RYA Yachtmaster Practice Test

RYA Yachtmaster Exam at a Glance

What changed for RYA Yachtmaster in 2026

• Oct 26, 2026: Exam fee changed to £266 examination fee (2026) (previously £266.00 (2026)).^[2]
• Oct 26, 2026: Retake fee changed to £132 partial re-examination fee (2026) (previously £132.00 partial re-exam (2026)).^[2]
• Oct 26, 2026: Time limit changed to 8–12 hours for one candidate; 10–18 hours for two (previously 8-12 hours (1 candidate); 10-18 hours (2 candidates)).^[1]
• Oct 26, 2026: Delivery changed to Practical examination afloat (previously Practical exam afloat on a 7m-18m yacht).^[1]

What the RYA Yachtmaster is and how it works

According to Royal Yachting Association, “8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-18 hours for 2 candidates.”^[1]

The Yachtmaster Offshore certificate of competence is issued by the Royal Yachting Association. It shows that you can skipper a yacht on offshore passages. The exam is practical and takes place afloat. An examiner on board watches how you handle the boat, run the crew and make decisions. The RYA gives the length as 8–12 hours for 1 candidate and 10–18 hours for 2 candidates.

You must be 18 at the time of the exam. The RYA also sets prerequisites for sea time and supporting certificates. Check the current list on the official RYA Yachtmaster Offshore exam page before you book, because we do not reproduce it here.

The examination fee for 2026 is £266. If you have to retake part of the exam, the partial re-examination fee for 2026 is £132. If you are a UK candidate requesting an examiner directly, the RYA asks you to allow a minimum of 10 working days for an examiner to be allocated. If you plan to work commercially, a commercial endorsement is valid from the date of processing for a maximum of 5 years.

Our verified facts do not include a scoring scale. The examiner assesses you on the water against the RYA syllabus. Results and partial re-examinations are decided under RYA rules, so treat the official RYA pages as the final word.

RYA Yachtmaster content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official RYA Yachtmaster content outline published by Royal Yachting Association. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through RYA Yachtmaster questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the internationally agreed signal for a helicopter rescue crew to stop hoisting a casualty?

1. Arms raised horizontally (like a 'T' shape) — the international signal to stop/hold hoist
2. Waving both arms upward rapidly
3. Giving a thumbs up
4. Shouting 'stop' into the radio

Answer: A. Arms raised horizontally (like a 'T' shape) — the international signal to stop/hold hoist

Explanation:

Arms held out horizontally in a T shape is the standard hand signal to stop or hold the hoist, so the winch operator halts at once. Waving both arms upward rapidly is not the stop signal, and it could be misread in the noise and downdraft. A thumbs up usually means all is well or ready, which is the opposite of what you want to say. Shouting 'stop' into the radio is unreliable. The hoist area is loud, the crew may be listening on a different channel, and you may not have a hand free.

Rule to remember: under a helicopter, communicate with clear hand signals agreed in advance. Brief your crew on them before an offshore passage, and follow the winchman's instructions.

Example 2

Question: When returning to a MOB under sail, which manoeuvre gives the best control for the final approach?

1. Figure-of-eight or reaching return — approaching on a close reach allows speed control and the option to luff/spill wind on final approach
2. Running downwind at full speed for fastest return
3. Beating hard upwind to return on the same track
4. Anchoring and sending a dinghy

Answer: A. Figure-of-eight or reaching return — approaching on a close reach allows speed control and the option to luff/spill wind on final approach

Explanation:

A figure-of-eight or reaching return brings you back on a close reach. On that point of sail, easing the sheets spills wind and slows the boat, and sheeting in gives you drive again. That control lets you stop next to the casualty, or bear away and go round again if the approach is wrong. Running downwind at full speed gives you no easy way to lose speed, and the mainsail stays powered. Beating hard upwind keeps the sails loaded, which makes the final stop and positioning harder. Anchoring and sending a dinghy wastes time and puts more people at risk in the water.

Rule to remember: keep sight of the casualty, set up a close-reach approach, and use the sheets as your throttle.

Example 3

Question: What is the correct procedure for dealing with a fire in the engine compartment?

1. Open the engine compartment to see the fire
2. Shut down the engine, close the fuel supply, close all openings to starve the fire of oxygen, and discharge a fixed fire extinguisher into the compartment without opening it
3. Pour water on the engine
4. Start the engine to blow the fire out

Answer: B. Shut down the engine, close the fuel supply, close all openings to starve the fire of oxygen, and discharge a fixed fire extinguisher into the compartment without opening it

Explanation:

A fire needs fuel, heat and oxygen, and the correct option takes away the fuel and the oxygen. Stopping the engine and closing the fuel supply cuts off the fuel. Closing hatches, vents and other openings starves the fire of oxygen. Discharging the fixed extinguisher into the closed compartment attacks the fire without letting air in. Opening the compartment to look gives the fire a rush of oxygen and can make it flare up towards you. Pouring water on an engine fire can spread burning fuel or oil, and it is dangerous around electrics. Starting the engine pumps more fuel and pulls more air through the space.

Rule to remember: stop, shut off, seal, discharge. Then keep the compartment closed and get ready to call for help.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the free RYA Yachtmaster practice test to see which areas are weak. Then work through the topic sets in the order your gaps show up, rather than front to back.

• Rules of the road: drill the IRPCS set until you can name a vessel from its lights and shapes without hesitating. The examiner can ask about them at any point.
• Weather and tides: work through Meteorology and Advanced Meteorology together with Tidal Streams and Secondary Ports. Then do a real tidal calculation from your own almanac.
• Passage planning: use Passage Planning Offshore, Advanced Navigation and Celestial Navigation Basics. Then plan a real passage you might sail, bolt holes included.
• Emergencies: combine Emergency Procedures and Safety and Emergency with a spoken run-through of your man overboard, fire and abandon-ship drills.
• Pilotage and oral questions: use Pilotage and Harbour Entry and the GMDSS and Oral Exam set, and practise saying your answers aloud, as you would on board.

For every question you miss, read the explanation, then check the point against the RYA syllabus and your pilot books. Practice questions cannot replace time afloat. In the days before the exam, take a boat out and practise berthing, man overboard recovery and pilotage.

Sources & last verified

1. Royal Yachting Association — time limit, delivery, eligibility, other (official source). “8-12 hours for 1 candidate, 10-18 hours for 2 candidates.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
2. Royal Yachting Association — exam fee, retake fee (official source). “Yachtmaster Offshore | £266.00” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
3. Royal Yachting Association — validity (official source). “Validity of Commercial endorsements will be from the date of processing for a maximum of 5 years.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
4. Royal Yachting Association — registration deadline (official source). “Please allow a minimum of 10 working days for an examiner to be allocated to you.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.