Yachtmaster Offshore
RYA 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.
TL;DR, Yachtmaster Offshore is the entry-level professional skipper qualification accepted across most of Europe for paid yacht delivery up to 24 metres. It requires 50 days at sea, 2,500 logged miles, an MCA-recognised exam, and (for paid work) a commercial endorsement on top.
What does Yachtmaster Offshore mean
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) issues the Yachtmaster Offshore certificate after a practical exam in front of an RYA-appointed examiner. The certificate proves the holder can plan and execute a passage at night, in tidal waters, with a crew, on a vessel up to 24 metres. It is one step below Yachtmaster Ocean, which adds celestial navigation and ocean weather routing.
What it lets you do
A commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore can be hired as skipper on a private yacht for paid passages within 150 nautical miles of a safe haven. Most Mediterranean, Channel, and North Sea deliveries fall inside that limit. Atlantic crossings, by contrast, sit outside it and need a Yachtmaster Ocean.
What you need to qualify
- 50 days at sea as effective crew or skipper
- 2,500 nautical miles logged, at least half tidal
- 5 passages over 60 nautical miles, at least two as skipper and two overnight
- VHF, ENG1 medical, STCW Basic, PPR for the commercial endorsement
How insurers treat it
Most European yacht-insurance policies list "RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement" as the minimum competency for a paid delivery captain on sailing yachts under 24 metres. Verify with your own broker before signing a contract.
Related reading
Related terms
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.
STCW Basic Safety Training
STCW Basic Safety Training is the international seafarer-safety certificate that every paid delivery crew member needs before they can step on a commercial-endorsed vessel.
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. Get an offer