As an Examiner I often get asked this question.
A
Yachtmaster Offshore is a skipper who:
- is safe
- can handle a boat under motor
- can sail the boat
- be able to navigate - being able to enter any well chartered harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night
A
Yachtmaster Coastal has the "knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises, but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages". In other words the theory is the same for both, but less practical experience and skill is required for the Yachtmaster Coastal exam.
If you do not think you have the skills required you need to think about the
Coastal Skipper + (see
http://www.clubsail.com/coatal-skipper-plus.html) prior to the Yachtmaster preparation to teach you the skills you need.
Another option is our
Advanced Boat Handling Course (see
http://www.clubsail.com/boat-handling.html) which covers boat handling in normal and abnormal situations.
On the prep week we will take the skills you already have and polish them to get you ready for the exam.
Over the years we have found that this works well - contributing to our 100% passrate at Yachtmaster Offshore over the last 5 years.