MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passage

Details:

Prior to taking the MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral exam you need to complete a qualifying passage as skipper, mate or watch leader. We offer you the chance to complete this passage as one of the watch leaders. Additioanly you are required to carry out some sextant sights and a compass check using the sun at sea prior to your exam. On your Ocean passage our Instructor will coach you through practical astro navigation and ensure you get to grasps with the subject. The Ocean passage is basically your preparation for the oral exam.

Overview:

Our Instructor will ensure that you are fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the yacht and her equipment, storing spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine. Where possible he will stand back and let you and the other candidates run the yacht.

Course Duration:

Passages vary from 8 days to 4 weeks

Pre Requisites:

• MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Cerificate of Competence (sail or motor)
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased
• Minimum age 18

All of our ocean passages are on board sailing yachts, regardless of whether you took your Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence on a sail or motor yacht. If you have a motor background then you will also need some sailing ability and experience before this passage.

Course Programme:

We run four different Ocean passages

Southampton to Cascais (Portugal)- October each year

Cascais to Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)- October each year

The ARC Trans Atlantic Race - Las Palmas to Rodney Bay (St. Lucia)- November/December each year

Falmouth Harbour (Antigua) to Southampton (with Azores stop over)- April/May (from 2013)

Specific information for each passage can be found by clicking on the relevant link above. Typically we have two or three Yachtmaster Ocean candidates (watch leaders) mixing with other students.

What's Included:

• Instruction 
• Opportunity to act as watch leader for an ocean qualifying passage
• Opportunity to take the sights required for your exam*
• Opportunity to carry out the compass check required for your exam*
• Use of sextant, nautical publications and plotting materials
• Yacht, gas and diesel
• Accommodation on board
• Meals and snacks on board
• Loan of a life jacket

Although our ocean passages all involve departure or destination ports generally known for sunshine and clear skies, we are unable to guarantee the clear skies required for astro navigation. Just like wind strength, cloud cover is out of our control!

What's Not Included:

• Flights
• Transfers
• Meals in port at either end
• Visas and local taxes

Why choose Stormforce Coaching for this course?:

• We are one of a very few RYA sea schools that actually run Ocean practical passages on a regular basis
• We can combine your Ocean qualifying passage with a full programme of courses to meet your needs
• We have a 100% first time pass rate for candidates who we have prepared for the MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Oral Exam

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