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If a life on the ocean is for you, then a gap year based around one of our Yachtmaster Programmes is the course to set. The aim of the training is to become a qualified Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster. As a Yachtmaster, you are not only a highly skilled skipper, but are eligible for a wide range of work in and around boats, which means almost anywhere in the World.
The growth of the activity and yacht charter markets ensures there is always a demand for qualified skippers. Many of our graduates choose to work their way around the world, which is now possible thanks to the huge number of independent charter companies and the scale of worldwide companies. The scope of the larger companies also means that you can return to the same employer - in different locations - every year during university holidays. This way your gap year will become an integral plan for training and employment than runs alongside your degree.
The Yachtmaster Basic Traineeship is a comprehensive training programme leading to the benchmark RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 150nm qualification or its Yachting Australia equivalent.
The training is delivered in two parts. If you have previous experience and are serious about working in the yachting industry, this is the course for you. You can also join the programme as a beginner, if you are able to log at least 500 miles independently before taking your final assessment.
The first section delivers 10 weeks of practical and theoretical training.
The second training module is an intensive two week live-aboard course, during which you recap all the skills needed to enter your Yachtmaster exam with confidence.
Periods of training ashore at Sydney's Middle Harbour Yacht Club alternate with time spent living and learning on board a Flying Fish sailing yacht.
Practical training includes: Sail trimming / Boat handling under sail and power / Passage planning / Navigation and pilotage / Passage making and watch keeping / Safety and emergency drills
The theory syllabus covers: Passage planning / Yacht and crew preparation / Navigation and chartwork / GPS and electronic aids / Meteorology / Tidal heights and streams/ Vessel stability / Safety equipment and procedures / Collision Regulations (IRPCS)
You practise your skills in Sydney Harbour, Australia's favourite yachting playground, cruising past the Opera House and under the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Offshore you explore the New South Wales coast, heading south following the route of the Sydney Hobart race or north towards Pittwater and Port Stephens. Weather conditions vary from warm nor'-easterly sea breezes to strong, cool southerly busters. This is offshore sailing at its best. You will experience magnificent seascapes, dolphins, maybe whales and, of course, flying fish.
At the end of this first section you will have enjoyed travel, training, teamwork and adventure. You can now expect to be fully confident taking charge of a sailing yacht and its crew in coastal waters.
At your debrief you will plan the date and location of your Yachtmaster Prep and Exam. This can be completed immediately following your course in Sydney. Alternatively you may prefer to gain some more experience before completing this at a later date in Sydney or in the challenging tidal waters of the Solent in southern England.
Many gappers wish to combine their training in Australia with independent travel, so this is a great time to start exploring. If you're keen to work for a while in the sailing industry in Australia, we can take you through a Yachting Australia Inshore Instructor course which will qualify you for a wide range of interesting work all around the southern hemisphere.
As a graduate of Flying Fish, you can take advantage of our free careers advice and job placement service to find numerous yachtie positions all over the world.
