RYA Yachtmaster of the Year Awarded by The Princess Royal

On Tuesday 16th July, the award for RYA Yachtmaster of the Year 2018 was presented to young Scotsman, Lewis Haig by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal (President of the RYA). Lewis was chosen from over 3,000 sailors, all of whom have completed the Yachtmaster Ocean certificate, and selected by the RYA’s global team of Yachtmaster examiners. During his RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence exam, Lewis displayed an exceptional demonstration of sailing skills, and outstanding skill and knowledge as a skipper.

This year, the coveted award was presented at the Royal Institute of Navigation Annual Meeting in London. The prestigious trophy affords a fantastic platform to celebrate the achievements of incredible students who have gone above and beyond throughout their training and preparation. The candidates come from a variety of backgrounds, and many will go on to develop fantastic careers in the marine industry.

Join the Hall of Fame

Over the years, there have been a whole host of incredibly talented sailors who have been awarded this prestigious trophy. Included amongst them are four-time Paralympian Hannah Stodel and the youngest ever winner at just 18 years old, George Gillingham. Having completed their yachtmaster qualification, they have all gone on to have successful careers in the marine industry.

Begin your career in the marine industry

Marine jobs, whether as a sailor or in design, build and maintenance roles, give a level of freedom that you seldom find in any other industry.  As a globally endorsed qualification, the RYA Yachtmaster certificate is a widely recognised entry ticket when applying for marine jobs. If you’re looking to begin a career in the marine industry, it is advisable to ensure that any certificates you hold are commercially endorsed wherever possible. It’s also recommended that all courses be conducted in tidal waters, as this gives you the most flexibility when selecting a location in which to work.

The path to Yachtmaster qualification

There are a number of routes through which your RYA Yachtmaster qualification can be achieved.  However, the prerequisites are that you must be 18 or over and demonstrate sufficient theory knowledge, usually by completing the Yachtmaster Theory course. By completing the RYA Day Skipper certificate, the number of miles that you need to complete for the Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper course will be reduced.

Now it’s your turn

For your opportunity to join the list of exceptional yachtmaster candidates, why not sign up for an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Course with Ocean Sports Tuition? Whether you’re looking to become a professional sailor or a marine engineer, the yachtmaster offshore certificate gives you all the skills required to succeed.

With Ocean Sports Tuition, there are a number of ways to complete the RYA Yachtmaster Course. It may be that you choose to do this over a single week, having completed the theory work previously. Alternatively, you can sign up to the RYA Yachtmaster Academy and participate in a two-week intensive programme.

Become part of the Academy

Our Academy programme will take you through the theory course in week 1, before moving onto the practical course in week 2. In between, we also offer you the chance to complete any additional certificates required, such as the RYA First Aid Course or the RYA VHF qualification. This intensive format is a great way to learn everything that you need to know to complete the course, with a group of instructors and fellow students to support you through the process.

Ocean Sports Tuition is a specialist training school that provides a complete range of RYA practical and theory courses, as well as boat charter opportunities. Operating from purpose-built facilities in Saxon Wharf Marina, Southampton, we offer courses for those looking to dip their toe in the water to experienced boaters taking their next steps into a career in water sports.

To see where our courses could take you, please contact Andy on 02381 242159 or email andy@oceansportstuition.co.uk