Qualifications & Experience to Charter a Yacht in Greece

Qualifications & Experience to Charter a Yacht in Greece

Yacht charter is the best way to explore the Ionian islands of Greece and whether or not you have previous sailing experience or qualifications there will be a yacht charter that suits you best.

For any yacht charter other than a skippered charter the skipper is required by Greek law to hold:

  • At least RYA Day Skipper Practical Sailing Course, or
  • An ‘International Certificate for Operator of Pleasure Craft’ with Sail endorsement (ICC), or
  • Other equivalent national qualification/ticket
     
Bareboat Yacht Charter

Bareboat yacht charter is a great option for those with previous sailing experience. If you have been on flotilla in the past then you will more than likely be ready to progress to bareboat sailing.

To charter a yacht bareboat in Greece one member of crew (the skipper) should have previous skipper experience on a similar size yacht and a recognised qualification or sailing certificate such as RYA Day Skipper or above or the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), gained by sailing in the UK or abroad. The skipper should be assisted by a competent member of crew.

The skipper should be competent at handling a yacht in close quarters, anchoring and mooring in varying conditions, and be able to use navigation and pilotage skills to plan the day’s sailing and know your position at any time.

If you have previous sailing experience but no qualifications or sailing certificate there are plenty of options:

  • Attend a one or two day ICC assessment before you come to Greece with an RYA sailing school or RYA affiliated sailing club.
  • Come to the Ionian and complete an ICC assessment in Greece for the first days of your holiday and go bareboat afterwards.
  • Come to the Ionian and take an RYA Day Skipper course in Greece for one week or take the course and then go bareboat for a second week.
  • Take the RYA Day Skipper course with an RYA school before you come to Greece.

GO TO BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER

Flotilla Sailing Holidays

Joining an Ionian flotilla offers you the chance to sail your own yacht with the back-up of an experienced and knowledgeable lead boat and skipper. As you sail your own yacht having at least one member of crew (the skipper) with some previous sailing experience is important although he or she will have the support of the flotilla lead crew and security of being within a group.

Whilst you are part of a flotilla group you will still be the skipper of your own yacht and so the skipper should have the same qualifications or certificate as with a bareboat charter such as RYA Day Skipper or above or the International Certificate of Competence (ICC). The skipper should be assisted by at least one competent crew (or first mate!).

If you have previous sailing experience but no qualifications or sailing certificate there are plenty of options:

  • Attend a one or two day ICC assessment before you come to Greece with an RYA sailing school or RYA affiliated sailing club.
  • Come to the Ionian and complete an ICC assessment in Greece during the first days of your flotilla holiday.
  • Come to the Ionian and take an RYA Day Skipper course in Greece for one week as part of a flotilla or take the course and then enjoy a second week flotilla as well.
  • Take the RYA Day Skipper course with an RYA school before you come to Greece.

GO TO FLOTILLA SAILING HOLIDAYS

Assisted Bareboat Sailing

For less experienced sailors looking to develop or for those a little rusty who would benefit from a confidence boost assisted bareboat sailing allows you to have a dedicated Island Sailing skipper on board for the first days of your holiday and you progress to bareboating when you feel you are ready. If you have been on flotilla in the past then you will more than likely be ready to progress to assisted bareboat sailing.

You need to hold a sailing certificate such as the RYA Day Skipper or above or have an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for when you are ready for your skipper to leave you to explore the Ionian on a bareboat basis.

If you have previous sailing experience but no qualifications or sailing certificate there are plenty of options:

  • Attend a one or two day ICC assessment before you come to Greece with an RYA sailing school or RYA affiliated sailing club.
  • Come to the Ionian and complete an ICC assessment in Greece for the first days of your holiday with your skipper/instructor onboard and go bareboat afterwards.
  • Come to the Ionian and take an RYA Day Skipper course in Greece for one week or take the course and then go bareboat for a second week.
  • Take the RYA Day Skipper course with an RYA school before you come to Greece.

GO TO ASSISTED BAREBOAT SAILING

Skippered Yacht Charter

Skippered yacht charter is ideal for those with little or no previous sailing experience or qualifications. If you do want to learn how to sail whilst on holiday some or all of your party can choose to have informal tuition from your skipper and learn as much or as little as you wish or some or all of your crew can take a formal sailing course onboard your own private yacht with a skipper/instructor onboard.

For those wanting to sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful Ionian islands without any physical involvement with sailing the yacht then a skippered yacht charter is the way to go.

GO TO SKIPPERED YACHT CHARTER

Sailing Courses in the UK and in Greece

At Island Sailing we are pleased to work with a number of excellent RYA sailing schools in the UK. For information about training centres offering ICC, RYA Day Skipper and other great sailing courses in the UK or for a general chat about your experience and qualifications call us on UK Freephone 0800 170 1968 or 07920 828 110 or email jonny@island-sailing.com
 

Worldwide Sailing Qualifications

To sail a yacht bareboat or in a flotilla in the Ionian waters of Greece the skipper of the yacht should have previous skipper experience on a similar size yacht and a recognised sailing qualification or certificate issued by a recognised sailing organization or statutory body. We have included some further information about various sailing qualifications from around the world, however these are by no means exhaustive so if you have any questions about sailing qualifications please do not hesitate to call or email us.

Sailing qualifications Greece:
Sailing qualifications South Africa:
Sailing qualifications New Zealand:
Sailing qualifications Sweden:
Sailing qualifications Denmark:
Sailing qualifications: USA