What
qualifications do I need to charter a sailing yacht ?
It depends where you want to charter but, generally,
relevant experience is more important than paper
qualifications. Certificates are useful. You should have
sailing experience equivalent to Day Skipper standard, i.e.
basic navigation, sailing and boat handling skills, on a
similar sized yacht and will be assisted by at least one
competent crew If you have no certification, a short sailing
resume, extract of your log, yacht club reference, or similar
documents to verify your sailing competence may be required.
Even on flotilla you have to be able to skipper your own yacht
so again you should be Day Skipper standard. Some port
authorities in the Mediterranean - currently Majorca,
Tenerife, Croatia and Greece - do require an internationally
recognised certificate of competence for the skipper, e.g. RYA
International Certificate of Competence or Day Skipper
Practical. Greece also requires a certificate for 1 crew
member, e.g. RYA Competent Crew, although a short resume of
crewing experience will usually suffice. For bareboat motor
yacht charters an international certificate of competence,
e.g. RYA ICC is required by the port authorities in Greece,
Croatia and Majorca. If you don't have the experience to
charter bareboat we can recommend and help you book sailing
courses to get your Day Skipper qualification or to get the
family up to Competent Crew Standard
