This course really is the full package, taking you from complete novice, with little or no experience, all the way to the prestigious, commercially endorsed, Yachtmaster Offshore along with a host of other qualifications. If you are looking to become a professional skipper this is the course for you.
Although no prior experience is required, many people who take this option already know that they want a career in the industry. This course offers the very best value for money and is the fastest route to gaining the complete, much sought after, commercially endorsable, professional RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Qualification.
What experience do I need?
None – just the desire to become a professional skipper
What's covered on this course?
RYA Competent Crew:
In this first stage you'll get to know the yacht and learn how to be a useful member of crew on board. Your instructor will provide you with a basic knowledge of how things work. You'll get a chance to practice some rope work, helm the boat and learn about the equipment that helps to keep you safe. You'll also be introduced to important 'rules of the road' and man overboard recovery techniques. After five days on board you'll have first-hand experience of how a yacht is managed and you'll be ready to start learning how to take charge yourself.
RYA Day Skipper Theory:
With a taste for sailing, you'll then spend four days in our Gibraltar classroom. You'll cover the basics of navigation – including tidal calculations, chart reading and navigation, collision regulations, meteorology and electronic navigational aids. At the end of the course, you'll be well prepared to take the RYA Day Skipper theory tests.
RYA Day Skipper Practical:
After completing the theory element, you'll re-join a yacht to put it all into practice over the next five days. Under the guidance of our RYA instructor, you'll take on all aspects of skippering the yacht – including sail trim, stern-to mooring, pilotage, passage planning, anchoring and safety management on board. As part of the course, you'll have the chance to develop your leadership skills by taking charge of a short passage. But don't worry, our instructor will remain on hand to give advice and encouragement and ensure your safety.
Short Courses:
The following short courses are included in our Yachtmaster Fastrack Program.
STCW Basic Safety Training course.
- Personal Survival Techniques
- Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention
- Elementary First Aid
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
- Proficiency in Security Awareness
RYA VHF (SRC) online course. This is essential when using a hand held or fixed VHF radio.
RYA PPR Course
Mile Building/ Passage Making:
There will be a period of time allocated to making longer passages where you will be carrying out passage planning, skippering the passages and getting some miles under the belt. This is essential to attain the mileage requirement for the Yachtmaster Coastal/ Offshore exam and also to gain the required qualifying passages. It will also teach you valuable skills such as crew and watch management, victualing and weather routing. Some of these passages may be carried out in northern European waters.
Skipper Enhancement:
In the skipper enhancement section of your course you will begin to learn the intricacies of advanced sail trim and the setting and use of storm sails, asymmetric and symmetric spinnakers. We will also be focusing on emergency procedures such as man overboard and engine / power failure as well as power handling in marinas. Also included in the skipper enhancement section is boat husbandry where you will learn the finer points of maintaining a yacht to a high standard to ensure to continuing safety of the crew on board this includes gaining an understanding of the engine and auxilary systems on board. This is an essential skill for those looking to become a professional skipper or fleet engineer.
Yachtmaster Theory:
The Yachtmaster Theory is offered as an online course and you will complete this during your 'time off'.
Alternatively, you can complete this at home before attending the fastrack program.
Yachtmaster Coastal prep week and Exam:
The final week of the course will be taken up with your prep week and exam. During this week you will be put through your paces, both theoretical and practical, by one of our Yachtmaster instructors. The instructor will ensure that you are competent in all aspects of the syllabus prior to your exam at the end of the week. The exam will be conducted on board the same yacht you have been training on but will be with an external examiner. On successful completion of this exam you will have achieved all the elements to be a fully qualified, commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Coastal.
Further Passage Making and Qualifying Passages
You will spend a good amount of time completing your long distance passages that are required for the Yachtmaster Offshore qualification. These will take place in various locations, some may be in UK / Northern European waters and can be anywhere between UK and the Balearic islands.
Advance Sail Trim & Navigation:
You will spend time with one of our senior instructors learning the more advanced elements of sail trim and navigation that are not taught as standard in any of the previous elements. What you will learn here will help to prepare you for the world of professional skippers where a greater depth of knowledge is a huge advantage. It will also give to the level of knowledge needed to pass the final exam.
Yachtmaster Offshore prep week & Exam:
This week will be similar in setup to the Yachtmaster coastal prep week where you will be put through your paces both practically and theoretically to prepare you for what will be asked of you in the exam. You will also utilise this week to become familiar with the area the exam will be conducted and to become adept at all of the maneuvers that you may be asked to do in the exam.
What qualifications will you achieve?
- RYA Competent Crew
- RYA Day Skipper Theory
- RYA Day Skipper Practical
- RYA VHF (SRC)
- RYA PPR
- STCW 95/10
- RYA Yachtmaster Theory
- RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster Coastal
- RYA/ MCA Yachtmaster Offshore
What's included?
- Accommodation on board throughout the whole course
- A generous weekly budget to cover the food provisioning of the yacht
- Complimentary self-catering accommodation on board during shore-based courses and time off
- Waterproof clothing
- Bedding and towels
- Safety equipment
- Mooring fees & fuel
- All charts and publications
- Fun!
What's not included?
- Yachtmaster Coastal £230 and Yachtmaster Offshore £266 examination fee (pay here). This must be paid directly to the RYA prior to the YM prep.
- Examiners travel and expenses
- ENG1 or ML5 Medical examination and certificate. This is a requirement for commercial endorsement.
- VHF Licence fee £76 (paid directly to the RYA)
- Accommodation is not included after the Yachtmaster Offshore exam
Course cost: £10,999
Own cabin option: £14,199
Select available date below to guarantee your own cabin for this 16 week course.
Course schedule:
Starts: See dates below. If your preferred dates are not displayed, contact us.
This is a 16 week course.
What's next?
Being a fully qualified, commercially endorsed, Yachtmaster Offshore will open up many avenues for professional work within this industry including charter skipper, flotilla skipper, delivery skipper and many other options in the superyacht industry. Or now that you have reached the final milestone of the fastrack program the next step up on the RYA qualification ladder RYA Yachtmaster Ocean. Alternatively there is the RYA Cruising Instructor qualification which is the first step on the instructor qualification ladder.
How to book:
It's easy! Just select the training program date you want below. Click on book, confirm that this is the course and date that you want and then complete your details on our secure online booking system. A 25% deposit is all that's needed, with the balance payable 45 days before your course starts.
SELECT YOUR COURSE
Book online now
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Course cost:
£10,999
Option for own cabin:
To guarantee your own cabin for the duration of this 16 week training course, please select available dates below
£14,199
Please note: If you choose not to guarantee your own cabin, you may be allocated a saloon berth.
Have a question?
If you have any questions please email us or call on +44 7925 784407 or see our Frequently Asked Questions.
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See what our clients say
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Great week with Jolly Parrot our instructors Ian and Lissie were excellent and prepared us above and beyond for our Yachtmaster assessment at the end of the week. Would definitely recommend for any of your training.
Ben
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Amazing 10 days with my instructor Ian working on my yacht master coastal prep course, which I successfully passed the day after the course. Great company couldn’t recommend them enough booking was easy and very well informed thanks to Rachel working behind the scenes.
Greg
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Absolutely incredible! Recently, I completed Jolly Parrot’s ‘Novice to Day Skipper’ course, and it was one of the best experiences of my life! Not only did I learn to sail, but the course also improved my confidence massively. The instructors were all so lovely and incredibly knowledgeable. Greg was my instructor for the Day Skipper portion and I couldn’t imagine anyone better suited for the job - An excellent instructor with impeccable humour. I met some amazing people during this course (namely my crew mates Bene, Doug and Flo), and overall had a wonderful time :)
Georgia
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Novice to Day Skipper course with Alex & Jason I was eager to learn to sail and at the same time to have relaxing time (holiday-like). It worked well for me, the instructors were cool and I was lucky to meet good colleagues sailors and have good time on the way. Keep rocking Jolly.
Nikola
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16-week Fast-Track I completed the 16-week Fast-Track program with Jolly Parrot, starting as a complete beginner with no prior sailing experience. From the moment I stepped aboard, the instructors—Ian, Greg, Rob, and Jason—became my guides, transforming my raw inexperience into something far more seasoned and confident. With their patience, skill, and unshakable belief in every student, they taught me far more than I could have imagined. If you’re considering joining, I can wholeheartedly recommend Jolly Parrot. The program is well-structured, and the instructors are highly knowledgeable, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop their sailing skills.
Tobias
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We spent a wonderful 11 days in November 2021 with Jolly Parrot. I completed the Coastal Skipper Combined course and my wife the Comp Crew. Instructors Flipper, IanG, Hailey, and Tom were all exceptional in their own unique way and we came away with more rounded skills and knowledge as a result of their patient teaching methods. Clive and Rachel did a fabulous job of shuffling schedules and boats to accommodate our different experience levels. Expect to be challenged on the Coastal Skipper course! We made some abiding memories, some long-term connections and friends, and hope to return soon for the next challenge maybe a mile-builder.
James
