What Sailing Certificates for Yacht Charter are needed if you want to rent a sailing or motor yacht in the Mediterranean or elsewhere in Europe? Generally, you need sufficient practical skills and experience and a marine radio certificate. The exact requirements vary by country and charter company, but the overview below gives you a clear picture of what is needed and how you can prepare.
Skills and Practical Experience
Charter companies expect you to have sufficient practical experience and sailing skills. The RYA system (Royal Yachting Association) is the most widely recognised training system for recreational sailing worldwide. To learn to skipper independently, you typically follow these steps:
- Competent Crew – a practical course usually lasting one week, in which you learn the basics of sailing.
- Day Skipper – a second week, in which you learn to independently skipper a yacht on short passages.
On the RYA website, you can find course locations. Filter by “Competent Crew Practical Course” or “Day Skipper Practical Sailing Course”.
Where Is the Best Place to Learn to Sail?
If you really want to learn to sail well, it is advisable to seek out challenging waters. Areas such as Southwest England (Southampton, Plymouth), the Channel Islands, Brittany and Normandy are ideal: there you will encounter significant tidal range, strong tidal currents and generally more wind. This truly teaches you how to manoeuvre in harbours.
In popular sailing areas like Italy and Croatia, it is often difficult to practise in harbours, as this is not always permitted. Practising mooring at sea on a buoy is less realistic than practising in an actual harbour. By first gaining experience in more challenging waters, you will be better prepared for your charter holidays.
Theory Preparation for the Practical Course
Before starting the practical course, you can prepare the theory in advance. This can be done, for example, through the online Coastal Navigation course or through a recognised RYA Shorebased course. Please note: the theoretical knowledge is mandatory, but the official certificate is not always required.
Personal Sailing Training
As an RYA Cruising Instructor, I can only issue official certificates when working for an RYA Training Centre — not as a freelancer. What I can offer, however, is a course in, for example, the Netherlands or Brittany. In most harbours there, we can practise harbour manoeuvres without any issues. The advantage: without other students on board, you learn faster than in a group of five or six people. With the experience and skills gained, you may later be able to enter at a higher level, should you still wish to obtain an official RYA certificate.
Marine Radio Certificate (GMDSS / MARCOM-B)
It is almost always mandatory to hold a marine radio certificate when sailing at sea. Since you will be operating beyond coastal waters, you need a MARCOM-B certificate. This is the international certificate for maritime communication at sea. Alternatively, you can obtain the RYA Short Range Certificate (SRC). In most cases, this certificate meets the requirements for recreational yachts.
Where Can You Get the SRC?
On the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) website, you can find a course location near you. Filter by Course Name: “Marine Radio SRC Course and Exam” to book a combined course with exam.
Exceptions by Sailing Area
Always check in advance whether the above Sailing Certificates for Yacht Charter are sufficient for your specific destination. In some areas, such as Scotland, where sailing conditions can be particularly challenging, additional certificates or demonstrable experience may be required before you are handed the boat. When in doubt, contact the charter company.
Hiring a Charter Skipper
Don’t have time to obtain all the Sailing Certificates for Yacht Charter yourself, but still want to enjoy a sailing holiday? Then you can bring an experienced charter skipper on board. This offers a double advantage: you sail safely and comfortably, and you can improve your own skills and knowledge during the trip. This way, your sailing holiday becomes a valuable learning experience at the same time.
