Overview:
Large yachts, specifically those over 200 GT, require the crew to have certain minimum certification levels to fulfil the safe manning requirements. This minimum is usually the Yacht Rating Certificate.
To obtain a Yacht Rating Certificate, evidence of 6 months yacht service (time signed on the vessel), including 60 days at sea (any day that the boat leaves the port, is underway or at anchor), is required. Note that all sea time must be from yachts and not from commercial vessels. Further to this, the completion of Section A of the Training Record Book is required unless the candidate has completed one of the following qualifications:
- Watch Leader Certificate with an RYA Competent Crew Certificate;
- Day Skipper certificate with an RYA Competent Crew Certificate and/or higher RYA certificate;
- Yacht Rating Course Completion Certificate; or,
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore/Ocean or IYT Master of Yachts Limited/Unlimited.
Further to not need to complete a Yacht Rating Training Record Book, the required 6 months of yacht service may be reduced to 2 months of days at sea on vessels of 15 metres or above in load line length.
Prerequisites:
To qualify for a Yacht Rating Certificate, you must:
- be at least 16 years of age;
- demonstrate at least six months of yacht service, including two months of days AT SEA, all of which must be on vessels 15 metres and over in load line length;
- complete the four elements of approved STCW basic training:
- Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1);
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code A-VI/1-2);
- Elementary First Aid (STCW Code A-VI/1-3);
- Personal Safety & Social Responsibility (STCW Code AVI/ 1-4);
- complete the Yacht Rating Training Record Book (Section A); and,
- hold a valid Medical Fitness Certificate.
Duration:
Depending on the route taken, the Yacht Rating Certificate can be completed in 2-6 months.