What Qualification Do I Need To Sail A Yacht?

Admiral Yacht provides guidance on the qualifications sailors in the UK need to stay safe on the water. For Croatia, an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or RYA Day Skipper is compulsory. If you have a VHF radio onboard your boat or carry a handheld VHF while out on the water, you need to hold an operators license. To get qualified with an RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence, you can take a one-day course and exam.

Offshore sailing regulations do not require a license, but for sailing on inland waterways in the UK, such as the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, you will need one. To get a boat license, all you need to do is obtain a boat license. In most cases, you are not always required to have a license to sail a boat, but it pays to have one. However, if you want to charter a yacht owned by a rental company, you do need a sailing qualification, usually the RYA Day Skipper that yacht companies require.

For private boat owners, the RYA Day Skipper qualification is recommended as a minimum starting point. The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore a course is also available. If you have an RYA Day Skipper (or above) or IYT Bareboat Skipper (or above), you are also qualified to charter a yacht or catamaran.

As a yacht skipper, you are required to have an official sailing license or a certificate issued by a government of state approved organization. In most of Europe, you will need an International Certificate of Competence (ICC). All units of competency for the approved course of study for a yacht certificate of competency come from the AMSA approved diploma course. Many charter companies require individuals to have a certification in an intermediate sail course.