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...

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 |
