<\/p>\n
For the Yachtmaster Coastal<\/a> you need 800nm.\u00a0 If you have done the Coastal Skipper course this is reduced to 400nm \u2013 this halving of the required miles is because of the quality of experience you will gain by doing a Coastal Skipper course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To take the Yachtmaster Offshore course<\/a> you need to have completed 2,500 nautical miles.\u00a0 So significantly more than for YM Coastal.\u00a0 You also need (can be part of the 2500nm) 5 passages over 60nm with at least 2 as skipper and 2 overnight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But how do you build those miles?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We have a number of options for aspiring Yachtmasters to build miles, most start and finish in the Solent.\u00a0 Almost all of them include two 60nm passages.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some mile building trips will \u2018just\u2019 get you miles. I say \u2018just\u2019 but obviously with miles comes experience.\u00a0\u00a0 As you sail more you will experience different weather conditions, different crew abilities, things go wrong, different boats and their handling characteristics.\u00a0 You will become more familiar with how different boats sail, what they can take in adverse weather conditions, what you can take.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prior to becoming a skipper, whenever I sailed with an instructor I would secretly hope for things to go wrong so I could learn without being the one in charge.\u00a0 Nothing too drastic mind!\u00a0 But the odd engine malfunction, a big gale, a power outage of the plotter (just simple GPS back then) or headsail that wouldn\u2019t furl away was always a good opportunity to see how an expert dealt with things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other mile building trips offer the opportunity to skipper a 60nm passage which will be of particular interest to those aiming for Yachtmaster Offshore.\u00a0 You will get the opportunity to plan a passage<\/a> and then execute it with the back up of an instructor on board if needed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are some options.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Weekend mile building trips from the Solent to France or Alderney or Weymouth.\u00a0 Starting from Shamrock Quay you will cast off, usually on a Friday evening, and sail to Cherbourg, Braye Harbour or Weymouth.\u00a0 The distance is pretty much 60nm or over to each and there is the opportunity for two people (1 person there, 1 person back) to skipper a leg. Expect to get 120-150nm on one of these weekends.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These trips are about getting lots of sailing in.\u00a0 You should get at least three or four 60nm passages in and there are opportunities to skipper these passages.\u00a0 Great for aspiring Yachtmasters you will leave the Solent and head out into the English Channel heading West towards along the UK\u2019s south coast to Weymouth and Brixham\/Dartmouth then south to cross the busy shipping lanes to the Channel Islands and France. Expect to get 300-450nm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We offer a number of trips that are more cruise like in nature.\u00a0 These are from the Solent to the West Country o the Channel Islands.\u00a0 You will still do plenty of sailing but the focus will be seeing places with time set aside to explore ashore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once a year or so we do a 16 day trip to the Norwegian Fjords on a 72 yacht.\u00a0 Leaving from the Solent this is a great trip that heads east along the south coast before heading up the North Sea to Norway.\u00a0 It allows for 5 or 6 days exploring the Fjords before sailing back to the Solent.\u00a0 Great for Yachtmaster wanting to build miles \u2013 you should get about 1500nm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is also the Rolex Fastnet Race that takes place every other year.\u00a0 The Campaigns that we run allow for some training, some qualifying races then the Fastnet race itself.\u00a0 So you would get plenty of miles in over a summer of building up to and then competing in the Fastnet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nMile building for Yachtmaster, sailing from the Solent<\/h2>\n
Weekend Channel Hops or trips to Weymouth<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"mile](\"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/solent-sailing.jpg\")
Mile building for Yachtmaster in the Solent<\/p>\n7 Day Channel Triangles<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
West Country and Channel Island Cruises<\/a><\/h3>\n
Norway Trips<\/a><\/h3>\n
Fastnet<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n