Offshore Skipper – ISSA Yacht Course

An Offshore Skipper is a serious qualification that demonstrates a candidate has tested theoretical knowledge and practical yacht handling skills. Anyone applying for this advanced course should have completed the Zero to Hero Course which is the best foundation course to experience, before you are ready to participate in an offshore Skippers course. Normally we expect students to have at least 800NM further experience before starting the ISSA Offshore Skippers Course.Call us to discuss and possibly to raise questions that will help to guide you in your choices.

The Yachtmaster Offshore (Sailing) course is the highest level sailing course for recreational yachtsmen. The course is aimed at proficient Offshore Skippers who have the necessary skills, experience, knowledge and managerial qualities required to run a blue water sailing yacht effectively and safely.

The ISSA Offshore Skipper Course (Sailing) candidates will be required to carry out all practical skills under sail and power. The course is examined, at course end for both practical and theoretical competence, if successful, application will be made to the requisite certification authority for an Offshore Skipper Course certificate.  Students are required to learn The IRPCS prior to course start.  We set the IRPCS exam in the morning, of Day 1.  Students that enroll on this course will be sent our highly commended ISSA Offshore Skipper Course Handbook and a list of recommended Apps, to use and to and become familiar with, well before starting the course.

The written examination includes questions on the following subjects; Taditional and Electronic Navigation, Tides and Currents, IRPCS, Pilotage, Weather and forecasting, anchoring and berthing, buoyage, safety, Passage Planning and Seamanship.

ARE YOU READY??? As we have outlined above this is an Advanced Course. If you are not at that level and do not do the pre-study you will find the course difficult to pass. To help you assess if you are ready please download the ISSA Offshore Skipper / Yachtmaster self-assessment. If you are still unsure call us or email us and we will be very happy to help you.

Previous experience: ISSA Inshore Skipper Certificate + 800 miles logged sea time as a active crew member
Duration: 14 days
Qualifications: ISSA Offshore Skipper Certficatel
What’s included: Safety equipment, Instruction, Yacht, Bottled Water, Fuel and Insurance
What’s Optional: iPad, Sailing Gloves, SiA T shirts, SiA Caps and Log Books
What’s required: Sun protection. Sun hat. Shorts that cover the knees when sitting are best. Footwear for on-board tennis shoes / trainers / Crocs. Some people like to use gloves. Lightweight wet weather clothing. Navigation Tools (Bretton Plotter and Dividers)

• Inshore Skipper Certification or similar (RYA Day Skipper, AYA, IYT etc)
• 30 days and 800 miles at sea including 2 days as watch leader / skipper
• VHF Radio SRC
• 12 hours underway on watch at night
• MOB  proficiency
• Minimum sea time must have been met prior to the final examination

We can help you with the following on request:

• Accommodation
• Airport Transfer
• Motor Bike or Car Rental
• What to do and where to go in Phuket