Many people ask what sailing licence is needed to charter a yacht — but in most cases, the more relevant question is what qualification is required.

A sailing licence is a legal certification issued by a national authority, often required by local law. A qualification, such as the RYA Day Skipper or an ICC (International Certificate of Competence), may not be a licence in the legal sense, but it is what most charter fleet operators look for to assess your readiness.

In some locations, such as the Caribbean, there are no formal licensing requirements — but you still need to demonstrate sufficient competence. In others, especially across parts of Europe, you’ll need to meet specific legal requirements. For example:

• 🇮🇹 Italy and 🇭🇷 Croatia require a formal licence or ICC recognised by local authorities.
• 🇬🇷 Greece requires both a qualified skipper and a qualified co-skipper.
• 🇫🇷 France and much of the Caribbean accept qualifications on a case-by-case basis.

Even if you meet the official requirements, each charter operator may apply their own standards to protect their fleet and meet insurance terms.

This is one of the most common questions we receive. We’ve written a full guide to help you navigate these differences — but if you’re still unsure, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to help.

What Experience Do I Need to Charter a Yacht?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions — and for good reason.

Whilst skippers and crew offer some great advantages when on a yacht charter, going solo is great too.

1. Experience. In almost all cases — you’ll need some experience. A yacht‑charter company willing to rent you a boat without a skipper is likely breaking at least one law. In the end, what experience you need to charter a yacht comes down to three things:
   • ⚓ Comfort. What you’re comfortable with. In most cases, you’ll be responsible for other people — and let’s not forget someone else’s pride and joy.
   • 🗺️ Charter Area. We rate our charter areas into five categories, from easiest to trickiest. The Ionian in Greece would be one of the easiest; sailing the English Channel would be among the hardest.
   • 🏢 Charter Fleet Operator (CFO). These are the people responsible to the insurers. Whatever your agent says, it’s the Operator who makes the final decision.
2. Qualifications. This depends on three factors:
   • 🌴 No Restrictions.  Areas like the Caribbean spawned the expression “Credit Card Captain”, meaning you only need to convince the operator — then off you go. Yet things are tightening over time.
   • 🌍 State Restrictions. Most countries have some kind of legislation. But as they want boats to come to their shores, regulations vary a lot.
   • 🇪🇺 European Union (EU) Restrictions. Some countries in the EU have signed up to EU-wide laws.

What is most typically required before being allowed to charter a yacht?

To skipper a bareboat charter yacht or participate in a flotilla, outside the Caribbean, you are likely to need a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical, International Certificate of Competence (ICC), ASA 103, 104 or above.

For charters in Greece now, you required to hold an ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by a member of the crew who is over 18. They don’t need to have a formal sailing qualification but will be named in the books.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

If you wish to take part in a flotilla but do not have an RYA qualification then you may like to choose our ‘Learn on flotilla‘ option in the Ionian.

Alternatively, RYA qualifications can be obtained through RYA sailing schools in the UK or from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece, Turkey, or Croatia.