Coastal Skipper vs Yachtmaster Offshore — What's the Difference?

Coastal Skipper is a training course: a practical course of at least 5 days that your instructor signs off. Yachtmaster Offshore is a certificate of competence: an exam of 8–12 hours with an independent RYA examiner, open only once you have 50 days at sea, 5 days as skipper, 2,500 miles and 5 passages over 60 miles. Both share the same shorebased theory course. Most sailors do Coastal Skipper first, then build sea time towards Yachtmaster.

View from the deck of a heeling sailing yacht with the sea rushing past — Heeling hard on a long passage. Yachtmaster Offshore requires many more miles at sea. Photo: Andreas Brotzer, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Side by side

Bar charts comparing days at sea and miles needed: 15 days and 300 miles for Coastal Skipper, 30 and 800 for Yachtmaster Coastal, 50 and 2,500 for Yachtmaster Offshore — Experience needed before each step, from the RYA requirements.

Sail figures from the RYA course and exam pages, last checked October 2026.
	Coastal Skipper practical	Yachtmaster Offshore
What it is	Training course	Exam (certificate of competence)
Who signs you off	Your course instructor	An independent RYA examiner
Length	Minimum 5 days	8–12 h for one candidate, 10–18 h for two
Experience beforehand	15 days on board (2 as skipper), 300 miles, 8 night hours, plus Day Skipper-level boat handling	50 days at sea, 5 days as skipper, 2,500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles (2 overnight, 2 as skipper)
Other requirements	None formal	Radio certificate (e.g. SRC), first aid certificate, minimum age 18
Theory course	Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory (about 40 hours)	Same course; recommended, not compulsory
Commercial endorsement	Not available	Available with medical, sea survival and PPR course

The step in between: Yachtmaster Coastal

Between the two sits the Yachtmaster Coastal exam (6–10 hours for one candidate). Holding a Coastal Skipper practical certificate cuts its sea-time requirement from 30 days and 800 miles to 12 days and 400 miles, which is why many people go Coastal Skipper course → Yachtmaster Coastal exam → Yachtmaster Offshore exam. See how long Yachtmaster takes for the full ladder.

Which should you aim for?

You want to skipper your own boat or charters on coastal passages: Coastal Skipper is a solid, recognised course and does not need years of sea time.
You want to work as a skipper or instructor: you need a Yachtmaster certificate of competence with a commercial endorsement. Coastal Skipper alone cannot be endorsed.
You already have the miles: experienced sailors can go straight to the Yachtmaster exam; courses are not a formal prerequisite.

Revise the shared theory

Both routes are tested on the same theory: advanced chartwork, meteorology, collision regulations and passage planning. Work through the Coastal Skipper course and Yachtmaster Offshore course, and see how to pass the Yachtmaster shorebased exam.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Coastal Skipper the same as Yachtmaster Coastal?

No. Coastal Skipper is a practical training course signed off by your instructor. Yachtmaster Coastal is an exam with an independent examiner that gives a certificate of competence.

Do I need Coastal Skipper before Yachtmaster Offshore?

No. Courses are not a formal prerequisite for the Yachtmaster exams, but most candidates take them, and a Coastal Skipper certificate reduces the sea time needed for Yachtmaster Coastal.

Can I work commercially with Coastal Skipper?

No. Commercial endorsement is for Yachtmaster certificates of competence, together with a medical, sea survival certificate and the RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities course.

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