Our IYT Courses

INTERNATIONAL BAREBOAT SKIPPER (POWER OR SAIL)

This is a five day course. It is not for beginners and the recommended entry level requirements are a VHF radio operators certificate, and to have logged over 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea before advancing to this level. The recommended minimum age to obtain this certification is 18. Obtaining this certificate through an IYT partner school who has been approved by IYT to offer the "International Certificate of Competency" to their candidates automatically qualifies for an ICC.

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command of a vessel up to a maximum length of 78 ft /24 metres
- In coastal waters up to 20 miles offshore
- In daylight hours and in fair conditions with moderate wind and sea conditions
- This certificate is the level of competence that one needs when chartering a boat in the Mediterranean or West Indies where there are restrictions in terms of cruising area and distance from the base and the vessel has to be safely moored in a marina or anchored before dark

COURSE OUTLINE

- Responsibilities of a bareboat skipper
- Crew safety checks
- Hull and rig checks
- Machinery and systems checks
- Fuel and water capacity and range
- Menus and quantities
- Float plan
- Sources of meteorological information
- Weather patterns
- Sea and land breezes
- Cloud types and formations
- Pilotage and passage planning
- Considerations when planning a passage
- Routine for navigating a coastal passage
- Passage strategy
- Port regulations, customs, immigration
- Pilotage plans
- Vessel handling in confined quarters
- Mooring, anchoring, coming alongside
- Ropes, knots, care and use of lines
- General deck work
- Tides and currents theory
- Tidal heights, springs and neaps
- Rule of "twelfths"
- Position fixing, running fixes
- Plotting the effect of tides and currents
- Collision regulations
- Lights, shapes and sounds
- Application of the regulations
- Advanced dingy handling

IYT's International Bareboat Skipper Sail Certificate covers command of a sailing vessel with a sail area of greater than 80 square metres/861 square feet. Please see the " official statement here "written and signed by IYT Director, Chris Taylor."

International Crew Power and Sail

This is a certificate of excellence for those candidates who wish to train to become an active crew member on a power or sailing yacht.

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Crew on a vessel up to a maximum length of 78 ft /24 metres
- in coastal waters up to 20 miles offshore
- in daylight hours and in fair conditions with moderate wind and sea conditions

It is the level of competence that someone needs either when acting as watchkeeping crew on a yacht and as a skipper of a small yacht in protected waters where help is immediately available in calm conditions.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Nautical terminology
- Safety briefing
- Passage planning
- Rope work
- Basic rules of the road
- Introduction to weather
- Basic sail handling
- Basic handling under power
- Man overboard procedures
- Vessel equipment and instruments
- Engine checks and maintenance
- Deck seamanship
- Sailing vessels handling skills
- Sailing vessels under power
- Power vessel handling skills
- Dingy handling under power

INTERNATIONAL FLOTILLA SKIPPER (POWER OR SAIL)

This is a five day course aimed at increasing a student's knowledge sufficiently to be a watchkeeper or a flotilla skipper. Recommended entry level requirements are International Crew course and the VHF radio operator's course. Obtaining this certificate through an IYT partner school who has been approved by IYT to offer the "International Certificate of Competency" to their candidates automatically qualifies for an ICC.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Command of a vessel up to a maximum length of 78 ft /24 metres as part of a flotilla
- In coastal waters up to 20 miles offshore
- In daylight hours and in fair conditions with moderate wind and sea conditions
- Being an active crew member and leader of a watch (same distance and limitations as above)

It is the level of competence that someone needs either when acting as watchkeeping crew on a yacht or when being skipper on a vessel as part of a flotilla charter, ie in the Mediterranean or West Indies where the flotilla is guided, there are restrictions in terms of cruising area and distance from the base and the vessel group has to be safely moored in a marina or anchored before dark.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Responsibilities of a watchkeeper / flotilla skipper
- Man overboard procedures
- Charts and chartwork
- Buoyage
- Taking over a vessel and vessel checkout
- Engine, tools, spares, safety equipment
- Crew safety briefing
- Galley and provisioning
- Powerboat handling skills
- Sailboat handling skills
- Basic first aid
- Collision regulations
- Customs matters and legal requirements
- Preparing a short passage
- Anchoring
- Dingy handling under power

ICC 24m Sail, 24m Power and PWC Coastal and Inland

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Learn to Sail | Introduction to Yachting

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Navigation Master

A stand alone course designed to enable the offshore mariner to safely navigate extended passages using traditional methods. It includes practical navigation exercises and sample chartwork calculations.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Chart work instruments
- The magnetic compass, variation and deviation
- The Breton plotter
- NOAA charts
- Admiralty charts
- Small craft charts
- Projection
- Scales
- Horizontal datum
- Units of measurement
- Datum of soundings
- Charted heights
- Chart numbers
- Source diagram
- Editions and dates
- Large scale charts
- Notes, warnings, cautions
- Detailed chart information
- Nautical chart symbols and abbreviations
- Angles and degrees
- Latitude and Longitude
- Defining a position
- Chart work convections
- Distance, speed, time and direction
- Position by bearing and distance
- Magnetic north
- Compass error
- Causes of deviation
- Applying variation and deviation
- The deviation card
- Compass error
- The hand bearing compass
- Position lines and position fixes
- Bearings at sea
- Range/transit's
- Sectored lights
- Clearing lines
- Running fixes
- Dead reckoning and estimated positions
- The navigation log book

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT OPERATOR (PWC)

This is a one day theory and practical course designed to cover the requirements for the safe operation and maintenance of a personal watercraft. As well as the theory component, the instruction will emphasise the practical applications of handling a PWC on the water. Candidates should be 16 years of age or over. Please note however, if there are local laws in place in specific area of operation of a pwc, those laws will of course supercede IYT's minimum age requirement.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Correct use of life saving equipment and emergency duties
- Basic VHF radio terminology, requirements and procedures
- Types of PWC and parts of a PWC
- Concept of jet drive engines
- Safe handling of PWC and fuelling
- Safety equipment and spares/tools to be carried
- Basic maintenance and safety checks
- PWC operations, load constraints, weight distribution, stability, balance
- PWC handling in various conditions and environments
- Weather and the effect on safe operations
- Launch and recovery, stowage, transfer to and from a vessel, and dock, coming alongside, beaching and launching from beach and handling with wind and/or current effects
- Visual checks and aids to monitoring engine condition
- Man overboard procedures
- Legal requirements of towing and use of correct signals and requirements
- Ropework.
- Buoys, marks and charts and their symbols
- Lights, shapes and sound signals
- Sources of weather forecasting and basic passage planning
- Understands the need to obtain weather information
- Basic Collision Regulations (Rules of the Road)
- Understands accident prevention as it relates to PWC
- Care and maintenance of the PWC
- Demonstrates ability to clean and maintain PWC in good and safe order
- Protecting the environment

POWERBOAT SKIPPER

Designed for those to wish to operate a power pleasure boat with accommodation up to 24 m, (80') in sight of land in fair weather. Tailored for those who are considering chartering a powerboat or for those who are purchasing a vessel. Five day course which includes both theory and practical components including but not limited to:

COURSE OUTLINE

- Safety at sea
- VHF Radio operations
- Nautical terminology
- Taking over a vessel
- Ropework
- Collision regulations
- Introduction to weather/meteorology
- Charts and compass work
- Charwork
- Passage planning
- Dingy handling
- Boat handling under power
- Berthing, anchoring and coming alongside
- Glossary of terms

SMALL POWERBOAT AND RIB MASTER (MCA APPROVED)

COURSE LIMITATIONS

- Covers vessels up to 15m
- Operation in coastal regions
- Driven by outboard or inboard motors
- In fair weather
- No horsepower limitations
- No accommodation

COURSE OUTLINE

This three day course covers two days of theory and one day of practical boat handling including:

- Safety at sea
- VHF Radio operations
- Small powerboats and rigid inflatable boats
- Launching and recovery
- Anchors and anchoring
- Nautical terminology
- Boat handling under power
- Man overboard procedures
- Ropes and rope-work
- Basic rules of the road (collision regulations)
- Glossary of terms

HOW DO I GET MY SMALL POWERBOAT & RIB MASTER CERTIFICATE COMMERCIALLY ENDORSED?

The IYT "Master of Yachts" and the IYT "Small Powerboat & RIB Master" certificates do not require a "commercial endorsement" because they are commercial certificates. The MCA has recognised 3 levels of IYT Master of Yachts Certificates and the Small Powerboat and RIB Master Certificate as being "Commercial" in their own right. They are:

- Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate 200 gross tonnes and Master for vessels up to 24m
- Master of Yachts Limited up to 200 gross tonnes
- Master of Yachts Unlimited up to 200 gross tonnes
- Small Powerboat and RIB Master

The "Yachtmaster" certificates issued by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) are recreational certificates and these certificates do require a "commercial endorsement" if one wishes to work commercially. Should you wish to confirm this information please contact the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Seafarers Standard Branch +44 (0)23 8032 9100 - Deck Department.

VHF RADIO OPERATORS CERTIFICATE

COURSE OUTLINE

- Introduction to VHF radios
- Basic radio theory
- Line of sight
- Subsidiary equipment
- Common radio terms
- Regulations / Licensing requirements
- VHF radio equipment
- Radio procedures
- ransmitting and receiving
- The phonetic alphabet
- Emergency radio communications
- EPIRB and SART
- Hand held short range VHF radios

Weather Master

A stand alone course for those who are seeking a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in world meteorology and weather routing for long distance or ocean passages.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Causes of wind
- Air masses
- Atmospheric pressure
- Air circulation
- Coriolis Effect
- Polar fronts
- Depressions
- Anti-cyclones
- Warm fronts
- Cold fronts
- Ridges, troughs, squalls
- Effect of jet stream
- High pressure/ low pressure systems
- Frontal depressions
- Cloud types
- Buy Ballots law
- Sea /land breezes
- Types of fog
- Thunder and lightning
- he Beaufort scale
- Effects of friction
- Barometric pressure
- Sources of weather forecasts
- Gale warnings
- General synopsis
- Sea area forecast
- International weather map systems
- Tropical revolving storms
- Understanding hurricanes
- Tropical waves, depressions and storms
- Navigable semicircle
- Dangerous quadrant
- Significant wave heights
- Radio warnings

Yachtmaster Coastal Power and Sail

OVERVIEW

The IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal certificate is a recreational certificate of competency for command of sailing and/or power vessels up to 24 meters in length up to 60 nm offshore. It is a comprehensive live aboard course consisting of 6 days for sail or 5 days for power which includes the practical on water examination. It has come to our attention that it has not been made perfectly clear to all IYT Worldwide yachtmaster candidates that this certification is for recreational use only and may never be upgraded to a professional certificate. Therefore, we require all candidates taking a recreational IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean course to complete an acknowledgement prior to taking the course which will be submitted to IYT Worldwide before we release certificates.

COURSE OUTLINE

- International collision regulations
- Navigational charts and publications
- Dead reckoning and estimated position
- Position fixing
- Tides and currents
- Pilotage
- Safety at sea
- Meteorology
- Ropework
- Anchoring
- Boat handling
- Docking
- Passage planning

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command of a vessel up to a maximum length of 78 ft /24 metres
- In coastal waters up to 60 miles offshore
- In moderate wind and sea conditions
- Not for commercial use

Note: Yachtmaster Coastal is a recreational course that can be taught in any language BUT cannot be upgraded to the professional Master of Yachts certificate.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE IYT YACHTMASTER COASTAL COURSE?

- 30 days and 800 miles at sea including 2 days as watch leader/skipper - 12 hours underway on watch at night - Minimum sea time must have been met prior to the final examination

WHAT DOES THE EXAM CONSIST OF?

The examination is an oral and practical test onboard a yacht. Candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient ability to handle, dock, and anchor the boat with a required level of confidence. Candidates can expect to be examined on any subject contained within the syllabus and to be questioned on any of their yachting experience to date.

In the event that the examiner considers an examinee not to have achieved the required standards, a certificate will not be issued. In this case, a confidential report will be sent to the candidate outlining the reason or reasons for failure and suggesting remedial action that could lead to the successful completion of the course. Completion of the IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal course is not a guarantee of passing the examination and receiving your certificate.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR ENROLMENT?

Candidates may apply to any of the participating IYT Worldwide Partner Schools worldwide who offer this course. In order to apply for the IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster certification courses, a detailed yachting resume must be sent to your IYT training school for evaluation.

Yachtmaster Offshore Power and Sail

The IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Offshore certificate is a recreational certificate of competency to command sailing and/or power vessels up to 24 meters in length up to 150 nm offshore. It is a comprehensive theory and live aboard course consisting of 5 days classroom theory and a practical component of 6 days for sail or 5 days for power including the practical on the water examination.

The courses are designed to provide the highest standard of maritime education for the recreational yachtsman and woman and for those who are serious about obtaining the best nautical qualifications available. They are ideal for those who greatly want to expand their knowledge and experience and increase their confidence in commanding a yacht. For those who are taking the courses, completion of the 5 day STCW Basic Safety training courses is not required but highly recommended. The five day STCW course covers Fire fighting, Sea Survival, First Aid and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities.

It has come to our attention that it has not been made perfectly clear to all IYT Worldwide yachtmaster candidates that this certification is for recreational use only and may never be upgraded to a professional certificate. Therefore, we require all candidates taking a recreational IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean course to complete an acknowledgement prior to taking the course which will be submitted to IYT Worldwide before we release certificates.

It is important to understand that an IYT certificate is a qualification that can be used across the globe. Therefore, unlike other training organisations, IYT insists on an understanding of IALA Regulations in Areas A & B, weather systems in the North & Southern hemispheres, tidal calculations for the Mediterranean and N. America and the effects of tropical revolving storms.

Yachtmaster courses are not for beginners. Candidates will have to meet minimum requirements as outlined below.

COURSE SYLLABUS

- Chartwork instruments
- Charts, latitude and longitude
- Distance, speed, time & direction
- The magnetic compass, variation& deviation
- Position lines and position fixes
- Dead reckoning and estimated positions
- Tides
- Currents
- Course to steer to counteract a current
- Meteorology
- Pilotage
- Passage planning
- Electronic navigation aids
- International regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)
- Ropework
- Towing
- Anchoring
- Emergency procedures

This six day comprehensive high level shore based course includes assessment papers and written examinations. Candidates are advised that a considerable amount of private study and varied cruising experience is required in addition to the formal instruction provided.

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command of a vessel up to 24 meters in length
- up to 150 miles offshore
- not for commercial use

Note: Yachtmaster Offshore is a recreational course that can be taught in any language BUT cannot be upgraded to the professional Master of Yachts certificate.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE IYT YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE COURSE?

1. 50 days on board a yacht at sea as an active crew member. A day is defined as a period of 24 consecutive hours. Parts of a day may be included in this total, but a day is not invalidated by a candidate leaving the yacht for a few hours during a cruise. The term "at sea" is defined as being on a vessel outside of any harbor - natural or artificial - in which a cruising yacht could secure or anchor for a prolonged period of time.

2. Have logged 3,000 miles in a yacht while cruising at sea (power or sail). This mileage must be logged on genuine cruises or passages but not short day trips. At least 2,000 miles must have been completed on coastal voyages and not ocean crossings. It is important that the candidate has considerable time of actual vessel handling.

3. Thirty hours on watch at night underway as an active member of a yacht's crew. For at least six hours of this night time experience, the candidate must have been acting as the vessel's captain/watchleader. "Night," in this context, is defined as the time between sunset and sunrise.

4. A current medical examination and a colour blindness eyesight examination which allows the participant to safely perform the relevant duties on a yacht, including being able to see and distinguish lights and signals of other vessels and navigational marks in typical weather conditions without risk to him/herself, other crewmembers or the safe operation of the vessel.

5. A 6 hour VHF Radio Operators course covering the general rules and procedures for the safe operation of a VHF marine radio. If you do not have a valid VHF certificate this course may be conducted on board the yacht or in the classroom prior to joining the practical course.

Minimum sea time must have been met prior to the final examination

WHAT DOES THE EXAM CONSIST OF?

Written theory examinations will occur during the course. The final examination is an oral and practical test onboard a yacht. Candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient ability to handle, dock, and anchor the boat with a required level of confidence. Candidates can expect to be examined on any subject contained within the syllabus and to be questioned on any of their yachting experience to date.

In the event that the examiner considers an examinee not to have achieved the required standards, a certificate will not be issued. In this case, a confidential report will be sent to the candidate outlining the reason or reasons for failure and suggesting remedial action that could lead to the successful completion of the course. Completion of the IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Offshore course is not a guarantee of passing the examination and receiving your certificate.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR ENROLLMENT?

Candidates may apply to any of the participating IYT Worldwide Partner Schools worldwide who offer this course.

In order to apply for the IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster certification courses, a detailed yachting resume must be sent to your IYT training school for evaluation.

Candidates may sit the shore-based course prior to having all the above requirements.

Verification of the above yachting experience must be original and signed by the skipper of the yacht in which the candidate was sailing. Candidates claiming sea time during times when they were acting as skipper may sign their own entries but independent verification may be required and checked by IYT Worldwide.

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR MY FINAL YACHTMASTER EXAMINATION?

All of the courses and criteria must be fulfilled before a candidate may apply to take the final on-board examination.

WHAT DOES THE FINAL EXAM CONSIST OF?

The final exam will be conducted by an IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster examiner and takes the form of an extensive oral and practical test on a yacht (either power or sail). Candidates can expect to be examined on any subject covered by the syllabus of the shore based or practical courses and to be questioned on any aspect of their yachting experience to date.

In the event that the examiner considers an examinee not to have achieved the required standards and/or the candidates ability as Captain does not reach the required standard, and/or the prerequisites have not been met for the IYT WorldwideYachtmaster Offshore, a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate may be issued in the interim. In this case, and if requested, a personal report will be sent to the candidate outlining the reason or reasons for failure and suggesting remedial action prior to re sitting the exam.

Completion of the Yachtmaster Offshore certification course is not a guarantee of passing the examination and receiving your certificate.

Yachtmaster Ocean

OVERVIEW

This certificate is a qualification that indicates that the holder has sufficient knowledge of celestial navigation to navigate a 24-metre vessel globally using a sextant and to plan, undertake and manage an ocean passage together with a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved with regards to routing and meteorology. The minimum age to obtain this certification is 18.

COURSE OUTLINE

- The Earth and the celestial sphere
- The PZX triangle
- The sextant
- Measurement of time
- Meridian altitudes
- Sun sights
- Planet sights
- Starsight planning
- Starsights
- The pole star
- Moon sights
- Compass checking
- Satellite navigation systems
- Great circle sailing
- Meteorology
- Passage planning
The IYT Yachtmaster Ocean certificate is a qualification that indicates that the holder has sufficient knowledge of celestial navigation to navigate globally using a sextant and to plan, undertake and manage an ocean passage together with a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved with regards to routing and meteorology.

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command of a vessel up to 24 meters in length
- All oceans / anywhere in the world
- not for commercial use

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE YACHTMASTER OCEAN COURSE?

To gain the IYT Yachtmaster Ocean certificate, candidates must first hold the IYT Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

What does the Yachtmaster ocean theory course consist of?

The course consists of six days of astronavigation and worldwide meteorology. A thorough knowledge of all subjects covered in the IYT Yachtmaster Offshore course is assumed. There will be a final written examination on the last day of the course.

It has come to our attention that it has not been made perfectly clear to all IYT Worldwide yachtmaster candidates that this certification is for recreational use only and may never be upgraded to a professional certificate. Therefore, we require all candidates taking a recreational IYT Worldwide Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean course to complete an acknowledgement prior to taking the course.

IYT Commercial Tender License Course

OVERVIEW

This is a 2 day course to obtain a certificate of competency to command a tender (power vessel) up to 5 meters with maximum 40 HP. This course was designed for the purpose of transporting people (divers) from shore to mother dive vessel, however, it is not limited to this purpose. The objective of the course is for the student to develop the knowledge and skill sets to competently command a small power vessel up to 5 metres in length as described above.

COURSE OUTLINE

The scope of this 2-day course is for the student to obtain the theory and practical knowledge required to safely and competently operate as skipper/captain with full understanding and application of:
- Types of small powerboats
- Inboard, outboard and jet drives
- Steering, propellers, ventilation, cavitation
- Launching
- Stability
- Equipment
- Boat handling under power
- Man-overboard procedures
- Lost diver searching
- Prop guards
- Introduction to Height of tides and currents
- Introduction to Maritime signal flags and distress signals
- Introduction to Buoyage & collision regulations
- Introduction to Navigation lights
- Basic Meteorology

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command of a vessel up to a maximum length of 5 metres with maximum 40 HP.
- In coastal waters between mainland and mother vessel location.
- In fair conditions with moderate wind and sea conditions
It is the level of competence required for transporting people (divers) from mainland shore to mother dive vessel in coastal waters in fair conditions.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR THE IYT COMERCIAL TENDER LICENSE COURSE?

The Candidate should be 16 years of age or over and preferably hold a VHF Radio Operators Certificate.

Pre-requisites

It is recommended (not mandatory) for candidates to hold a VHF certificate or complete the IYT VHF/SRC course and gain the certificate before proceeding to this level + Obtain a First Aid Certificate. This can be:
- senior first aid as recognised under the national framework – Australia - STCW Elementary First Aid certificate - PADI EFR certificate - AMSA Senior First Aid certificate - Other Recognised First Aid certificates will be reviewed when submitted for acceptance.

The first aid certificate may be obtained prior to or following the tender course, however, final IYT Commercial Tender certification will not be produced until this certificate is presented.
Note: The term Mother Vessel means a dive boat or commercial charter vessel or private superyacht.

IYT Day Skipper/Crew - Sail

OVERVIEW

This is a 3 to 4 day course, depending on wind and conditions, aimed to deliver a safe, informed, confident and competent day sailor/skipper who can confidently command a sailboat up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) and crew during daylight hours in fair conditions in inland waters (bay or lake sailing) or coastal waters up to 5 miles offshore.

COURSE OUTLINE

- Basic sails and sailing
- Collision Regulations
- Responsibilities of the Skipper/Captain
- Personal Safety Equipment
- Boat Safety Equipment
- Vessel Checkout – Documentation, Charts, Nautical Publications and Flags
- Equipment & General Checks
- Basic Ropework
- Capsizing, Swamping and Sinking
- Responsibilities of the Crew, Care of the Environment, Provisioning & Housekeeping
- Outboard Motors
- Boat Handling Under Power
- Basic Meteorology
- Charts
- Tides & Currents
- Buoyage
- Man-Overboard Procedures
- Anchors, Anchoring and Running Aground
- Basic First Aid

CERTIFICATE LIMITATIONS

- Command a vessel up to a maximum length of 10 meters (32.8 feet)
- Inland waters (bay or lake sailing) or coastal waters up to 5 miles offshore
- Daylight hours and in fair conditions with moderate wind and sea conditions

Recommended Entry Level Requirement

A learn to sail course/certificate