Revise what you will use on deck
Prioritise pilotage cards, tidal gates, weather decisions, crew briefing, watch systems, ports of refuge, and the deck log.
Before exam
Refresh Yachtmaster theory before your exam
The practical exam expects you to turn theory into skipper decisions. Arrive fluent with passage planning, tidal windows, pilotage plans, COLREGs, weather choices, and restricted-visibility procedure.
Use the free checklist, then revise full modules in the app before stepping aboard.
Make night and fog decisions explicit
Yachtmaster exam work often includes more night hours and more demanding navigation. Refresh lights, sound signals, radar/AIS limitations, and Rule 19.
Arrive with a plan you can explain
You should be able to justify route choice, hazards, tidal timing, weather assumptions, alternate plans, and when you would change the plan.
Free downloads
Useful resources to share or print
Yachtmaster theory revision checklist
A one-page checklist for advanced chartwork, tides, meteorology, COLREGs, pilotage, and passage-making revision.
Download PDFYachtmaster chartwork and passage-making quick reference
A compact reminder sheet for CTS, multi-hour tide vectors, secondary ports, deck log habits, and passage checks.
Download PDFCommon questions
Is theory essential before a Yachtmaster exam?
Yes. You can be questioned on practical and shorebased knowledge, so arrive with the theory fluent enough to explain decisions under pressure.
What should I revise first?
Passage planning, pilotage, tides, weather, COLREGs, restricted visibility, and integrated chartwork.
Should Day Skipper candidates use this page?
Day Skipper candidates should start with the sister site at dayskippertheory.co.uk, then return here when moving up to Yachtmaster level.
Keep exploring
Related Yachtmaster revision pages
Advanced revision plan
Use a focused Yachtmaster Offshore theory revision plan covering advanced chartwork, tidal streams, meteorology, pilotage, and passage making.
Syllabus guide
Use a checkable Yachtmaster Offshore theory syllabus overview covering position fixing, compass, tides, pilotage, meteorology, safety, and passage planning.
Mock exam practice
Try a free Yachtmaster theory mini mock, then open the full independent timed mock for mixed chartwork, COLREGs, tides, weather, and passage-making practice.