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Do You Need a License to Drive a Yacht?

Owning a yacht embodies luxury, freedom, and adventure on the open waters. However, amid the allure of yacht ownership, there's a critical aspect often overlooked—the necessity of possessing a valid yacht license. This article delves into why having a license to drive a yacht is indispensable for aspiring owners. But do you need a license to drive a yacht? The team at Yacht Management , a leading provider of yacht maintenance services, provides all the information you need to know here.

What to Know About Yacht Ownership

What to Know About Yacht Ownership As a leading yacht maintenance company, we understand that yacht ownership represents the epitome of luxury and an unparalleled sense of freedom in the realm of maritime indulgence. It embodies an aspirational lifestyle coveted by many, symbolizing not just a possession but being amid a world of opulence and unparalleled experiences.

The allure of owning a yacht extends beyond mere ownership. It encapsulates the spirit of adventure and the thrill of exploration on the open seas. Picture the sheer liberation of charting your course, unfettered by land-bound constraints, navigating through pristine waters to your chosen destinations. It's a lifestyle that harmonizes luxury with the freedom to explore remote coves, pristine islands, and exotic locales, all within the sanctum of your private vessel.

Yacht ownership is more than a status symbol; it's a gateway to a unique way of life where one can escape the ordinary and immerse oneself in the extraordinary. The sensation of being surrounded by boundless azure horizons, the sun painting the sky in hues of gold during sunset cruises, and the gentle rhythm of waves against the hull—all contribute to an unmatched sense of liberation and tranquility.

Owning a yacht brings unparalleled freedom, allowing one to embrace the spontaneity of travel and the luxury of seafaring without limitations. It's an embodiment of personal expression, where the yacht becomes an extension of one's identity, reflecting individual tastes and desires amidst the vast expanse of the ocean.

Being a yacht owner is not solely about possessing a magnificent vessel; it's an invitation to a lifestyle where luxury, adventure, and the boundless freedom of the seas converge, creating an experience that transcends the ordinary and defines the extraordinary. But do you need a license to drive a yacht and make the lifestyle your everyday experience?

Why Having a License for a Yacht Is So Important

There is more to know beyond answering the question, "Do you need a license to drive a yacht?" Knowing why you want one to be in your possession is important. Below are some of the main points our yacht service experts want you to remember. 

Legal Compliance and Regulations of a Florida Boating License

The operation of a yacht demands meticulous adherence to a myriad of legal frameworks and maritime regulations. These encompass licensing requirements, registration obligations, and adherence to safety standards stipulated by international and regional maritime bodies. Understanding and complying with these legal mandates is not merely a formality. It is the cornerstone of responsible yachting. Moreover, a profound comprehension of maritime laws ensures the safety of all onboard, mitigating risks and fostering a secure environment for crew and passengers alike.

Mastery of Navigation at Sea

Navigating a yacht presents unique challenges that demand a comprehensive grasp of navigation techniques. Unlike land-based travel, yachting requires proficiency in understanding nautical charts, interpreting weather patterns, and employing navigation tools specific to maritime environments. Mastering these skills is imperative for ensuring safe passage, efficient handling of the vessel, and the ability to navigate diverse and often unpredictable waterways.

Handling Emergencies at Sea The vastness of the seas brings with it the potential for unforeseen emergencies. From inclement weather conditions to mechanical failures, being equipped to address these difficulties is non-negotiable. A thorough understanding of emergency protocols, swift decision-making in crisis scenarios, and possessing the skill set to manage emergencies effectively are paramount. Whether it involves first aid proficiency, knowledge of distress signals, or executing evacuation procedures, preparedness is vital to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone aboard. Do you need a license to drive a yacht and handle these emergencies? The experience comes with the practice that only a license will present to you.

Obtaining a license to drive a yacht extends far beyond a legal requirement. It embodies a commitment to safety, proficiency, and responsible seamanship. Mastery of maritime laws, navigation skills, and preparedness in handling emergencies form the bedrock of a conscientious and adept yacht operator, ensuring not just compliance but also the safety and security of all involved in the yachting experience.

The Process of Obtaining a Florida Yacht License  "Do you need a license to drive a yacht?" This question often marks the outset of one's journey toward navigating the world's waters aboard one's own vessel. Addressing this query initiates a multifaceted process involving stringent prerequisites and comprehensive training to ensure the mastery of essential skills integral to responsible yacht operation. Our yacht care professionals are masters in all things related to navigation. Here, they present things you must know when you are undergoing the process of obtaining your license.

Florida Boat License Requirement and Training Acquiring a yacht license requires fulfilling specific prerequisites that vary depending on the region and the license type sought. Typically, applicants must meet age requirements, undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure physical fitness and complete a specified number of logged sea hours. A fundamental understanding of maritime laws and navigation principles is also essential through formal education or training courses.

Training programs for yacht licensing encompass a comprehensive curriculum covering seamanship, navigation techniques, safety protocols, and emergency procedures. These programs, often conducted by certified maritime institutions or accredited training centers, offer theoretical instruction complemented by practical, hands-on experience aboard vessels. They equip aspiring yacht operators with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate, operate, and manage a yacht proficiently and safely.

Variations of the License for Boating in Florida  Yacht licenses vary in scope and designation, catering to different yacht sizes, navigational zones, and purposes. Common categories include licenses for recreational yachts, commercial vessels, and specific endorsements for operating in coastal or open waters. Licenses may also differ based on propulsion systems, accommodating both sail and motor yachts. The scope ranges from inland waterways to unrestricted navigation in international waters, reflecting varying degrees of competency and experience required for each category.

Beyond the fundamental yacht license, endorsements or supplementary certifications augment an operator's skill set. These endorsements often focus on specialized areas such as offshore sailing, handling specific types of vessels, or certifications in advanced navigation techniques. Additionally, safety and first aid, radio operation, or environmental stewardship certifications further enhance an operator's capabilities and preparedness, ensuring a comprehensive skill set for navigating diverse yachting scenarios.

Obtaining a yacht license involves meeting prerequisites, undergoing rigorous training, and selecting the appropriate license category tailored to one's yachting ambitions. Furthermore, pursuing endorsements and supplementary certifications enriches an operator's proficiency and preparedness, ensuring a well-rounded skill set for navigating the complexities of yachting.

Get in Touch With a Leader Among Yacht Maintenance Companies

Do you need a license to drive a yacht? Yes! It won't only prove essential in legal and regulatory matters. It will also provide the necessary experience and practice to captain a vessel confidently.

But if you're seeking a partner to care for your watercraft, don't settle for just any South Florida yacht maintenance company. Team up with the experts at Yacht Management for unmatched care. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to reach out to our team today or call our team directly to speak with a representative today.

Be sure to also take a look at our yachting blog for a deep dive into several topics our professionals regularly cover. Take your yachting experience to the next level with the help of seasoned experts who call the ocean home and their clients a commitment to excellence that will be met.

Related Readings:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Boat Navigation
• The Art of Luxury Yacht Provisioning
• Reasons to Hire a Boat Captain

For all inquiries, fill out the form below and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible

How To Get Your ICC Certification (in 8 Countries)

Understanding how to get the International Certificate of Competence can be complex. Different countries issue them differently. In this article, I'll list the exact process for 8 different countries.

How to get your ICC certification? In most countries you can simply apply for an ICC if you have the correct national boating licenses. However, some countries, like the US, can't issue the ICC. Luckily, there are alternatives available, like the SLC or IPC.

For each country, the process is somewhat different, and the licenses required are named differently. So I've compiled a list with all the different national licenses you can use to get yourself an ICC or an alternative international license.

On this page:

How to get your international license, united states, united kingdom, switzerland, the netherlands.

The ICC is the International Certificate of Competence for Operator of Pleasure Craft . You'll want to get this if you're planning on sailing international or coastal waters or chartering boats in Europe, for example.

The ICC is an internationally accepted sailing license. Most countries accept the ICC. There are some exceptions, but in practice, even in these countries, most charter companies will accept the ICC as sufficient proof of sailing experience.

In most countries, you can get an ICC by getting the right national boating licenses. After that, you can simply apply for an ICC with the right authorities. OR you automatically get the ICC, if it's integrated with the national license.

For example, in The Netherlands, you simply obtain Boat License I + II. The ICC is integrated with the national licenses.

The Required Licenses for 8 Different Countries

Here's a comprehensive table of the different ways to get an international sailing license in different countries:

I'll discuss each country in detail below.

The U.S. hasn't signed UN Resolution 40 (UNR40), which means they can't issue ICC's.

This makes it difficult for U.S. citizens to get an ICC. In theory, you could get an RYA Day Skipper course and apply for an ICC with the RYA. They have certified U.S. partners. However, it's only in three locations, so not always a practical option.

Luckily, there are some other options.

International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)

Your first alternative is to get an International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) instead.

The IPC is issued by ASA (American Sailing Association). You can apply for one here .

To apply for one, you must be a certified ASA sailor with at least ASA 101, ASA 103 and ASA 104 certifications.

Sailing License and Credentials (SLC)

NauticEd's International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) is another good option. The SLC is a valid international sailing license. It's probably the easiest and least expensive option for US residents.

It's a great alternative if you already have a lot of practical experience. You do need to do a one-day practical assessment (takes about 6 hours), and have a national (state) boating license.

The cool thing about this license is most of your training is online. You simply take NauticEd's Bareboat Charter Master Course . This bundle of courses will take about 40 hours in total, and goes over all the nitty-gritty of sailing theory. So you'll be sure to be up to date.

And it's pretty affordable too, at $175.

If you need more information before signing up for a $175 course, make sure to read William's in-depth NauticEd review , in which he goes over most of the courses.

• Read more on the SLC at NauticEd here .
• If you want to try out NauticEd's course system, you could sign up for two completely free courses first (opens in new tab).

Get Your State Boating License First

Regardless of the course you end up taking, you should probably first get your state boaters license. This is cheap and easy: in most states, you can learn and take the exam online. If you want to learn what State Boaters License you should get for your state, please check out my article on the boating licenses for all 50 states here .

More Detailed Step-By-Step Plan

If you're looking to learn to sail from scratch, but don't know where to start, I have written a detailed e-book that contains actionable step-by-step lesson plans for different budgets and situations. This book will save you hundreds of dollars, hours, and a headache. You can get it here. Please check it out. You will support our work, and more importantly: it will help you get started much quicker and cheaper.

In the United Kingdom, the RYA issues the ICC. You can apply for the ICC if you have an RYA Day Skipper certification .

If you don't, you could also take a special ICC Assessment at an ICC test center.

You can apply for an ICC here (opens in new tab).

Canada can issue ICC's. If you want to be able to apply for one, you'll need to have finished the RYA Day Skipper Theory & Practical course.

If you already have sufficient practical skill and theoretical knowledge (similar to RYA or higher), you could also take a one-day ICC assessment. These typically take about 6 hours and cost about $600.

This is the cheapest way IF you already have the experience that's required.

Australia can't issue ICC licenses, but they are partners with RYA. This means Australians can obtain the ICC by successfully completing the RYA Day Skipper Practical & Theory course. After that, you may apply for an ICC through the RYA.

If you already have sufficient practical skill and theoretical knowledge (level RYA Day Skipper or higher), you could also take a one-day ICC assessment. These typically take about 6 hours and cost about $600.

France issues their own ICC licenses. To apply for an ICC there, you first need the national boating license.

LE PERMIS PLAISANCE - extension Grande plaisance fluviale

This extension translates to Pleasure Craft Great Rivers. It will get you the ICC Coastal waters permit.

Ireland issues their own ICC licenses. You'll have to complete a special training course for Boating Abroad at the Irish Sailing Assocation.

To find training locations and apply for a course, you can check their website here .

Switzerland issues their own ICC licenses. You will get the ICC card after obtaining the national boating license.

The national license you'll need is called:

Hochseeausweis (Swiss Certificate of Competence for Ocean Yachting)

It's issued by the Cruising Club der Schweiz (CCS) in Bern.

To get this permit, you'll need to prove 1000 miles of sailing experience and pass a theory exam. Please note, inland miles are excluded; you have to prove 1000 miles of sea experience.

Alternatives to getting an ICC are:

• Sportbootfüherschein See (SBF Germany)

The Netherlands issues ICC. Here, the ICC is integrated with the two national boating licenses (I and II). In order to sail coastal waters, you'll need both. After obtaining both licenses, you automatically receive your ICC.

The official name of the licenses are:

Vaarbewijs I - or: Boat license I Vaarbewijs II - or: Boat license II

Hi, I am a Brazilian expat living in the Netherlands. I have sailed for about 30 years back in Brazil and I would like to know if there is a way of getting an ICC license to sail leisure crafts in the Netherlands (and eventually Europe) through an exam in English (in the Netherlands), as I am still beginning to learn Dutch. Thank you very much.

John Morten

Hva med Kroatia ?. Jeg Har D5LA- ICC utstedt i Norge. VHF. IMO Krise å beredskap.

Doug F Schwartzsmith

I am going to redo some training. Is it true that the SLC certification offered by Nauticed is very widely recognized and accepted throughout the world for chartering (along with one’s on-the-water resume of course). It is created in the USA because the ICC and RYA are unavailable in USA (at least this is what I think is true). I’d like to get something that is known in as many locations as possible! Thank you for your time. Aloha, Doug

Marie-Jose van Rie

I am an avid sailor and a professional translator and interpreter of English. I am looking for an English language textbook about the basics of motor boating and sailing( technical details, priority rules etc) that can help me prepare for interpretation services at the Dutch CBR, the institute that issues the Dutch Vaarbewijs I and II (Sailing licenses I and II). who can help out? Thanks in advance.

Jon Bayliss

I have held an RYA Yactmaster Offshore Certificate for many years but I now wish to sail the inland waterways in Europe. I can take the CEVNI on line with no problem if necessary. My boat is registered in France where I live. What is the easiest way to get an ICC? Many thanks for your help.

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Where to study sailing. The guide to yachting schools and licenses

The audience of fans of sailing is constantly expanding. Basically, it is growing because of those who choose yachting as an active holiday , and do not seek for a sports or professional career. After two or three cruises on a charter boat with a hired skipper you logically begin to desire to stand abaft the wheel on your own. And here comes the question: Where to go to study? In this article, we will consider what schools exist and how to choose between them.

Reasons to learn sailing. Why get a yachting license

The first thing you need to decide for yourself is why you need a sailing license: only for leisure or for work too. Besides, you need to decide on the navigation region, the distance of the proposed routes from the coast, whether you want to manage your own sailboat and sailing plans for several years ahead. Why it is important to understand your goal before choosing a school? There are two main reasons:

• There is a big difference between sailing in the Mediterranean and, for example, the Transatlantic crossing. These are completely different levels of licenses.
• The requirements for the skipper on the part of the authorities and the charter company will depend on the host country. The owner of his own yacht under the national flag is always in a better position than the person who rents a sailboat. It is related to the variety of types of licenses and the lack of a single global legal framework.

Types of sailing schools and licences. How to learn yachting

Let's try to deal with the most common types of documents confirming the right to sail a yacht. There are five main ones:

Types of sailing schools and licences. Valerya Milovanova / Windy.app

National license if you are a yacht owner

If you are traveling in your own boat, then, as in the case of a car, for most countries there will be enough a national license. So, for US residents all the information about obtaining certificates of competence to a sailing yacht can be found at  Ussailing.org . Depending on the state, the document may vary or be inexistent at all.

The UK does not require its citizens any documents to navigate a yacht up to 24 meters in length, but to go beyond the territorial waters, it offers to receive an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) which is authorized to issue by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). We will talk about it below. Or, for example, in Greece such issues are managed by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy.

ICC for some European countries

If car drivers have the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968, then yachtsmen have resolution No. 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) of 1998. The resolution establishes an international certificate for the right to sail pleasure boats — ICC.

But even within the European Union, this document is not recognized everywhere so that by itself it has a very modest value. Today ICC is accepted in more than 20 countries including Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Croatia, South Africa, and others.

Since 2019 the port authorities of Greece have also begun to pay attention to the availability of this license.

RYA for professionals in the yachting industry

If you need not only a document that is used almost everywhere in the world, but also real knowledge, supported by experience, you should contact a school that has RYA accreditation. Until recently, only British subjects could manage such institutions.The main agency in the harshest possible way takes care of the level of trainers, the observance of training programs and the quality of examinations. English is the language of instruction, just as the language of negotiations on the float.

Currently, RYA offers 79 different programs covering almost all areas of activity on the water. It is important to understand: paying for school fees doesn’t guarantee that you will receive the precious license. To do this, you have to study hard and be well-prepared for all verification tests.

IYT for self-charter

The second most popular sailing school system is Canadian International Yacht Training (IYT). There are no such severities as in RYA. The school can teach in any language, and control by headquarters is very conditional. Thanks to this, the system has spread widely in the countries of Eastern Europe.

Many training centers and even individual instructors can absolutely legally issue you this kind of document. Naturally, the percentage of those who passed the examination for driving license at the first try is much higher here. Nevertheless, many charter companies are ready to permit boats to skippers with such a license.

Private and non-certified programs for beginners and those who do not want to go far from home

In addition, there are many other academic associations, but their documents are recognized, at best, only by several friendly rental companies. There are also those who have RYA or IYT accreditations, but at the same time, they offer their own non-certified programs. First of all, they are intended for those who are just begin sailing. Here the main task of students is to gain basic practical experience, study up on terminology, but without overpaying for a licensed course.

It is possible to get such a base on any reservoir, while for full training you will have to go to the sea. In fact, all further training, except for the very basics, is tied exactly to the sea crossings and nautical miles. In fact, all further training, except for the very basics, is tied exactly to the sea passages and nautical miles building.

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Types of yachting programs. How much time and money is needed to learn sailing

Yachting school training programs are a logical extension of the licenses needed to operate a yacht and sail it on the seas. But they can all be divided into four types: for beginners, advanced amateurs and professionals who want to improve their skills or get a new license. There is a separate category for those who are going to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Let us also focus on RYA and IYT as the main ones.

Sailing school programs for newbies

The minimum level of competency that both schools offer is Competent Crew. The program RYA Competent Crew (RYA CC) is designed for those who are tired of being passengers and want to get the basics of sailing the yacht. In case you have never been on board, there is an introductory online course called “Start Yachting”, but you can easily replace it by reading the book “Sailing for Dummies”. After having the RYA-course, you will understand the terminology, learn how to knit basic knots, be able to work with sails and provide expert assistance in mooring. The most important thing is that this certificate gives you the right to be on duty and turns you into a qualified expert, whose presence on board may be critical for some charter companies.

IYT offers beginners the Day Skipper / Crew Sail program. In contrast to the Competent Crew, the holder of this certificate gets the right to sail a yacht up to 10 meters during the daytime on inland waterways, with a distance of no more than 5 miles from the coast and of course in good weather.

Sailing school programs for upper and advanced level

RYA Day Skipper or International Bareboat Skipper programs from IYT includes theory and practice. The theoretical part can be learned in the same school where you will take a practical exam, or you can prepare yourself, including online or choose courses near the house, where you will be trained to pass a theory test, but without overpaying for tuition at a certified center.

RYA and IYT programs are almost identical. They train coastal captains with the only difference that the RYA Day Skipper requires only 100 covered nautical miles.

Both programs limit the navigation area to the 20-mile zone in tidal waters, and the time of exit - by daylight hours. In the case of RYA, you can remove the time limit by completing the additional Coastal Skipper (RYA CS) course, but for this, you will need to build another 300 nautical miles and spend at least 15 days to train.

An RYA Yachtmaster Coastal certificate will give you full skills set. Having it you will be able to be a crew on commercial yachts, in fact becoming a full-fledged captain. But only coastal navigation. The estimated cost of the RYA Day Skipper is 1100 pounds, the additional RYA Coastal Skipper course is 700 pounds and the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal certificate is 2000 pounds.

The IYT program will take 10 days to study and will require at least 200 nautical miles. And receiving an ICC certificate for an additional payment, you will be also allowed to sail in the dark. IYT also has the Yachtmaster Coastal program, which expands the coastal navigation zone to 60 miles, but does not give the right to work as a skipper. Such a license will cost about 1,100 euros, and the additional ICC certificate is another 150 euros.

Sailing school programs for pros

If you want not to limit yourself to coastal areas and to participate in offshore races, such as the Rolex Middle Sea Race, for example, you will need a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.  The name of the course is identical in both schools. You have to work really hard to get this license: the asset must have at least 2,000 covering nautical miles, long crossings as a captain and serious bundle of knowledge. The price is roughly comparable: RYA — 2500 pounds, IYT — 2500 euros.

Sailing school program for those who are going across the Atlantic

For those who conceive an idea to cross the Atlantic or around Cape Horn regularly, the highest level is intended: Yachtmaster Ocean. To obtain it, you must have a practice of at least ten years, including non-stop crossings at least 600 covering nautical miles. So, for beginners, Yachtmaster Ocean can only serve as a long guide marks to the future.

Content of the sailing training program. What does yacht training include

Before studying you should learn the details of the selected course. Regardless of the school, it is guaranteed to include certain positions. For daytime coastal navigation this is:

• a theoretical and practical course in navigation,
• the construction of the yacht,
• preparation of the yacht for sailing,
• practicing of emergency situations, including "Man overboard",
• navigating the yacht under the motor and under sail,
• tips for anchoring and mooring.

In addition, it may be necessary to complete a practical course of using Marine VHF DSC radios and a course of first aid. In fact, before you go to sea, you have to pass the theory, as in obtaining the driving license. Those who do not pass — are not allowed to sail. Naturally, self-preparation plus the minimum experience gained at any local yacht club can play a big role.

Kids yachting education

All mentioned programs are available for those who are already 18 years old. But this does not mean that yachting is not for children. On the contrary. Already from the age of six, you can send a child to the sailing section, where he/she will not only comprehend the theoretical base, but also receive invaluable competitive experience. If you want to make a right choice, you should look at the number of regatta awards received by its pupils over the past five years.

The first step in most sailing schools is still the dinghy "Optimist": an international class that is perfectly suited for elementary education. At the same time, there are very large-scale competitions right up to the world championship. It will be already clear at this stage what the potential of the young yachtsman is. And if he can express himself, then the direct way goes further into the Olympic classes, where in addition to good tactical thinking and the sense of the wind that has been developed at the "Optimist", he will need serious physical training.

In the event that he does not like the Olympic sport, nothing can prevent from going to the non-Olympic classes. The skill of sailing can perfectly support both pleasant leisure on the float, and participation in amateur regattas, where the intensity of emotions is not lower than in professional sports. A huge number of different classes around the world ensures that you can easily find a sailboat on which you can sail and float with your child.

Useful books for yachtsman

An alternative to the study of theory in the classroom and to consolidate the basic knowledge is to get acquainted with the specialized literature. To prepare it is optimally to read the RYA or IYT study guides. At the same time, "The Handbook of Sailing: A Complete Guide to All Sailing Techniques and Procedures for the Beginner and the Experienced Sailor" by Bob Bond remains an ageless classic. It is worth to pay attention to the work "Complete Sailing Manual" by Steve Sleight. For those who want to thoroughly understand the work of the sails and rigging, the book by Bill Gladstone "Sail Trim and Rig Tuning: A Captain's Quick Guide (Captain's Quick Guides)" is suitable. But the main advice: do not forget to combine theory with practice. And then yachting will give you a maximum of positive emotions!

The most popular schools among beginner yachtmen. Where to learn sailing

Of course, the best schools for learning yachting are those located in maritime countries with a rich yachting history and where the path from school desk to port and out to sea is as short as possible. Let's take the Mediterranean Sea as an example: here the main yachting schools are located in Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. Here is a small list of specific schools:

Sailing schools in Greece

• Aegean Sailing School Accredited by RYA
• Thessalia School of Sailing Accredited by RYA
• Kalamaki Sailing School Accredited by IYT
• Athens Sailing School Accredited by IYT

Sailing schools in Montenegro

• Porto Montenegro Yacht Club Accredited by RYA
• Yacht School "7 winds" Accredited by IYT
• Sail Band Sailing School Accredited by IYT

Sailing schools in Croatia

• Yacht Sail Training Accredited by RYA
• Activity Yachting Accredited by IYT
• Adriatic Sailing Academy Accredited by IYT

As some sort of conclusion: both RYA and YIT have many fans around the world. Disputes about which sail training system is better do not die down for a minute. My advice: if your goal is coastal navigation, pay attention to the combination of the International Bareboat Skipper from IYT and the International Certificate of Competence. As for the more advanced levels, look at the programs from RYA.

Regardless of your license, gain as much practice as possible. If you wish, you can always take part in a sailboat transfer as a crew and build nautical miles or little by little to gain experience in regular small voyages. Find a certified center near you at the following links:  RYA ,  IYT .

This post was originally published on the Windy.app blog on July 15, 2019.

Text: Windy.app team

Cover photo: Shuttestock

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INTERNATIONAL SAILING LICENSE AND CREDENTIALS (SLC™)

Enter the slc number on the holder's card or their email address to verify its authenticity and view their sailing resume, how to gain the slc™.

How to gain your SLC Mediterranean Sailing License

WHAT IS THE SLC™

The International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) is a recreational sailing license valid for all yacht charter companies worldwide including Europe and the Seychelles. To gain an SLC, the candidate must take online theroy knowledge self-paced classes, log previous sufficient sailing experience on boats of reasonably similar size, and demonstrate practical sailing skills according to internationally established sailing standards.

• If you are verifying an SLC document that a client has presented to you, enter their SLC number above
• NauticEd is a United States Coast Guard recognized Sailing Education Body and recognized under the American National Standards by this official letter of recognition

ABOUT THE SLC™

Sufficient documented and recent experience.

An SLC holder must have logged a minimum of 50 days of sailing, 25 of which must be as master of the vessel. Additionally, the SLC card shows the vessel size endorsement. This size is calculated as the greater of either: 10 feet (3 m) greater than the largest size of vessel the holder has sailed as master of the vessel at least 5 times.

In addition to the above, when issued or re-issued, the holder must have sailed at least 10 times within the past two years or 5 times in the past year.

Practical Competence to Internationally Recognized Standards

Gaining an SLC requires an on-the-water assessment of the candidates sailing skills and knowledge. The requirements for passing the SLC assessment exceeds the requirements for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) as well as the American National Standards. This assessment must be completed by an SLC qualified instructor who verifies the student's competence for international bareboat charter worthiness including navigation. See the SLC Sailing License Assessment rubrics here .

International Sailing Theory Knowledge and Testing

An SLC holder has completed a minimum of 40 hours of international sailing theory education and testing - namely, the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses . Topics include Skippering, Docking and Maneuvering a Sailboat Under Power, Coastal Navigation, Electronic Navigation, Anchoring, and Bareboat Chartering. And if the Catamaran vessel type is checked on the SLC, the holder has taken a course on Catamaran sailing and maneuvering and logged at least 1 day of catamaran sailing in addition to the experience requirement listed above.

Verification of Theory Knowledge

In additional to the general sailing education and testing, an SLC holder has recently taken a separate and independent 100-question test to verify their theory knowledge. This test must be taken every 3 years to remain current.

Test modules include:

• Weather and Sea Conditions
• Boat Systems
• Rigging and Sails
• Collision Prevention
• Slip Departures and Returns
• Communication
• Navigation: Charts and Marks
• Navigation: Calculations
• Navigation: Tides and Current
• Navigation: Plotting
• Navigation: Electronic
• Anchoring and Mooring
• Safety and Emergencies

Logical Safety Restrictions on Vessel Size, Type, Tonnage, and Distance

The SLC states the safety restrictions placed on the holder. These restrictions are based upon the holder's real practical experience of skippering vessels in the past such as: maximum length, type, and gross tonnage of the vessel in addition to the distance allowed off shore.

WHY THE SLC

Quite frankly, there are too many organizations "selling" certifications. This endangers the holder of those certifications, their friends, their family, close by boaters, and charter-boat vessels. This practice raises insurance rates for the responsible sailors, soaks up search and rescue resources, and gives false confidence to poorly trained and inexperienced sailors.

NauticEd takes a stand for quality and ensures its students are confident and competent. Thus, the SLC. It is a verification of the Sailing License and Credentials of a worthy sailor.

This means that the holder of an SLC has:

• a valid national government boating endorsed license
• sufficient documented on-the-water sailing experience; on a properly sized vessel
• recent documented on-the-water sailing experience
• been assessed to the ICC standard for on-the-water sailing competence
• completed and passed at least 40 hours of theory study including Coastal and Electronic Navigation
• completed a 100-question test on all aspects of skippering, sailing, bareboat chartering, and navigation
• authentic credentials; all data is secured and verified online through this portal

Finally, the SLC exceeds any other international required standard for bareboat chartering. You should extend any bareboat chartering courtesy possible to the holder.

Enter the SLC number of the card holder above to view and verify their Sailing License and Credentials as well their full sailing resume.

Back to Top | How to gain your SLC Mediterranean Sailing License

BY WHOSE AUTHORITY?

NauticEd is the only government and US Coast Guard recognized sailing body in the USA.

• This international proclamation document shows that the authority NASBLA is the sole agency in charge of issuing boating licenses in the USA.
• This official verification letter shows that NASBLA recognizes and awards NauticEd as meeting the American National Standards for sailing training and assessment.
• This NASBLA verified course approval website lists the USA sailing bodies (including NauticEd) who conform to the US Coast Guard approved American National Standard.

Thus, as a government recognized sailing body, once NauticEd deems a student has met the licensing and credential requirements above, NauticEd issues the SLC. This SLC serves as a valid Sailing License accepted internationally.

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How to get an International Sailing License

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The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or the SLC™ (Sailing License and Credentials)

To gain an appropriate sailing license to sail in the Mediterranean is now a simple process.

FIRST A NOTE OF CAUTION: A Mediterranean Sailing License must also accompany a worthy sailing resume

Yacht charter companies require a sailing resume as well as a legitimate sailing license. Make sure you have an acceptable sailing resume. To put some logic to it – think about it like this: to gain an international sailing license, you must have sufficient and proper experience as a skipper on a large keelboat before a yacht charter company in a foreign country will rent you a boat of a similar size. Be aware of a holding a license with little sailing experience. While you might have a “license”, no charter company will rent you a boat without sufficient experience or a proper resume. You’ll simply be left on the doc holding a piece of paper or you’ll have to hire a skipper for the week. Yacht Charter Companies don’t merely accept a certificate or license they also require a proper sailing resume. Makes sense right? Read this article for more info on this: Why a Resume trumps a certification every time. At NauticEd, we are yacht charter agents also and we often see sailing licenses where the holder has little sailing experience. They get turned down to be able to skipper for the charter.

The following is the reality about the ICC: The ICC is a United Nations created Certificate of Competence for pleasure craft operators. It was created under resolution 40 and signed mostly by European countries although South Africa also signed the resolution. The United States did not, nor did Canada. Thus there are no sailing bodies or associations in the USA or Canada who can offer the ICC through those governments. ICC’s can only be written through signatory countries to the ICC. So in North America, typically the ICC is written through the Royal Yachting Association out of the UK of which there are three locations – Florida, Toronto, and Halifax. If you are close to any of those locations then it makes sense to get the ICC.

The SLC: More recently,  the SLC is also available as an acceptable license for the Mediterranean.  The SLC is administered by NauticEd and is accepted by every Yacht Charter company and port authority in the Mediterranean. There are many accessible NauticEd schools throughout North American able to issue the SLC.

Below we show a handy infographic showing the paths to ICC and SLC licensure.

And here is the text explanation of the above.

To gain the ICC, you can do it in one of two ways

(or jump down below to the SLC license )

Regardless of how you gain the ICC, you must also have an acceptable resume to satisfy the yacht charter company that you are skipper experienced on a similar size boat. NauticEd offers a free resume building tool online. It keeps track of and presents a full resume in a manner accepted by every yacht charter company showing all your sailing experience and splits it out according to boat size, how recent the experience is, and if catamaran or monohull. To see a NauticEd example student resume go to www.nauticed.org/student_verification and enter the credentials of Joe Sailor on that page.

One Day  ICC Assessment

The first is an extensive assessment of your theory knowledge and sailing competence by an RYA qualified instructor. The assessment takes one day. It is a pass/fail assessment whereby no instruction is given. You need to know your stuff. Don’t try to wing it.

Practical Part of the One Day Assessment You’ll need to be very good at maneuvering the boat in and around the marina, including the various types of Mediterranean mooring, springing on and off, and backing the boat. Demonstrate MOB procedures, mooring, anchoring, reefing, sailing skills, heave to, holding a course, tacking and gybing, crew leadership, among other sailing and boating skills.

Theory Part of the One Day Assessment The one-day ICC assessment is a slightly grueling assessment of your theory knowledge such as navigation, tides, rules of giveway, buoy markers, lights, sounds among other sailing and boating theory knowledge topics. But don’t be intimidated, just make sure you know your stuff. There is a heavy emphasis on the theory knowledge of navigation (plotting courses, currents, tides, chart work, day and night ATONs and markers), passage planning, and navigation rules of the road in the assessment. For example, can you draw a North, South, East and West Cardinal Mark? What is the distinguishing light of a safe water marker or an isolated danger mark? Can you calculate at what time could you enter a shallow harbor given the tide almanac? Your sailboat under sail is overtaking a small powerboat on your port side, who must give way? In IALA-A is it Red Right Returning or Red to Red on Return? What about IALA-B? Given a specific current flow rate and direction changing over a tide cycle, could you plot a series of courses to arrive at a destination and estimate the time of arrival? What about fire extinguishers, can you name on the spot the best types of extinguishers for the type of fire? Thus you should learn and get comfortable with this in the theory training online prior to the assessment.

The last thing you want to do is fail. Most sailors can not “wing” this assessment without some study (even experienced sailors). Given this, our North American assessors will not allow you to test out of the assessment without having completed a significant theory knowledge course. We recommend either the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of online courses or the RYA Day Skipper online theory course. They simply do not like to fail people but will if they detect someone trying to wing it.

Usually, we find the sailor is practically competent but are lacking on the specifics of the theory. This is why we strongly suggest the student to take the online classes prior to the event else your approximate (depending on location and school) $400-$600 assessment fee could be wasted. Additionally, we have schools worldwide who can give you training prior to the assessment – we call that a “rust-out” day. It is always best to share with your assessor in advance your weaknesses. Assessors are quite willing to provide instruction prior to assessment.

Gaining the ICC via the RYA Day Skipper Certificate Route

The second method is that you gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate which automatically qualifies you for the ICC. To gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate, you need to do a theory course online and pass a practical 5-day sailing training adventure at an RYA school.

First, pass the theory course for RYA Day Skipper  which you can do online through NauticEd. The course is quite extensive and covers everything required by the United Nations Resolution 40. See below for the UN knowledge requirements. No matter your experience, we also guarantee that you will gain some great sailing knowledge.

Once you pass the Online theory RYA Day Skipper Course, you then attend one of 500 RYA sailing Schools in the world. In North America and the Caribbean, you can go to:

• The  Yachting Education RYA Training Center,  Florida
• Top Mast RYA Training Center in Toronto (Kingston), Ontario, Canada
• Discovery Sailing RYA Training Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• In Slocum’s Wake  RYA Training Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• On Deck RYA Training Center in Antigua
• Sail Grenadines  RYA Training Center in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

You can also do a viable alternative to the ICC if there is not an ICC location near you. Jump here to learn about the SLC .

Complete the theory requirements for the RYA Day Skipper Course and ICC online at home

The Online RYA Day Skipper Sailing Course

The NauticEd RYA Day Skipper online course requires a real person to take the time to grade your exam and that you do the exam with RYA Charts and an Almanac which we include in the cost of the course. Thus, the cost is a bit more than our regular other eLearning courses.

The full RYA Day Skipper course is $394. When you pass this course – you are issued with the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course and Exam complete certificate. Your practical time on the water after that is a breeze, you’ll be doing no exams on the water.

The RYA Day Skipper Practical Training

To complete the RYA Day Skipper Certification, take the 5-day vacation/learn to sail sailing course. By the end of the 5-day training, as long as you demonstrate competence to the standard then you will be issued the RYA Day Skipper Certificate. This automatically qualifies you for the ICC and NauticEd will arrange this for you upon passing the theory and Practical. Visit one of the schools listed above.

In Summary for the ICC

Gain the ICC by either of:

(1) Doing the one-day on-the-water assessment. We recommend either the  NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of online courses or the  theory course for RYA Day Skipper course prior to the assessment else you will likely fail.

(2) Gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate via the  RYA Day Skipper online course and the 5-day on-the-water training at an RYA training center. If you pass the course over the 5 days, this then automatically qualifies you for the ICC.

Which Path to the ICC do we recommend?

Well, it really depends on you. If you are open to learning new tricks and tips and get some solid formal training, you can not beat the full RYA Day Skipper route. If you think you know enough practical, then do the assessment after having passed the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses. But again, know your stuff. Don’t show up a bit “rusty”, instead ask the assessor for a day or so exburn off the rust.

An Alternative – the SLC

For the North American sailor, if an RYA location is not close to you, we recommend that you gain the NauticEd SLC license as an alternative. The SLC works in all countries in Europe including Croatia. The SLC is relatively easy to get but has slightly higher standards than the ICC; meaning you have to know your stuff – even more – the good news is that you get better training and you’re a better sailor for it. No foul there!

To gain the NauticEd SLC you complete the  NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle  of courses online, log your past history sailing experience in our electronic logbook online (which must add to at least 50 days of experience) and do a 1-day assessment similar in scope to the practical ICC assessment at a qualified NauticEd School using these  Bareboat Charter Skills Assessment rubrics .

Learn more about the NauticEd SLC Mediterranean Sailing License here .

Learn more about how to gain the SLC Mediterranean License here

United Nations Resolution 40 ICC Standards for Knowledge

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NauticEd is a fully recognized education and certification platform for sailing students combining online and on-the-water real instruction ( and now VR ). NauticEd offers +24 online courses , a free sailor's toolkit that includes 2 free courses, and six ranks of certification – all integrated into NauticEd’s proprietary platform. The USCG and NASBLA recognize NauticEd as having met the established American National Standards. Learn more at www.nauticed.org .

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How to Apply for a Boating License

In many states across the U.S., a boating license is required to operate most common types of large or motorized water vessels on both waterways and open coastal waters. How to get a boating license is decided on a state by state basis as there is no national legislation for licensing requirements. It is also common for states to forgo the licensing process and to instead require residents to complete a state-approved boating program before operating most types of water vessels. Boaters living in these states are usually required to carry their proof of completion of the necessary course as a permit for boat operation.

Many states allow residents to apply for an online boating license or to enroll in an accredited web-based education program. Most states also offer residents classroom-based boat certification courses that can be taken for a minimal fee if not offered for free by the community. All boaters must meet state eligibility requirements in order to operate a water vessel in that state. Boat operators are required to replace lost licenses or education cards if they are lost or stolen. Visit your state-specific page to learn more about licensing procedures and education requirements for boaters in your state:

Select a state to begin:

Do you need a license to drive a boat in the united states.

Getting a boat license is not a requirement in every state of the U.S. In fact, many states like Tennessee, Texas and Washington state require that most boat drivers complete a state-approved boaters safety course instead of applying for a formal license. Some states require all boat operators to apply for a license or education training, while others only require drivers of a certain age to apply.

Many states separate water vessels into different classes of boats, some which require licensure and some that do not. Oftentimes, kayaks, canoes, small sailboats and similar nonmotorized watercraft do not require licensure to be operated, but exceptions do exist.

Boat License Requirements

The boating license age for boat drivers varies significantly from state to state. In many cases, boat license requirements are divided up according to age groups. The boating age to independently operate a motor vehicle is 16 years of age in West Virginia , for example, although minors from 12 to 15 years of age can drive a boat under the supervision of a licensed adult. In Tennessee, independent operators of water vessels can be as young as 12 years of age if the necessary education course has been completed.

Getting a Boat License in the U.S.

Where to get a boating license depends on where the driver lives in the United States. Boating licenses and cards are issued by state agencies on a local basis and cannot usually be requested from national entities.

How long does it take to get a boating license in most states? Because the application procedures for licenses and cards is different from state to state, the total amount of time it takes to receive certification varies also. Most states offer short classroom courses that can be completed in a day and accept online courses that last between three to eight hours in duration.

Washington state residents must take a boating course and then provide proof of completion to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to be able to operate a water vessel. Boat operators residing in Wyoming do not need to apply for a license or a boat safety certificate to legally drive a water vessel in the state.

Wisconsin residents must request a special ID number from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before they can sign up for any certified education program to have permission to boat in the state. Drivers must look into the specific policies of their state of residency to learn more about how to get a license in their location.

Boater Safety Courses

Boat drivers living anywhere in the United States can enroll in an online boaters safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) to learn more about the best practices for operating a variety of types of water vessels and local regulations and policies concerning the student’s state.

Most states offer in-person boating classes, as well. These are usually taught by trained government officials or local representatives from the military. The material covered in these boating lessons can vary significantly by provider, but generally covers the same principle topics that all drivers must be familiar with before operating any type of water vessel.

A typical boating education program should teach drivers everything they need to know to stay safe while boating. Holders of a boater education card should also be aware of how to leave a minimal impact on their surrounding environment. Because boaters are held to similar laws as operators of other motor vehicles, all courses also cover important laws and consequences that boaters must know before driving in a certain state.

Renewing and Replacing an American Boating License

In states that require a license or boater safety card, it is usually required that the boater keep proof of meeting state requirements with him or her at all times when operating a water vessel. As a result, drivers who have somehow lost or destroyed their boating license must immediately apply for a replacement through the necessary channels.

Certain states require drivers to apply for a duplicate from the state government, while other states direct drivers to request a duplicate directly from the course provider. In most cases, requests for duplicate licenses must be accompanied by the appropriate fee to be correctly processed.

Do boating licenses expire at any point? Whether a boat certification expires or not depends on the type of license or education card the driver has. States that only require a boaters safety certificate do not usually have expiration dates on their permits and allow drivers to operate water vessels without worrying about renewal procedures. This is true for boat operators in Vermont , for example. States that require drivers to be official licenses to operate a boat may have expiration dates.

Boat Registration Basics

Throughout the United States, a boat registration on the state level is required by most types of larger and motorized water vessels. Applying for a boat title and registration is usually a matter of submitting an application with proof of ownership and an application fee to the department of motor vehicles or transportation of that state. Most states offer multiple submission methods for registration and title documents.

Once the registration is processed, most states offer boat registration stickers that must be attached to a specific place on the outer hull of the applicable water vessel. Boaters who fail to comply with their resident state’s DMV boat registration procedure generally face penalties similar to driving a motor vehicle without the proper documentation.

Boat operators living in Wyoming, for example, must submit a registration request once every one or three years for all motorized water vessels to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department along with the necessary application fee to meet state requirements.

Boating Rules and Regulations in the United States

Boating rules throughout the United States were created with the purpose of keeping boaters, swimmers and other enjoying the water safe while sustainably using our natural resources. Most boating regulations are created on a state by state basis, but many basic best practices are the same across state boundaries.

Many of these regulations concern making sure that water vessels meet boat requirements like having the necessary Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and emergency signaling systems. Examples of boating rules that are very common amongst various states include:

• All water vessels must have at least one wearable, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved life jacket on board for every person on the boat at all times.
• All life jackets must fit appropriately according to the age, weight and activity of expected occupants and be in proper, usable condition.
• All water vessels of certain classes must have at least one throwable USCG-approved personal flotation device.
• All boat passengers of any age aboard any type of personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a life jacket at all times.
• Passengers on all water vessels who are young minors must wear an USCG-approved life jacket at all times when the boat is in motion.
• All motorboats, houseboats and some other categories of water vessels must have a proper fire extinguisher on board.
• All motorized watercraft and sailboats must display the necessary lights at an appropriate strength from sunset to sunrise, visible 360 degrees.
• All motorized water vessels must have a suitable sound producing system on board to signal for help in the case of an emergency.
• Boating under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is illegal throughout the United States. Drivers found to be operating a boat while intoxicated will face criminal penalties akin to driving a car while under the influence.

Boating License Fees

The total cost for a boating license must be confirmed with the managing state agency in the driver’s home state. Some states ask minimal boat card application fees, while others provide the service free of charge. In states where some form of boating course is required, boat operators can usually find both free and affordable options that average around $30 a course.

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Yacht Crew Licenses & Certifications: Q & A

Captain Mark Fry, of International Yacht Training , answers your questions.

Q : How does one substantiate the requirement of actual cruising time as a qualification for the "6 Pak" license? I have been boating for at least the last 15 years and have substantial hours, however I never maintained a log. I am afraid that this requirement has and will keep guys like me from going for their licenses. Thanks, Dick B.

A : To substantiate sea time for the US Coastguard "6 pack" license on your own vessel, you are required to complete the "small vessel service form" from the USCG. As the owner of the yacht you can sign off your own sea time and have it notorised from someone who can substantiate it such as a dock master, yacht club commodore or such like. If you are not the owner of the boat(s) where you have done your sea time, you must, unfortunately, have each individual boat owner sign each form; then each form must be notarized. Needless to say, this can be a very difficult and tedious task.

____________________________

Q : I am interested in starting a crewed charter business either based in BVI or AVI 1) Is their any captain licence that covers both or do I need two Licences? I am currently located in Newark, DE. USA. 2) Do you have any sugestions for me as far as schools or study guide courses? 3) I have plenty of sea time but mostly on smaller yachets. How can I gain my tonnage ratings for large sailing vessels 100 - 200 Ton Master? David M.

A : It is very interesting that you have brought up this question at this time. The British Virgin Islands passed a law on Feb 1st 2005, that any vessel chartering in their waters must have a qualified Captain on board with a qualification recognised by the BVI. Here at IYT, we issue dual certification for American citizens. That is a 200 Ton Yachtmaster Offshore certificate and a USCG 200 Ton Masters license. This helps satisfy both administrations so you can work in both the BVI and the USVI. IYT holds the dual Yachtmaster course once a month in our Ft Lauderdale facility. Details of entry level requirements, course schedule and pricing can be found on our website.

Q : Is it true that boat insurance goes up dramatically when one obtains a Captains License? We have heard this, but would think that the opposite should be true - that a licensed captain should be a lower risk. Rebecca V.

A : You are absolutely correct, there are a number of companies that will give you a reduction in your boat insurance if you hold a Captain license or a recognized certificate of competency. But like car insurance, you should shop around for the best deal.

Q: How do I get an International Certificate of Competency (ICC) to charter in Spain? William C.

Here at IYT in Ft Lauderdale, we are licensed to issue ICC's on behalf of both the U.K. and the Irish Governments. Generally speaking however, you must be a resident of one of these countries in order to obtain an ICC. We are trying to find out how we can issue ICC's on behalf of the US Coastguards but so far have been unable to get a satisfactory reply. We have also requested permission from the Irish Government to issue ICC's to non-Irish residents and are currently awaiting a reply. If we get permission to issue ICC's in the US from the Irish Government, then as part of the EU this certificate will be good to charter anywhere in Europe. You will be able to obtain this certificate here is the USA. As soon as we get an answer we will update you.

Q : I'm a bit confused...."Yachtmaster" is a registered Trade Mark of the UK's Royal Yachting Association. Your website doesnt even mention the RYA and you seem to have no affiliation with it!! As a long term holder of RYA certification, I would not like to see my qualifications degraded or indeed the Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean tickets confused with anything other than the "real thing"! Tony N-W

A - Hi Tony, International Yachtmaster Training ( IYT ) is a U.S. Corporation and has absolutely nothing to do with the British recreational yachting organisation called the Royal Yachting Association or RYA. This is why there is no mention of it on our website. The term "Yachtmaster" actually belongs to the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who were the first to coin the phrase and issue yachtmaster certificates as the Board of Trade as far back as 1932. In 1973, RYA were given permission to issue "Yachtmaster " certificates by the MCA. In 1999, International Yachtmaster Training was also given permission by the MCA to issue "MCA Recognised Yachtmaster certificates. Yachtmaster certificates are also issued by the Australian Yachting Federation, the Irish Sailing Association, the Cruising Association of South Africa and the Canadian Yachting Association although their certificates are not recognised by the MCA. All of these organisations are recreational yachting associations run by recreational yachtsmen and they issue recreational yachtmaster certificates. Some of these organisations issue yachtmaster certificates with a "commercial endorsement", and certain administrations question the authority of recreational yachting organisations to issue "commercial" certificates.

International Yachtmaster Training on the other hand, is a professional yachting organisation, fully approved by Det Norske Veritas as a Maritime Training Center of Excellence. It is run by professional yachtsmen and we issue professional, commercial Yachtmaster certificates. Our standards are higher than the other organisations including the RYA, as they are fully compliant with the International Maritime Organisation rules for the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeepers, or STCW as it is commonly known. IYT does not allow "direct entry" into its examination system as the RYA do, one has to actually sit our courses to obtain our certification. All of our examiners worldwide are professional mariners, not so with the RYA.

The IYT Yachtmaster program is so successful, it is now recognized by 24 Governments worldwide including not only the MCA but also the U.S. Coastguard among others. The demand for our certification as a standard of excellence is such that we now have 33 licensed schools in 20 different countries and this is growing every week. With regard to the RYA registered trademark in the U.K., it is interesting to note that the MCA, who coined the phrase, refuse to recognise the RYA registration. The "International Yachtmaster Training" name and logo, is however a federally registered trademark in the United States.

In conclusion, the IYT Yachtmaster Certificates have become the certificates of choice throughout both the professional international yachting community and recreational yachtsmen. Their compliance with the STCW convention for Basic Safety Training and insistence on completion of all aspects of the training courses ensures a well qualified individual trained to professional international standards. So Tony, when you are ready for the "real thing", contact us, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Q - I keep my boat in Belize. We plan to cruise the Caribbean in a few years (live aboard). Is there any good reason to get my 6-pack license in this case? Mark P.

A - The U.S. is the only country in the world that issues a "license" to drive a boat. All other countries issue a "certificate of competency" which includes a practical examination to prove that you are competent to command a boat. There is no reason to get your six-pack license unless you intend to operate your boat as a commercial charter boat in the US Virgin Islands. The Coast Guard License is only a requirement is you wish to carry passengers for hire or reward in the U.S. or U.S. territories. It consists of a series of multiple choice questions. It is also largely unaccepted overseas as there is no practical component to the training and no "on the water" examination. The most internationally recognised qualification for yachting is the IYT Yachtmaster certificate which also carries a reduction in your insurance if you hold such a certificate.

Q - I intend to operate a charter boat on the USVI. I heard that the USVI have special regulations, different from the USA. What kind of license is needed in those islands? Does the boat have to be US flagged? Knowing that I will be based from the USVI, am I allowed to do charterers pick ups in the BVI? Thank you very much. Joe S.

A - If you are going to be chartering in the USVI, you need to be qualified to US Coastguard standards. This would mean a "Six-Pack" license or similar to take paying passengers aboard your vessel. It is always in the best interests of your qualifications to complete the 5 day Basic STCW training courses (not the 3-day version), which will be acceptable to the BVI. With regard to where you flag the vessel, the best people to talk to are the US Virgin Islands Charter League. You can contact Pamela Wilson at 1.800.524.2061. With regards to being able to pick up charterers in the British Virgin Islands, there have been some changes recently so I would suggest you contact the British Virgin Islands Maritime Authorities for their most recent update.

Q - As a professional skipper, I have been asked several times if I could perform a wedding on my boat, which is based in US waters. If I do, can I deliver a valid wedding license? What is the real validity of this whole thing and how does it REALLY work? Or is it just a gimmick? Please elaborate since it could be an interesting marketing tool for my business. Sincerely, Capt. Gene

A - It was once possible for a ship Captain to marry people at sea. However, this is no longer the case. There are extreme cases where a couple could be married in dire circumstances such as a sinking vessel or someone about to die. But this could only be done in International waters. It is however possible to marry someone on your boat inside territorial waters (3 miles ) provided the person giving the ceremony is duly qualified to do so by the State, such as a public notary. I was married aboard a yacht 7 years ago here in Ft Lauderdale. I would suggest contacting the State authorities to find out how this could be done, it is rather good fun to do so.

Q - I am starting a Skippered Yacht Charter business in St. Vincent & the Grenadines later this year and I see a lot of comments about the "6-pak" license requirements. I am qualified to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. Do I need any further qualifications (over the YM) to operate the business in SVG ? Graham

A - The "six-pack" license that you refer to is a U.S. Coastguard license which is required for operating vessels that carry up to six people in U.S Territorial waters. This includes the United States mainland and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It can only be taken by U.S Citizens and will be of little or no value to you in St Vincent and Grenadines.

Q - What are the qualifications needed by the different Caribbean countries to run a crewed charter yacht?

A - This is a matter for the Flag State Authority or Maritime Authority on each Island. The problem is there are many different countries involved. There are U.S. British, Dutch, French, Bahamas and all the independent islands who make their own decisions on what qualifications are acceptable for which yachts.

The qualifications will depend on the status of the yacht, whether it is private or commercial (this means engaged in trade or accepting money for a charter), the Flag State or where the yacht is registered, the tonnage of the yacht, whether it complies with a classification society for safety and construction, the number of guests it will carry, whether it is power or sail, its compliance with the code of safe working practices and sometimes the nationality of the crew and / or the number of crew it will carry.

There is also the issue of work permits from the various islands. For instance, one might be suitably qualified to run a charter yacht out of the British Virgin Islands but without a Work Permit from the V.I. Government to do so, it could mean big trouble. The same applies from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A lot of people think that they can buy a yacht and suddenly start a charter business in the Caribbean. Having spent 6 years running commercial yachts throughout all the islands, I would strongly recommend conducting some research before embarking on such a venture.

Lastly, with regard to RYA Yachtmaster certificates, I would caution that a number of Flag States (including the French Islands) will not accept the RYA Yachtmaster certificates even with a commercial endorsement as they do not believe that a recreational sailing organisation with no quality management system and no auditing requirements in place should have the authority to issue commercial certificates. They also do not comply with the STCW convention as laid down by the International Maritime Organisation.

Before deciding to run a commercial yacht in the Caribbean, I would strongly suggest contacting the Government of the Island to find out as many rules and regulations as possible. The number of yachts doing so is strictly governed, otherwise there would be a "free for all" with no controls in place.

Q - I have limited (almost none) sailing experience. I would love to bareboat charter. How much experience is needed before a bareboat charter company will turn the boat over to you. Were do you get experience? I know a course would be in order but if I go to the expense of a course that leads to a bareboat certification is that enough?

Depending on where you live, approach a reputable sailing school (there is no other way to do this). I recommend Offshore Sailing School ( http://www.offshore-sailing.com ). They have many outlets all around the country. Or any Certified ASA school.

Q - A quetion about lowering flag from a yacht club yard arm has arisen here in Marblehead, MA. Specifically, the Canadian flag was flown from the yardarm before and during the Marblehead-to-Halifax ocean race recently. Clearly, the U.S. ensign is the last to be lowered ceremoniously, as you say. But which of the other two that flew should be lowered first, the Canadian flag or the yacht club's burgee? Bud P.

A - The flags should be lowered as follows 1) Club burgee first 2) Canadian flag second 3) US Flag last

Q - I understand that with a US flagged vessel I could operate a charter vessel outside US territorial waters without the need of the "six-pack" license, am I correct? And in the event the charter is based in one of the "non US" Caribbean Islands, is it the authority of the starting island of the charter that gives permission to Charter or do I need a permit from every other "island country" on the way, if it is different than the one at the start of the charter??

A - To run a charter yacht, you are required to comply with Flag State regulations irrespective of where in the world you operate. To operate a US flagged yacht, you would need to be US Coastguard qualified such as a 50 ton or "6 pack". Other islands have the authority to confine a charter boat to harbor if the Captain is not properly licensed. I would also doubt very much if an insurance company would insure you to operate a charter yacht without the proper license as the insurance would probably be void if there was an accident.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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South Florida family seeks boating safety education after tragic loss of daughter

By Lauren Pastrana

Updated on: March 21, 2024 / 6:02 PM EDT / CBS Miami

MIAMI - Florida is considered the boating capital of the United States, with more than a million vessels registered in the state.

But Florida does not require a boating license and safety training requirements don't apply to entire generations of boaters.  

Now, one South Florida family is trying to change that, by invoking their late daughter's love of the water.

"Our goal is to have this flag littered all over Biscayne Bay," Andy Fernandez explained.

This blue and yellow flag is almost as bright as the life it represents. 

"I fly this flag proudly and in memory of Luciana Cristina Fernandez as a commitment to boater and watercraft safety," added Melissa Fernandez.

Luciana Cristina Fernandez -- Lucy or Lu to her friends and family-- is eternally 17. 

"She was an exceptional friend, daughter, sister. She was a really hard worker. And she had a lot of goals and dreams and aspirations like every 17-year-old," said Melissa Fernandez, Lucy's mother.

The Our Lady of Lourdes student died in a Labor Day Weekend boat crash in 2022.

"The irony of this whole thing is, that was her happy place. That was her favorite thing to be out on the boat out on the water," her father, Andy, said.

Lucy's parents say she grew up on boats and looked forward to weekends on the water. 

"That was our dream, to have a boat like that. To raise our kids going on those trips, and with our friends and with all of their friends. And now I go and I feel a hesitation, I feel a sadness, because that aspect of our life now has this cloud over it," Melissa said.

Lucy was one of 14 people out celebrating a friend's birthday on board a 29-foot-vessel when it crashed into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key. 

Lucy's friend, Katerina Puig, was severely injured and several more girls were hurt when they were thrown overboard.

The boat's operator was George Pino-- the father of one of the girls.

He faces misdemeanor charges of careless operation of a vessel. 

The case is still going through the courts, so the Fernandez family did not want to comment on that.

Instead, they are focused on making boating safer for everyone. 

"Boats aren't like cars," Melissa said. "There's no stop signs. There's no lights that tell you 'yield, there's another boat coming'."

Andy, a lifelong boater, says a lot has changed since he first started boating.

"Now, it's kind of the wild west out there," he said. "The problems are the operators that don't have the necessary experience, certifications and training."  

Florida does not require a license for boating.

The state only requires anyone born after January 1, 1988 to complete a boating safety course and obtain a boating safety ID card.

That means currently no one over 36 years old needs to take any sort of safety course to operate a motorized boat. 

Andy has looked at the numbers and believes something needs to change.

"The statistics the past two years are consistent that the age bracket involved in most boating accidents, especially boating accidents where there is a fatality or serious bodily injury, are between 50 and 60 years old, the operators. And then the age group that is the least age group of having had obtained the boater safety ID card is the 50 to 60-year-old category."

Through the Lucy Fernandez Foundation, the family launched the "Learn for Lu" campaign to encourage people to educate themselves before setting sail. 

"In a split second (you) could be in command of that boat. Do you know what to do? How to slow it down? How to call the Coast Guard on channel 16? I mean, there's like a checklist of things that are basic. But if you've never kind of gone through, you know, a training or background, you would have no idea," Andy said.

On Tuesday, Andy and Melissa were honored at the Miami-Dade County Commission meeting with the Vilomah Award for turning their heartache into something positive for the community. 

"This is the absolute most devastating thing that anyone can go through. Typical me would have gone into a cave and just dug in there and said, 'No, I need my space.' But I said to myself from the first second, 'How would Lucy handle this? And how would she want me as her mom to do this?' And I promise you every decision that we have made, she has been at the forefront of everything."

And now, Lucy's memory is the center of their home.

Shortly before her death, Lucy and her mother planned to remodel her bedroom.

The teen chose all the details, down to the blue wallpaper and travel books.

Her parents eventually created a version of her vision in their home, knocking down a wall to make sure anyone who comes to the house, can feel Lucy's presence. 

"It's the heart of our home and our family comes and sits in here," Melissa said of the space they've dubbed 'The Gossip Room'. "We cry and we laugh and we just remember her because every little detail is a piece of her."

The finishing touch is a painting by Lucy's grandfather depicting how he imagined her being called to heaven by the angels.  

"She really did live her life every day as if she somehow knew that they were counted," Melissa said. "Sometimes, I would look at her and I would just be in awe of the fact that at 17 she had it so put together." 

"We want to make sure that her light, her spirit, continues to shine," Andy added. "That's what we strive to do every day. Some days are harder than others. That's what we strive to do." 

Andy and Melissa hope to eventually take their mission to Tallahassee to create boating safety legislation.

For more details on how to get a boating safety ID card, visit .

For more information, visit LucyFernandezFoundation.org

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Lauren Pastrana is the co-anchor of CBS4 News weeknights at 5, 6, 7 and 11 p.m. She joined CBS Miami in April 2012 as a reporter. She is an Emmy-nominated, multimedia journalist with experience in television, radio and web-based news reporting.

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