Sailing requirements

To sail in this destination you’ll need a sailing licence. The requirement is (at min.) an ICC, RYA Day Skipper qualification or above, plus a VHF licence. Original license/certificate must be presented upon check-in at the base.

To charter in Croatia, there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time. As a yacht skipper, you are required to have an official sailing license or a certificate issued by a government of state approved organisation as detailed below.

Skipper is required to have one (1) of the following:

• RYA Day Skipper Course + PLUS VHF Licence
• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International + PLUS VHF Licence
• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America (*Includes VHF)
  • Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”
• NauticEd SLC (International Sailing License and Credentials), International (*Includes VHF)

OR

• UK – MCA Master (Yacht less than 500 gt), RYA Day Skipper Shore based Certificate or above
• USA – US Sailing “Basic Keelboat”, ASA 103 “Basic Coastal Cruising”, or above
• Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“, or above
• Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet | Brevet de conduite général
• France – LE PERMIS PLAISANCE
• South Africa – SA Sailing (SAS) Day Skipper Licence + PLUS VHF Licence

+ PLUS VHF Licence

Skipper is required to have a VHF Radio Operator’s Licence.

A list of officially accepted licences is available at the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Please check the list of officially accepted licenses before contacting the base with any queries as the list is updated every few months. This list is organised by country and details the accepted competence levels for experience, boat size and distance-from-shore-sailing for the various certificates accepted. please contact your Holiday Planner if you need additional information.

It is essential that you take your original skippers license or certificate with you in the event that the Port Authorities ask you to present it to them. If you do not have an official sailing licence, by law the team at base will not be able to allow you to charter without an officially certified skipper onboard.

If you do not hold a recognised sailing licence, we will assist you in finding an accredited program.

In Croatia, Sunsail Agana RYA Sailing School runs RYA Day Skipper and RYA Competent Crew courses. Completion of the RYA Day Skipper Course will also guarantee you the ICC on application without any further courses or exams.

Please contact one of our Holiday Planners to learn more!

To sail in this destination you’ll need one of the following certifications: ASA 104, US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”, SLC, IPC, ICC. Original license/certificate must be presented upon check in at the base.

To charter a yacht in Greece, there must be at least one certified skipper and one able-bodied crew member, both over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time.

The Skipper should nominate at least one crew member (as a First Mate). The First Mate needs to be over the age of 18, and able-bodied. A formal qualification is not necessarily required for the First Mate.

*As a yacht skipper, you are required to have a sailing license or a certificate from a recognized sailing association AND/OR an ICC or IPC as detailed below:

Skipper is required to have one (1) of the following:

• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International
• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America
• Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”
• Upon completion of the ASA 104 OR US Sailing Bareboat Cruising *minimum requirement, sailors must apply for the IPC Certificate to charter in European/Mediterranean Waters prior to arrival
• How to apply for the IPC if you have ASA 104 Certification
• How to apply for the IPC if you have US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification
• NauticEd SLC (International Sailing License and Credentials), International

OR

• UK – ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International
• USA – US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”, ASA “104 Bareboat Cruising Course” or above
• Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“ or above
• Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet/ Brevet de conduite général
• France – LE PERMIS PLAISANCE

A copy of all sailing certificates must be sent to the base and received at least 2 weeks before the start of the charter. It is also required that skippers take their original copies of certificates with them, as they will be asked to present them with their boat paper to the port authorities on arrival.

If you do not hold a recognised sailing licence, we will assist you in finding an accredited program. Alternatively, you can request a skipper. Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!

*If applicable, the First Mate must may also be required to fill out a Declaration of Honour to provide a legal declaration to the Greek Port Authorities that said crew member is competent (able-bodied, and over 18 years), to crew aboard a chartered yacht.

Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!

To sail in this destination you’ll need one of the following certifications: ASA 104, US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”, SLC, IPC, ICC. Original license/certificate must be submitted in advance and presented upon check in at the base.

To charter in Italy, there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time. As a yacht skipper, you are required to have an official sailing license or a certificate issued by the government of state approved organisation as detailed below:

Skipper is required to have one (1) of the following:

Skippers Must Have a Sailing Licence Approved in their Country of Origin:

• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International
• Prerequisites: RYA “Day Skipper Course” or complete the ICC Assessment form to prove competence from previous experience.
• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America
• Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”
• NauticEd SLC (International Sailing License and Credentials), International

OR

• UK – RYA Day Skipper practical (with our without photo)
• USA – US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”, ASA “104 Bareboat Cruising Course” or above
• Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“ or above
• Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet/ Brevet de conduite général
• France – LE PERMIS PLAISANCE

If a Sailing Licence is not compulsory in their country of origin they must have a Declaration from the country’s authority stating that a sailing license is not required and this declaration must be on the skipper’s name. However we would recommend that European citizens have one of the above certificates which are recognised in Italy.

All sailing certificates must be sent to the base and received at least 2 weeks before the start of the charter. It is essential that you take your original skippers licence or certificate with you in the event that the Port Authorities ask you to present it to them. If you do not have an official sailing licence, by law the team at base will not be able to allow you to charter without an officially certified skipper onboard.

If you do not hold a recognised sailing licence, we will assist you in finding an accredited program.

Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!

To sail in this destination you’ll need one of the following certifications: ASA 103, US Sailing “Basic Keelboat”, SLC, IPC, ICC. Original license/certification must be submitted in advance of travel & presented upon check in at the base.

To charter in Seychelles, there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time. As a yacht skipper, you are required to have an official sailing licence or a certificate issued by a government of state approved organisation as detailed below:

Skipper is required to have one (1) of the following:

• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International
• Prerequisites: RYA “Day Skipper Course”, or complete the ICC Assessment form to prove competence from previous experience.
• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”
• NauticEd SLC (International Sailing License and Credentials), International

OR

• UK – MCA Master (Yacht less than 500 gt), RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Certificate or above
• USA – US Sailing “Basic Keelboat”, ASA “103 Basic Coastal Cruising” or above
• Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“ or above
• Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet/ Brevet de conduite général
• France – Permis Hauturier (customer must already have a “Permis Côtier”) 

Skipper is required to have a VHF Radio Operator’s License, please contact your Holiday Planning specialist if you need additional information.

If a Sailing Licence is not compulsory in their country of origin they must have a Declaration from the country’s authority stating that a sailing licence is not required and this declaration must be in the skipper’s name. However, we would recommend that European citizens have one of the above certificates which are recognised.

All sailing certificates must be sent to the base and received at least 2 weeks before the start of the charter. It is essential that you take your original skippers licence or certificate with you in the event that the Port Authorities ask you to present it to them. If you do not have an official sailing licence, by law the team at base will not be able to allow you to charter without an officially certified skipper onboard.

If you do not hold a recognised sailing licence, we will assist you in finding an accredited program. Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!

Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!

To charter a sailing yacht in the Bahamas, there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old. The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, navigating in shallow waters, anchoring, and mooring in varying conditions. The skipper must be able to use navigation and piloting skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time.

Skippers Must Have an official Sailing License/ certificate approved in their Country of Origin. Skipper is Required to have one of the following:

• NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master – www.nauticed.org/bahamian-certification-sunsail 
• NauticEd SLC (international Sailing License and Credentials), International
• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America
• ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International
• USA – US Sailing, “Bareboat Cruising Course”, ASA: “103- Coastal Cruising Course”, “104- Bareboat Cruising Course”, or above
• US Coast Guard License
• Or, local country equivalent (subject to approval)

The skipper is responsible for confirming that the specifications of his or her license are consistent with the required competency in commanding a yacht of the size/type he or she will be chartering, as well as navigating waters comparable to those he or she will be visiting.

A copy of all certificates must be uploaded to checklist and brought with you as they may be requested by the Port Authority.

If you do not hold a recognized sailing license, we will assist you in finding an accredited program.

Please contact one of our Vacation Planners to learn more!