Bareboat Sailing Certification

If you are interested in Bareboat Sailing or Bareboat Chartering, you are probably curious about whether you need a Bareboat Sailing Certificate. Bareboat Sailing Certificates are issued by sailing schools to say you have gone to some classes, passed some exams and spent some time on a yacht of a certain length and a certain make. Like any degree, diploma or testimonial, how well it is regarded depends on the school.

  1. Choosing a School

    • A good school will advertise the types of boats they use

      Different schools follow curriculum set by different sailing authorities. The certificate you get will be endorsed by the sailing authority. Many countries have their own authorities, but the two most recognized internationally are the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the American Sailing Association (ASA). In the Americas, the ASA is highly thought of, while Europe, Asia and Oceania prefer the RYA. Course types differ, but the qualifications generally test the ability to identify parts of the boat, skills in rope use, safety, boat handling and boat management.

    Choosing a Course

    • Sailing Courses will vary in length and complexity from a one-week crewing course to a four-month intensive yacht master course. By and large to be qualified to skipper a yacht, you need to do a five-day crewing course, followed by a five-day skipper's course. These may be combined in six- to eight-day courses. This will qualify you to take a boat out as long as its not too far from land and during the day in good weather.

    Attending the Course

    • Good schools will either provide accommodation or have suggested hotels or guest houses for students during the course. Unless it is spread over several weekends, a course will usually be quite intensive, with theory courses in the morning, sailing practice in the afternoon and homework in the evening. Expect to be tired, especially if you haven't sailed much before. Remember always to take sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen on the afternoon sails.

    Finished the Course; Ready To Sail?

    • Remember: a course does not make you competent, what you learn in a course does. Though you will have learned an amazing amount, in pressured situations you may not always remember what to do. That is why good sailors always advise using less sail rather than more. After doing the course, it is a good idea to use any contacts you might have made to practice as crew rather than assume a skipper's role immediately.

    Reasons for Taking the Course

    • To take a boat out of harbor, port authorities in some countries will expect some accreditation from the captain or skipper of a vessel, although in areas where there is a large Bareboat Charter industry the rules may be quite relaxed. Chartering companies will vet skippers before they leave them with a boat. In the Mediterranean, companies will expect a skipper's certificate or "ticket". In other parts of the world, simple competence on the water is sufficient.