I FAILED My Captain's Exam | Crew Stories #14

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/syc

[@commonsense-grs]

Have you got a skippering position coming up soon, would like to see back on a vessel.

[@GreyHak]

One of my favorite quotes is, ""The difference between a master an an apprentice is that the master has failed more times than the apprentice has tried."

[@markshutt1476]

When you failed, you were trying to give the canned answers you had learned during prep, and the examiner hears that all the time. Even if you truly know the "correct" answer, when you try to give a "canned" answer it can come out wrong, or sounding overly rehearsed, like you don't really know. You should always go with your own words, especially backed up with your experience. Congratulations, Captain, quite the accomplishment.

[@marieamesbury6688]

Thank you Tristan, all young people need to know that a failure is not the end! That by regathering our focus, we gain resilience and there is always another chance or a new path to achieve our goals. To hear this from you, a highly revered professional, is so refreshing and truly authentic. Thank you

[@frankg8946]

Sometimes Life‘s lessons are difficult ones. I can tell you are a perfectionist so it will be a long time till you are able to fully recover from the psychological effects of the failures. I have been a captain at a major airline for the past 28 years. We are tested constantly, but formally once per year. Although I’ve been through the testing dozens of times, I approach each year testing week like it’s my first week on the job. If I were an amateur shrink I would say you are still recovering from the loss of your AWOL position. Your heart and mind must be present for your exams. Your mind was there but not your heart. You are starting new chapters in your maritime career, be excited, we are all excited for you.

[@terteena]

Enjoyed this video. You are right on the mark. I spent 44 years on the water. Received my Class 1 Master's at age 30. Later , after retirement became a nautical instructor and told all my candidates the same, just be yourself when going for orals. Tell him what you would do in any situation.

[@alansimpson596]

I'm an aviator as opposed to being s sailor. However, I can draw similarities between the two, particularly in respect of exams. When I had passed all of my written exams to gain my private pilot's licence I had to finish off with a two hours' flight test under the eyes of a CAA examiner. He put me through all of my paces e.g. flying straight and level, keeping to the heading and height, stalls, spins, emergency landings, engine failure after take-off, flying into a major airport and so on. I felt I was doing well until the examiner exclaimed. "fire in the cockpit, fire in the cockpit". All that was required of me in that situation was to find the fire extingusier and point to it. But could I remember where it was?.... no. The examiner then drew my attention to the little red cylinder uner my seat. We finished off the flight test and I taxied to the parking apron of my little flying club. We sat in silence as the examiner finished off his paperwork and I recall opening the little side windows to counter the condensation building up, After what seemed an eternity the examiner spoke and said " congratulations, you passed". I just could'nt believe it.

[@patrickmolloy6994]

LOL lots of tension there I bet!! well done

[@Mykuul]

I think it's more of once you are made aware = you remember for your whole life thing and he was testing a startle effect and how you deal with it when faced with imminent danger.

[@thomasmargolis6057]

The law license in California have their version too. The algorism they use where they calculate number leaving profession, and the number they can admit. The net result, the passing number is not constant. Not limited to that state, either.

[@jcheck6]

Good comparison Alan. And it doesn't stop there. It continues up to an Airline Transport Pilot rating (US) and then again on each new aircraft you check out in. Orals, simulator checks then actual aircraft check.

[@chrisg1234fly]

@@jcheck6 With a degree and masters under my belt, doing a multi engine commercial with single add-on (just to be a little different) was a bigger challenge.....and the oral was OMG!!!! but after the oral i realised i knew my stuff better than when I did the written exams. gave me so much more confidence as a pilot. Definitely a good comparison. Full respect to the mariners!!!

[@patricathomas7824]

Congratulations on a vid full of wisdom and learning from life’s experiences. You passed the third time because you owned your own knowledge and experience and had confidence in your self, rather than relying on your memory of what others had told you. This showed your examiners your ability to take responsibility for your own decisions and actions and consequently will make you a confident and competent captain. Congratulations and happy sailing

[@amcconnell6730]

"You're close-hauled on the port tack, beating up the channel with a north-easterly wind blowing strong, with Dover bearing north two miles. The wind veers four points, taking you flat aback. What do you do, sir?" (Hornblower - The examination for Lieutennant) :D I'm an airline Captain - an old one. I've failed a few exams in my time. Many fails I disagreed with, some I agreed with. That's the business - if it was easy, anyone could do it. :D

[@Donald_Shaw]

Failing is not a bad thing. Picking yourself up and trying again makes you better...Congratulations, Captain Tristan. Great job!!!

[@vincelardner330]

It is an example of showing practical knowledge rather than just trotting out stock answers to preconceived questions. Excellent point about the positive of aspect of failure, which is the ability to learn from the failure, because at some point we all fail. Thank again Tristan.

[@anna-mariebeverley7668]

well done for persevering!! You have an excellent attitude! So glad you got to pass in the end.

[@patrickmolloy6994]

I'm doing the Yachtmaster right now ... its tough. I'm not doing it for a career though. I'm retired and going it for the fun of it!passed my assessment today 👍😅 boy was it hard. And yachtmaster is the easy one! Much respect to Tristan for what he had to go through!

[@nigeldewallens1115]

That was fascinating to listen to you talk about how you, at first did not pass and then you persevered and got it! I mean this respectfully to you well done to you! I only ever took my offshore exam for our boating hols back in the late seventies up till 1983! As my dad's boat would not have had the range to go across the Atlantic! You are a credit to all that work in the services as crew/Captian! Well done! I just want to tell you a delightful story about my mum please! When we all took our course mum was at home and we lived t our firm in London! Mum learnt all the flags, the meanings and morse code in Two weeks! Honest! Sadly my mum passed away in 2019 aged 95! My dad passed away 22 years ago.

[@norarivkis2513]

Failure is feedback. It tells you that the way you need to be handling a problem is still out there someplace for you to find, but you haven't done it yet. Then you need to go get it. The only thing really wrong with failure is if it disheartens you so much that you stop trying to find that answer.

[@leroywade5308]

Well done mate. It takes a brave person to admit their own mistakes, especially in the maritime industry. I also failed my master class one exam first time & the feeling is overwhelming - am I destined to stay in the same role forever? Congratulations on getting your ticket & best luck forward

[@wernerdanler2742]

Bravo Tristan!

[@mathieurossi2330]

T français ?

[@beazleteats4031]

Loving the black t-shirt...so much more presentable that wearing your old Awol uniform. Hats off to you captain.

[@kosys5338]

There is no such thing as success without failure. It's our failures that make us successful, so long as we can learn from our failures.

[@billmoran3812]

It’s true in any management level position no matter what the industry. When interviewing a candidate, responses based on their actual experience are values much more highly than simply regurgitating textbook answers. Anyone can memorize an answer. That doesn’t mean you understand it. Whereas speaking from experience shows mastery of the subject and the depth of your real knowledge.

[@bobuncle8704]

If you’ve never failed, you’ve never pushed your boundaries

[@Yob126]

Failing is a good thing. means you weren't really ready. Go back study, learn the mistakes, re-do. I've seen people fail a test miserably and return to ACE with few errors.

[@AliG-iq4gd]

Passing is a better thing.

[@Yob126]

@@AliG-iq4gd Not by the skin of your teeth it isn't.

[@Toffie10]

This is a very wise life lesson, Tristan. Thanks for that!

[@CaptainWesley]

18 years is definitely a long time, but what is painful in my opinion is after 18 years of studying and working you are still limited to 3000 GT and you need to do another 10+ years of candidateship to get to those gigayacht sizes(15000GT+.) But still very impressive, congratulations on passing(probably a couple years too late to the party haha.)

[@johnjamieson2400]

As my father told me 'there is no such thing as failure except ceasing to try' . Good life lesson there.

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Excellent video! Thanks for the information! Have always wondered about the reasoning behind the examiners and hearing you put it like that yep makes a lot of sense! 👍👍👊👊 Stay safe SYC!

[@Royden58]

Great discussion. As an ex examiner you nailed the explanation. I always asked myself whether I’d trust this crew member with my family

[@adriansrealm]

"What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down" - Getting over it with Bennett Foddy

[@JamesMorningstar]

The difference between a master and a novice, is that the master has failed more times than the novice has even tried. In unrelated fields, such as electrical engineering, product design, software design, and even business venture startups, we are commonly reminded to "Fail faster". It is because those failures can be time consuming (and financial) setbacks that become more costly, the longer it takes before experiencing them... Actually trying to identify (often by experiencing) those failures early on, you can move forward making more progress, more quickly, and with better wisdom and understanding. People who mistakenly think that failure is a bad thing, are generally not very bright, overall. The fear of failure prevents taking the chance, making the attempt, and accomplishing, and drastically limits their experience with learning and success.

[@captainb6104]

For a master onboard a vessel, in many instances failure onboard is a bad thing (an can sometimes be fatal), and the master actions to prevent them does not render him "not very bright". At sea we are paid to follow procedures, not to take chances, when challenged we must follow procedures. Would you rather have a master onboard that got it right the first time, or the one who needs 2 or more attempts before success? Onboard the vessels we are operators, following procedures, not developers of maritime science. When it comes to examines who do you hire? The one who passed well on his/her first attempt, or the one who just passed on his/her 3rd or more attempt?

[@pemman]

Phew! Quite a long haul to arrive at your goal. So well done, and yes so right on your input on failures. :)

[@ht3oldnavy]

No one likes to make mistakes, but mistakes are our greatest teachers.

[@richardh5430]

Crazy how similar getting those licenses are to getting a pilots license. I got my private about 8 months ago and for once in my life the written was the easy part the oral was very mentally demanding. Although the examiners are there to see what you really know I think they really want to see how you handle stressful situations.

[@frisianbear6782]

When I went for my captains license in Holland I approached all in the way that I did at work and I got minimum from the theoretical part in the books because back in the day it was not that your study books got every year upgrade/updated to the new norms and what you already said an examinator can agree or disagree in my case with several situations he disagreed but after explaining him why I did it that way he came around and agreed, the theoretical part is good to learn the basics but it's not the holy grail the reality can be far from what you have learned from the books, and now I am 37 years at sea from that 26 years as captain and still learning there will always arise situations that you think hmmmm this one we haven't had yet, but damn 18 years to get the captains license that's long way to long.

[@jolla8889]

Those who never fail, probably never tried. From failure you learn to succeed

[@robertlemoine3500]

Well done Captain . Thankyou sir .

[@AlekseyPriadko]

Hi from Ukraine. It's very hot here right now. It's not always possible to watch your videos. I would like to wish you good luck. And as we say in Ukraine - "Everything that does not kill us makes us stronger!"

[@r.a.monigold9789]

Failure is always an option. It's not your failures that stop you It is only in learning from every failure that will assure eventual success

[@norarivkis2513]

Well, usually it's not an option because we don't get to choose. 😉 But it's definitely a possibility.

[@gerbentvandeveen]

I have a Netherlands boating license. for boats up to 20 meters and speedboats 15 meters. And I also failed my exam once. I was offered a few years ago to cartrun with a 36 meter boat and 64 passengers. Unfortunately I have never learned any further.

[@jackiem6037]

Awesome 😎 blessed attitude .. also builds experience and confidences in trials … God bless you 🙏 .. often the journey is far greater than the destination ….

[@henrycarlson7514]

Interesting, Thank You. We must learn from our failures

[@dbfbobt]

Congratulations. I suppose that is why there is an "experience" element in addition to the "book" element.

[@davidcoulling9521]

Way down from you Tristan - many many thanks - just about to take my day skipper theory and then the practical - secondary ports my nemesis lol :-) thanks again for much encouragement with this video:-) hoping to pass and then on to the practical in the Solent

[@paulkersey2179]

Thank you for that SYC, it was inspiring.

[@paralleler]

Great job and congratulations!

[@brissiAU]

It is like when I am doing a grade to grade Fire fighters exam on a piece of equipment, just look at it and tell me about it, how to use it safely, problem solving, some of them just get use to reading from a book and just repeat what it says and you know they have no clue about its basic use!

[@Jock609]

A company that I used to work for would not let you progress to senior management until you had suffered a failure. Similar reasoning to yours. Also how you react to failure speaks volumes on your character.

[@swiper1818]

Great video and excellent advice for those who are interested! 👍

[@paulconnolly731]

Good video just 1 question what size yatch can you captain now

[@tanebeech9196]

Well said mate.

[@stephenscott963]

Thanks for the honesty, that’s far and few today! What’s going on with you and your fiancé, haven’t heard you mention her? Keep up the great videos!

[@Seeker.of.Warrior.Goddesses]

It is never a failure if you learn from the experience. It is only a fail if you don’t learn from it.

[@RidgeWalletYT]

Team Aluminum - Matte White 🙌

[@davidcoulling9521]

Love the channel btw your videos are inspiring - wonderful to watch and loved AWOL too :-)

[@darploin5071]

It sounds like it's easier to get your captain's license through the US Coastguard and it's recognized worldwide so it'd be just as good as the mca license you get from Great Britain

[@markf350s]

Hey good to see you sorry to hear the news but listen that that makes you weak once Concord makes you stronger you'll get this straightened out and on would you show go good luck my friend stay well

[@zzzxxzzz3248]

It's like boy scouts for adults !

[@tomdunn1254]

Thank you for a very informative video. You are correct, how many times you fail is not the issue but rather how many times you get up and give it a go again. I would appreciate it if you could give me the following information for my own understanding. 1. What category license would one need in the UK for a boat of 20m/30 tonnes? 2. How long would it take (best/minimum) to obtain such a license? I currently hold a category R license in South Africa which is good for only 1nm on a small 2-engined boat (max 4m)...... and is not going to count for much. Regards.

[@IsThisAvailable550]

When talking of the examiners, you said "They've all been at see for decades and decades and decades". Does that mean an examiner has to have been a seafarer for at least 60 years? From the photograph you showed, they didn't look that old!

[@thabangmonnakgotla]

Powerful stuff

[@ingvaldtangen8269]

Interesting. For us, we had to spend one year at school with the exams at the end to get our lowest licence. Repeating the same for the two next until the master licence. I believe you must be a "people person" to work on a yacht, and even if I like to look at nice yachts, I was never tempted to work on one. Not even on cruise liners. So I spent my happy close to 50 years at sea on cargo carrying vessels.

[@I-am-awayTOM]

Did James T. Kirk go thru all this to captain the USS Enterprise?

[@rp1645]

Tom he must have do something right. He got to go on space ship of Musk's. And had heart to heart talk in front of TV camera afterwards. I think ( TV show) had influence on Musk to start his space program. Just saying

[@I-am-awayTOM]

@@rp1645 E Musk is my hero!

[@gerbentvandeveen]

what is 3 x a blue light under each other?

[@rp1645]

Thank you for being up front about your fault's YES the word is TRUST of the vessel. I have read were the Navy stopped training on basic Chart hands on chart reading, using your hands to measure course. Rely more on electronics to set course. ( One if you have power failure) can you be TRUSTED to do hand charts. The Navy sailor are afraid of Captain. And thinking Navy ships have this security zone around them at Sea. Merchant vessels have had preventable mishaps at Sea with Nave ships. Junior officers on watch that could not think fast enough. I watched this on a ride along of a Navy frigate were Junior officer got very frustrated plotting course. Had to take smoke break on bridge wing. Are all water tight hatch's secured, in sea state cruising. TRUST that you can command vessel. The sailing ships I think are a must for training new officers. Old time marine ship handling.

[@captainb6104]

Don't forget you studied 3 times more for your last examine than your first, and then you passed.

[@richcastellano4883]

Please describe what you know to be the difference between the MCA (UK) exam/license vs the USCG license. I hold an offshore USCG license masters license but I’ve always wondered how different it is if at all. I passed on my initial attempt but it was years of experience and days and days of testing . I heard the reason why so many international captains are from the UK is actually because they need less visas to go from country to country than a USA captain. Is that true?

[@adamjonatanzupko584]

Hello, I'm also a seafarer and I'd be curious what are some of the specific questions that you found difficult if you don't mind sharing

[@criss0077]

So have you taken these exams since AWOL was sold?

[@robertshaw2968]

Tristan OH ! NO ! Say it isn't so! I'm sorry to hear the bad news

[@brylonhanna]

see this where you need to let people know if you want own powerboat you don,t need this only if you are planning to do what you want to do or volunteer

[@MarksWassersportFAQ]

I agree with you for 100%

[@0rrin]

What would you say about starting in the yatching industry at the age of 32? Seeing as it can be a long journey, just as you said it took you about 18 years to get to OOW 3000. Would starting at this age be more difficult?

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

That’s not for me to say. In your own life, you must determine what you want regardless of age. Always remember that the journey is more exiting than the destination.

[@MW-ty1dv]

I hold an unlimited masters ticket. I failed orals when the BOT examiner said that a Boeing 747 ditches in the ocean near you what actions do you take?. Besides the various vessel maneuvering and communication actions I decided to launch both my lifeboats to rescue any survivors. Wrong! I failed because I should have kept one lifeboat onboard for my own vessel! I still don't agree with that decision.

[@jcheck6]

I agree with your decision. If you had only sent one lifeboat how many survivors might have died? Especially if the water was cold and/or they were suffering from injuries. Time was critical.

[@gamerzplanet5730]

sir can u make a Q & A vedio on upcoming yatch owners

[@johnpenson8801]

Did you every think of joining the merchant navy and then training for Master Mariner Foreign Going unlimited tonnage?

[@thomasmargolis6057]

IF they are happy? There are not a set of prescribed standards to be met or exceeded?

[@riantomuklis6786]

Thengs you shem 6 kaptend 👍

[@chadjohnson5917]

Powerful vedio

[@careyphelps2593]

Glad to you're not wearing your AWOL uniform

[@I-am-awayTOM]

Wait... Did you say digital pickpockets!

[@Pfsif]

That Nolan Patrick pick is really stinging right now.

[@ThumperKJFK]

👍👍👍

[@rebekahlow8375]

You've shared very wise advice!!! Look from Vermont

[@darploin5071]

So can they stand being shot with a AR15 round hitting it cause that means it's an excellent wallet and I would get one from you channel. Have an excellent day super yacht caption

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

Yes it can. 😉

[@darploin5071]

@@SuperYachtCaptain OK we'll get your favorite shirt out of the closet put the ridge wallet and take it over to my local rifle range and you can take my AR15 and shoot the wallet and if it doesn't totally go through the wallet in your shirt I'll buy it buy it

[@helenmurphree3434]

@@SuperYachtCaptain is there a video of that 😳

[@bernard4304]

@@a1c3c3u we have a winner.

[@NN-sj9fg]

You sound like an examiner.

[@geraldryan8562]

Hi skipper, any of these master mariners been in a live sea mine area of Kuwait in 1991? I was there as an OOW/Gunnery officer, no radar, no DGPS due to possible missile lock on! Relied only on bottom sonar to stay within 800 Meters for 8 hours, when the Captain (Lt.CD-R) said he was taking the watch I said no Sir, I am coping, do not ask me again to handover the boat, HMS Brecon, until we have full DGPS restored by the USA. I wanted to be a Master Mariner, had the RN confidences and qualifications, but in Civilian life my experience meant nothing. BP asked me to go to Marine school and I said no! I could have taught these guys a few things since I was sailing, pulling and power since I was 12 years of age. Luckily for me, I went on to bigger and better things within the oil, gas, construction and power sector on many continents. Retired CPO GI (RN) 🇬🇧

[@norarivkis2513]

Tristan has been captaining professionally for eighteen years and he still went to school as well. It doesn't mean your experience means nothing; it's something to add to your experience. But it's fine that you didn't want to; anybody who's too arrogant to think they might have more they can learn doesn't belong in charge of a whole ship full of other people's lives.

[@geraldryan8562]

@@norarivkis2513 totally wrong and Not worthy of any further comment, I lived and breathed maritime safety, navigation, war, conflicts, training and development for nearly 20 years. Have you ever read the Admiral manuals on seamanship volumes 1-4, I did when I was 12, box the compass? 😡👎🤔

[@I-am-awayTOM]

Tristan... You speak so offhandedly about failure because... You Don't Have A Jewish Mother!... I'll assume.

[@stevenzobel4517]

So troo

[@robertstancer4469]

Isn't it revealing that this "candidate" has had to come to terms that being a 'youtube' channel does not give you the automatic right to pass exams. But being on youtube allows you the justify the reason you failed. So that's ok then.

[@rickowens4397]

Amazing how misogynistic you "guys" are!