How to Pass the Yachtmaster Shorebased Exam — Papers and Tips

The 'Yachtmaster shorebased' exam is the set of papers at the end of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory course. To pass, get the chartwork method right every time, know the collision regulations almost perfectly, and be able to read a synoptic chart and plan a passage. Papers differ between training centres, but expect chartwork, collision regulations, meteorology and passage planning, marked by your instructor. You can resit any paper you fall short on.

A navigator using dividers to plot on a paper chart — Plotting on a paper chart. The Yachtmaster shorebased exam is mostly chartwork. Photo: MC3 Sabrina Fine, Public domain.

What the papers look like

Four cards for the exam topics: chartwork, collision regulations, meteorology and passage planning, each with what to revise — The four areas the shorebased papers usually cover.

The RYA does not publish one paper structure, and two RYA training centres describe theirs differently:

As published by two training centres, October 2026. Neither is an official RYA document.
	Cambridge University Yacht Club	Skippers Online
Papers	Chartwork, Meteorology, Collision Regulations (IRPCS)	Chartwork (2 h), IRPCS (90 min), Passage Making Part A (90 min), Part B (2 h)
IRPCS pass mark	80/100	60%
Chartwork	Graded; Average or above on every question	Graded; show a reasonable grasp

Ask your centre for its exact papers and marks on day one. Our guide to the RYA theory exam pass mark explains the grading in detail.

Seven ways to pass first time

Make chartwork automatic. Most marks are lost on method, not arithmetic. Do secondary port calculations, course to steer and estimated positions until you can lay each one out the same way every time.
Show your working. Chartwork is graded on principle. A neat, labelled method with a small slip can pass; a right answer with no working may not.
Learn the IRPCS word for word where it matters. Rules 5–19, lights and shapes, and sound signals come up every time. Drill them in the COLREGs trainer and navigation lights guide.
Read a synoptic chart daily. Follow the real weather for a few weeks: fronts, the Shipping Forecast and advanced meteorology.
Practise passage planning end to end. Tidal gates, bolt holes, night and fog pilotage: the passage planner walks you through it.
Know your almanac. Exams are usually open book with the RYA training almanac and training charts only. Finding a tidal curve fast saves minutes on every question.
Sit timed mocks. Do the Coastal Skipper practice exam and Yachtmaster Offshore practice exam against the clock and revise what they flag.

If you fall short

Resits are normal. Training centres describe getting feedback, revising the weak area and resitting with different questions; a near miss can sometimes be cleared with extra questions. Some centres charge an admin fee for resits outside course dates.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is the Yachtmaster shorebased exam hard?

It is a step up from Day Skipper: tidal problems use secondary ports and longer passages, and the collision regulations paper has a high pass mark at some centres. With regular chartwork practice most candidates pass.

Is the Yachtmaster theory exam open book?

Usually partly: Skippers Online, an RYA online provider, allows only the RYA training almanac and training charts. Check your own centre's rules.

Do I need the shorebased course to take the Yachtmaster exam?

It is not compulsory, but the RYA recommends it, and the practical exam tests the same theory.

Start revising

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