THE EXAMINATION PROCESS

The examination process typically includes the following steps:
	An initial interview with the examiner who will want to hear about your sailing experience and look at your logbook. He or she may use the opportunity to talk you through the examination process and discuss arrangements. This is your opportunity to ask any questions about the exam process.
	A written navigation theory paper. If you can do the sample chartwork questions you should not have difficulty with the exam.
	A written Colregs paper which covers the International Regulations for the prevention of Collisions at Sea and IALA buoyage.
	A practical exam on a yacht. It is your responsibility to arrange the yacht and the crew. The examiner must focus entirely on the examination and so will not be available to act as crew.
	An oral exam. This is often combined with the practical exam.

However, for certain exams some of these steps may be omitted, see the summary below:

There is no navigation paper for the Local Waters examination. The focus here is on night sailing. You will be asked to do an 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 you may be asked 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.