[ Applicable From January 2009 ]

The examination process typically includes the following steps:

1. An initial interview with the examiner. The examiner will want to hear about your sailing experience and look at your log book. He may use the opportunity to give you a Colregs test. He will also talk you through the examination process and discuss arrangements. This is your opportunity to ask any questions about the exam process.
2. A written navigation theory paper. If you can do the sample chartwork questions you should not have difficulty with the exam.
3. A practical exam on a yacht. It is your responsibility to arrange the yacht and the crew. The examiner will not act as a member of crew because he needs to focus on the examination.
4. An oral exam. This is often combined with the practical exam.

However, for some exams some of these steps may be omitted. The table below summarises this:

There is no navigation paper for the Local Waters examination. The focus here is on night sailing. You will be asked to do a MOB after dark and a night entry. The Colregs questions will specifically include lights.

The focus of the Yachtmaster Ocean exam is celestial navigation. The practical will involve taking celestial sights at sea.

If your examiner feels that you are generally competent but have shortcomings in particular areas he might ask you to prepare for re-examination on particular topics. At the end of the examination process, your examiner will recommend a pass or a fail to the chief examiner.The final decision is with the chief examiner who may ask to examine you personally.

Notes

1.  Information obtained from South African Sailing website (http://courses.sailing.org.za/Sections-article5-p1.html)