master, RYA, MCA, STCW, which licence do you actually need to deliver yachts commercially? A region-by-region guide.
Yacht delivery insurance and contracts: what owners actually need before handing over the keys
A plain-English guide for yacht owners: what your hull insurance requires during a paid delivery, what a sensible delivery contract looks like, and the five questions to ask your captain before slipping lines.
Skip the homework
A captain who actually sails your route will explain the licence angle better than any glossary entry. Post your delivery