How to Track RYA Qualifying Miles Online

If you're working toward RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, you know the qualifying criteria by heart: 2,500 sea miles, 50 days at sea (including 5 days as skipper), 5 passages over 60 nautical miles, 2 overnight passages, 12 night hours, and experience in both tidal and non-tidal waters. You've been logging every passage in your paper logbook, meticulously calculating totals, and hoping you haven't made arithmetic errors.

Then you reach 2,500 miles and discover you're missing qualifying elements. Maybe you've got the total miles but only 3 days as skipper. Or 48 passages logged but only 4 are over 60 miles. Or plenty of offshore miles but only 8 night hours logged.

Tracking RYA qualifying miles manually is frustrating, error-prone, and time-consuming. Digital logbooks promise to solve this, but most sailing apps track miles without understanding RYA's specific requirements for Yachtmaster qualification.

This guide explains RYA qualifying miles requirements, compares digital tracking tools, and shows how to use online logbooks to meet Yachtmaster criteria efficiently.

Total Sea Miles: 2,500 Nautical Miles Minimum

What counts:

• Logged distance from departure to arrival (GPS log or chartwork calculation)
• Coastal passages (minimum 3 hours duration)
• Offshore passages (out of sight of land)
• Daytime and night passages
• Miles as skipper AND crew (both count toward total)

What doesn't count:

• Motoring in harbour or rivers (non-sailing miles)
• Race course circles (although passage to/from race area counts)
• Stationary time (anchored, moored, drifting)

Calculation method:

Most sailors use GPS log total from chartplotter or navigation app. If chartwork-only (no GPS), use measured chart distance between departure and arrival points.

Days at Sea: 50 Days Minimum (Including 5 Days as Skipper)

What counts:

• A "day" is minimum 4 hours underway
• Multiple 4-hour+ passages in one calendar day = still counts as 1 day
• Overnight passages crossing midnight = 2 days (one for each calendar date)
• Days as crew AND days as skipper both count toward the 50-day total

Skipper days requirement:

• Of your 50 total days at sea, at least 5 days must be as skipper
• "Skipper" means you held navigational responsibility and made passage decisions (route, weather routing, safety)
• Steering the boat while the owner navigates doesn't count; you must be in charge

Passages Over 60 Nautical Miles: 5 Minimum

What counts:

• Continuous passage of 60NM+ (measured GPS track or chartwork distance)
• Can include overnight passage (counts toward both requirements)
• Can be coastal or offshore
• Passage must be primarily sailed (motoring through calms is acceptable)

Why 60NM matters:

60-mile passages demonstrate sustained navigation, watch-keeping, and passage planning skills. A 60NM passage typically takes 10-12 hours at average cruising speed (6 knots), requiring careful planning around tides, weather windows, and crew fatigue.

Overnight Passages: 2 Minimum

What counts:

• Passage crossing midnight (starts one day, finishes next day)
• You were aboard and participated (doesn't require being skipper, though skipper hours are valuable)
• Passage was under sail (not motoring through night)

Why overnight matters:

Night sailing requires different navigation skills (lights recognition, reduced visibility, crew watchkeeping). RYA examiners expect overnight experience to prove competence in 24-hour passage management.

Night Hours: 12 Hours Minimum

Requirement: At least 12 hours of night sailing on watch is required for Yachtmaster Offshore.

What counts:

• Sailing between sunset and sunrise (full darkness after civil twilight ends)
• Watchkeeping, helming, or navigation duties during night hours
• Moonless nights and well-lit coastal passages both count

Tidal and Non-Tidal Experience

Tidal waters: UK coastal waters (most common for UK-based sailors)

Non-tidal waters: Mediterranean, Baltic, some Scottish lochs, Caribbean

Requirement: "Diverse experience" in both tidal and non-tidal waters. No specific mile counts, but examiners expect evidence you understand tidal planning and non-tidal navigation differences.

Option 1: Spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets)

How it works:

Create columns for each passage:

• Date
• Departure port
• Arrival port
• Distance (NM)
• Hours underway
• Night hours
• Role (Skipper/Crew)
• Boat name
• Skipper signature/reference

Advantages:

• Free (most sailors have Excel or Google Sheets)
• Fully customisable to RYA requirements
• Easy to share with RYA instructors or examiners
• Export to PDF for printing

Disadvantages:

• Manual data entry after each passage
• No automatic calculation of passage distance (must look up or calculate manually)
• No verification (self-reported data)
• No GPS integration
• Easy to make formula errors

Best for: Budget-conscious sailors comfortable with spreadsheets who don't mind manual tracking.

Option 2: SailTies (Mobile App)

What it is: Mobile sailing logbook app with GPS tracking.

RYA-specific features:

• Tracks total miles, days sailed
• Categorises roles (skipper, crew, watch captain)
• Night hours tracking (based on GPS timestamps + sunset/sunrise times)

Advantages:

• Automatic GPS tracking (no manual distance calculation)
• Beautiful logbook layout with maps showing GPS tracks
• Export to PDF for RYA exam or charter applications
• Free basic version (paid tier adds cloud backup, unlimited passages)

Disadvantages:

• Doesn't automatically identify RYA qualifying criteria (e.g., doesn't flag "passages over 60NM" specifically)
• Requires manual tagging to distinguish qualifying vs non-qualifying passages
• No built-in verification (self-reported data)
• Mobile-only (no web interface for desktop review)

Best for: Active sailors who want automatic GPS tracking and don't mind manually identifying qualifying passages.

Option 3: Smartboatia (Web + Mobile)

What it is: Web-based sailing logbook with mobile app for GPS tracking.

RYA-specific features:

• Custom fields for RYA qualification tracking
• Reports showing qualifying miles progress
• Skipper vs crew role distinction

Advantages:

• Web interface for desktop data review (easier than mobile-only)
• Multi-boat tracking (useful if you sail different yachts)
• Crew sharing (invite crew to confirm passages)
• Export to various formats (PDF, CSV, Excel)

Disadvantages:

• Paid only (no free tier)
• Less intuitive GPS tracking than SailTies
• No automatic identification of RYA qualifying criteria
• No verification (self-reported data)

Best for: Sailors who want web-based logbook management and don't mind paying annual subscription.

Option 4: Crew the Boat Digital Logbook (Coming Soon)

What it is: First digital logbook built specifically for RYA qualification tracking with automatic verification.

RYA-specific features:

• Automatic qualifying miles tracking: Dashboard shows progress toward 2,500 miles, 50 days at sea, 5 skipper days, 5x 60NM passages, 2 overnight, 12 night hours
• Intelligent validation: System warns if passage doesn't meet qualifying criteria (e.g., "This passage is only 3.5 hours, needs 4+ hours to count as a day at sea")
• Verification: Skipper references and boat owner confirmation create verified logbook
• RYA exam ready: Export includes verification badges and comprehensive passage records

Advantages:

• Only tool that automatically identifies RYA qualifying criteria
• Progress dashboard eliminates manual calculation
• Verification feature creates insurance-ready logbook
• Integrated with Crew the Boat verified sailing CV
• Export verified logbook for charter company applications

Disadvantages:

• Not yet launched (coming Q1 2026)
• Will require Crew the Boat Pro membership (£10/month)

Best for: Sailors serious about Yachtmaster qualification who want automated tracking and verified logbook for charter applications.

Option 5: Paper Logbook (Traditional Method)

What it is: Physical logbook (RYA-branded or third-party) with manual entries.

Advantages:

• No technology required
• Accepted by RYA examiners (traditional format)
• Physical signatures from skippers add credibility
• No subscription costs

Disadvantages:

• Manual calculation errors common (especially totalling thousands of miles)
• Time-consuming data entry
• Can't easily export or share digitally
• Risk of loss/damage (entire qualification record in one book)
• No automatic identification of qualifying criteria

Best for: Traditional sailors who prefer pen-and-paper record-keeping or those sailing boats without mobile/GPS access.

1. Log Every Passage Immediately

Don't wait until you're working toward Yachtmaster to start logging. Many sailors regret not tracking early coastal sailing that would have counted toward qualifying miles.

Log passages within 24 hours while details are fresh:

• Exact departure and arrival times
• Waypoints or notable navigation points
• Weather conditions (wind direction/speed, sea state)
• Crew names and roles
• Any incidents or learning points

2. Distinguish Skipper vs Crew Clearly

For each passage, record your role:

• Skipper: You held navigational responsibility and made passage decisions
• Crew: Someone else was skipper, you assisted
• Watch Captain: Offshore passage with watch rotation (count as skipper for your watch hours)

3. Tag Qualifying vs Non-Qualifying Passages

Not all sailing counts toward RYA qualifying miles. Tag passages clearly:

Qualifying:

• Coastal and offshore passages 3+ hours duration
• Passages under sail (engine use in calms is acceptable)
• Multi-day passages where you're underway daily

Non-qualifying:

• Harbour manoeuvring practice (not sea passage)
• Racing without passage to/from race area (buoy racing)
• Motor-only passages (RYA expects sailing qualifications to include sailing)
• Stationary days (anchored, moored)

4. Calculate Distance Accurately

GPS-tracked distance (most accurate):

• Use chartplotter or mobile GPS app (SailTies, Navionics)
• Record distance at end of passage
• Include GPS track export if using digital logbook

Chartwork distance (no GPS):

• Measure straight-line distance between departure and arrival
• Add 10-15% for tacking/routing around hazards
• Use dividers and nautical chart, or digital charting software

5. Track Night Hours Separately

Create dedicated column or field for night hours:

How to calculate:

• Note exact sunset/sunrise times (varies by date and location)
• Count hours underway between full darkness (civil twilight ended) and sunrise
• Twilight hours (visible horizon) don't count as full night

6. Verify Passages with Skipper References

For passages where you were crew (not skipper), request skipper confirmation:

What to collect:

• Skipper name and contact details
• Boat name and sail number
• Passage date and route
• Your role and responsibilities
• Skipper signature (paper logbook) or email confirmation (digital logbook)

7. Backup Your Logbook Data

• Digital logbooks: Export to PDF monthly and save to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Paper logbooks: Photograph each page monthly and store photos digitally
• Spreadsheets: Enable auto-save to cloud (Google Sheets) or use version control (save dated copies)

8. Review Progress Regularly

Every 3 months, calculate your progress toward RYA Yachtmaster qualifying criteria:

Create a progress checklist:

• Total miles: _____ / 2,500 NM
• Days at sea: _____ / 50 days
• Days as skipper: _____ / 5 days
• Passages over 60NM: _____ / 5 passages (2 as skipper)
• Overnight passages: _____ / 2 passages
• Night hours: _____ hours / 12 hours minimum
• Tidal miles: _____ (must be at least 1,250 NM)
• Non-tidal experience: _____ passages

Digital Logbook Export Checklist

Required elements:

• Complete passage list showing all qualifying miles (ideally last 10 years, minimum 2,500 miles)
• Running totals: miles, skipper days, 60NM+ passages, overnight passages
• Skipper signatures or references for passages where you were crew
• Boat details for each passage (name, type, size)
• Summary page showing total miles by role (skipper vs crew), tidal vs non-tidal

Format:

• PDF export (not editable Word or Excel, looks more professional)
• Clear tabular layout (examiner should easily scan passages)
• Chronological order (oldest to newest)
• Page numbers and table of contents if over 20 pages

Common RYA Examiner Questions About Logbook

Be prepared to explain:

• "Walk me through your most challenging passage." Choose a passage over 60NM with weather/navigation challenges. Explain decision-making, weather routing, crew management.
• "How many days as skipper have you logged?" Have precise number ready (you need minimum 5 days as skipper). Don't confuse with the 50 total days at sea requirement.
• "Tell me about your non-tidal experience." Reference specific passages in Mediterranean, Baltic, or Caribbean. Explain navigation differences.
• "How do you verify these passages are accurate?" Reference verification process, skipper signatures, GPS tracking method, or supporting evidence.

Budget option: Download our free RYA Qualifying Miles Spreadsheet

Mobile GPS tracking: Download SailTies (iOS/Android) for automatic passage recording

Web-based logbook: Try Smartboatia for desktop-friendly logbook management

RYA-optimised with verification: Join Crew the Boat Digital Logbook waitlist for the first tool that automatically tracks qualifying criteria and verifies passages

Already have logged miles? Create your Crew the Boat profile and upload your logbook summary. We'll help you identify gaps in qualifying criteria and plan passages to complete your Yachtmaster requirements.