PlainSailing.com

Minimum qualifications for bareboat chartering

Yachts and Catamarans are expensive pieces of kit, so it’s no surprise that the people who own them expect you to have some sort of sailing qualification before they hand over the keys...

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 Sailing qualifications 

As each country has their own official yacht or maritime institution, training qualifications vary depending upon where you are from, but the table below gives a list of minimum qualifications required to charter either a sailing yacht or catamaran.

In addition to the local qualifications, there are two key international training schemes, which are available in most countries – regulated by the RYA and the IYT. If you have one RYA Day Skipper (or above) or IYT Bareboat Skipper (or above), then you are also qualified to charter a yacht or catamaran.

Qualifying through experience

In Greece, some yacht charter operators may also allow you to charter a yacht if you can demonstrate you have sufficient experience at sea. In Croatia, this is not possible.

Plus VHF Licenses in Croatia

In addition to a sailing license, to charter bareboat in Croatia at least one of you (either the skipper or one of your crew) will need to have a VHF license, to operate the VHF radio (but you don’t need a formal qualification for this elsewhere in the Med).

 Qualifications accepted for bareboat chartering (by country) 

The following qualifications are accepted by charter operators of evidence of competence when chartering a yacht (This list is not exhaustive, and just covers the key qualifications - ask us if your qualification is not listed here).
 

EUROPE Qualification required
United Kingdom MCA Master
MCA Chief Mate
MCA Officer of the Watch
MCA Chief Engineer
RYA Day Skipper
RYA Coastal Skipper
RYA Yachtmaster
Ireland ISA Day Skipper
ISA Helmsman's Certificate
ISA Yachtmaster Coastal
ISA Yachtmaster Offshore
Germany Sportboot Führerschein See
Sportküsten Schifferschein
Sportsee Schifferschein
Sporthochsee Schifferschein
Netherlands VAMEX / CBR Vaarbewijs I
VAMEX / CBR Vaarbewijs II
France Le Permis Plaisance - Option Eaux Inerieures
Le Permis Plaisance - Option Cotiere
Le Permis Plaisance - Extension Grande Plaisance Fluviale
Le Permis Plaisance - Extension Hauturiere
Spain Patron de embarcaciones de recreo
Patron de Yate
Capitan de Yate
Italy Patente per imbarcazione da diporto (<24mt)
Patente per imbarcazione da diporto (>24mt)
Switzerland Fähigkeitsausweis
Führerausweis A / B / C
Führerausweis für Yachten auf See
Austria Befähigungsausweis zur selbstständigen Führung von Segelyachten im Fahrtbereich 1
Befähigungsausweis zur selbstständigen Führung von Segelyachten im Fahrtbereich 2
Befähigungsausweis zur selbstständigen Führung von Segelyachten im Fahrtbereich 3
Befähigungsausweis zur selbstständigen Führung von Segelyachten im Fahrtbereich 4
Poland Zeglarz jachtowy
Sternik jachtowy
Jachtowy sternik morski
Kapitan jachtowy
Denmark Bevis For Duelighedsprove I Sejlads For Fritidssejlere
Yacht master 3rd Class
Yacht master 1st Class
Norway Boatman's Proof
Fritidsbätskippersertifikat/Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure (D5L)
Fritidsbätskippersertifikat/Deck Officer Class 5 Pleasure (D5LA)
Sweden Förarintyg för Fritidsbåt
Intyg-Bätpraktik
Bätmekaniker- Intyg
Kustskeppar-Intyg
Utsjöskeppar-Intyg
Seglarintyg 2
Seglarintyg 3
Finland Kansainvälinen huviveneen kuljettajan pätevyyskirja/
Czechia Průkaz způsobilnosti k vedení námořní jachty – Oprávnéní C
Průkaz způsobilnosti k vedení námořní jachty – Oprávnéní B
Průkaz způsobilnosti k vedení námořní jachty – Oprávnéní A
Slovakia Certicifcate of Competency for Skipper - C (Coastal)
Certicifcate of Competency for Skipper - B (Sea)
Certicifcate of Competency for Skipper - A (Ocean)
NORTH AMERICA
United States ASA Bareboat Chartering
ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising
ASA Offshore Passagemaking
USSA Bareboat Cruising
USSA Basic Cruising
USSA Coastal Passagemaking
USSA Offshore Passagemaking
Canada IYT International Bareboat Skipper
IYT Yachtmaster Coastal
IYT Yachtmaster Offshore
IYT Yachtmaster Ocean
IYT International Watchkeeper
OTHER
Australia RYA Day Skipper
RYA Coastal Skipper
RYA Yachtmaster
New Zealand Day Skipper
Boatmaster
Coastal Skipper
Ocean Yachtmaster
Russia Kaтeгopия cyдoв MOTOЛOДKA
Kaтeгopия cyдoв KATEP
ПAPYCHOE CYДHO C ПЛOШAДЬЮ ПAPYCOB ДO 12 / 22 / 60
Turkey IYT International Bareboat Skipper
IYT Yachtmaster Coastal
IYT Yachtmaster Offshore
IYT Yachtmaster Ocean
IYT International Watchkeeper
Israel Skipper's Certificate Class 13
Skipper's Certificate Class 20 / 30 / 40
Skipper's Certificate Class 50 / 60
South Africa SAS Day Skipper
SAS Local Waters Skipper
SAS Coastal Skipper
SAS Yachtmaster Offshore