Which license you need to skipper a charter boat yourself depends on where you sail and on the type and size of the boat. The two tables below show both. If you would rather not skipper yourself, you can hire a skipper: see Can I rent a boat without a skipper license?
License requirements by destination
- Italy, Spain, Germany: you need a valid ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or a national skipper license.
- Croatia: you need a bareboat charter license and a VHF radio license.
- Greece: for a sailing yacht or sailing catamaran, the skipper's license must cover sailing, for example an ICC for sail, RYA Day Skipper Practical, RYA Coastal Skipper or ASA 104. Licenses that only cover motorboats are no longer widely accepted for sailing yachts: the German SBF See on its own, for example, is not enough, but SBF See plus SKS is. Greece also requires a second experienced person on board; if they have no license, they sign a declaration of competence.
- Caribbean: in the Caribbean and a few other destinations, a sailing résumé is enough.
Large catamarans and motor yachts
Catamarans and motor yachts of 45 ft and more often need two licensed people on board: a skipper with a Yachtmaster license and a co-skipper with at least a bareboat charter license. Someone on board must also hold a marine radio license, such as a Short Range Certificate (SRC) or VHF license.
Table 1: what you need, by destination and boat type
| Destination | Sailboat / monohull | Catamaran under 45 ft | Catamaran 45 ft and over | Speedboat / RIB | Motorboat under 45 ft | Motorboat 45 ft and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | BBCL + SRC | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Germany | BBCL + SRC | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Greece | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Spain | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Italy | BBCL + SRC | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL + SRC | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Netherlands | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| USA | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| France | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC | BBCL | BBCL | YML + BBCL + SRC |
| Bahamas | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR |
| British Virgin Islands | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR |
BBCL = bareboat charter license, YML = Yachtmaster license, SR = sailing résumé, SRC = Short Range Certificate (marine radio license).
Table 2: which of your licenses counts, by country of origin
| Country of origin | Bareboat charter license (BBCL) | Yachtmaster license (YML) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Sportbootführerschein See, Sportküstenschifferschein | Sportseeschifferschein, Sporthochseeschifferschein |
| USA | ASA 104, 105 | ASA 106, 108 |
| Italy | Patente per imbarcazione da diporto 12 Nm | Patente per imbarcazione da diporto no limitation |
| Spain | Patrón de embarcaciones de recreo | Patrón de yate, Capitán de yate |
| Austria | Befähigungsausweis Fahrtbereich 2, C License Motor / Sail, Küstenpatent B | Befähigungsausweis Fahrtbereich 3, 4, Küstenpatent C |
| United Kingdom | RYA competence 10/24 m, Powerboat level 2, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper | Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore |
| Netherlands | Vaarbewijs II | |
| Switzerland | Führerausweis A | Führerausweis B/C |
| Belgium | Algemeen Stuurbrevet | Algemeen Stuurbrevet, Certificate of Yachtsman |
| France | Le Permis plaisance | Le Permis plaisance extension hauturière |
| Croatia | Croatian B or C license | Yachtmaster 100, 500 GT |
An example: you are American and want to rent a monohull in Croatia. Table 1 says you need a bareboat charter license (plus an SRC). Table 2 says the American equivalent is ASA 104.
Who decides whether my license is accepted?
The boat owner or charter company has the final say. If you are not sure your license will be accepted, ask your booking agent. We check it with the charter company for you before you book.
Why get an ICC?
The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is widely recognized by charter companies and authorities, especially in Europe. If you are getting a license for chartering, an ICC is a good choice.
Radio license
If the boat has a marine radio on board, the person using it needs a Short Range Certificate (SRC) or an equivalent radio license.
