how to become a yacht captain uk

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Maritime vessels and work at sea

Seafarer skills and training

You must get training to work on a seagoing ship, yacht or other vessel. You’ll also need a certain amount of experience at sea.

You’ll need to:

be over the minimum age
meet health and fitness standards
get certificates of competency ( CoC ) - these are qualifications that allow you to do specialist tasks as part of your job
get a seaman’s discharge book - this will show your sea service and qualifications

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Find out about careers at sea and where to get training .

You’ll need special training to work on a fishing vessel .

You may need additional training to work on tankers, high-speed craft and passenger ships .

Training to be an engineer officer of the watch

You’ll need to apply for a letter of initial assessment ( LIA ) before you can begin training as an engineer officer of the watch ( EOOW ) unless you’re doing the approved cadetship. It might take up to 12 weeks to get your LIA .

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Download application forms for certificates if you want to work as:

able seaman or merchant navy or yacht ratings , for non-officer members of the crew who help officers in day-to-day tasks
deck officer - this includes being a master or chief mate in charge of a vessel
engineer officer
vessel traffic operator, supervisor or instructor
radio operator

You can apply for certificates of equivalent competency ( CEC ) if you qualified outside the UK and you want to serve on a UK-flagged vessel.

How much you’ll pay will depend on your situation, for example whether you’re sitting exams or getting your certificates revalidated.

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Be a superyacht Captain

So you want to become a superyacht captain.

The Captain of any yacht has one primary duty; the safe manning and operation of the yacht. This includes taking full responsibility for the crew, tenders, toy and all the guests onboard.

Job Role of a Superyacht Captain

As a rule, the smaller the yacht, the more hands-on the Captain must be. The larger the yacht, the more administrative duties the Captain will hold. A superyacht Captain specialises in commanding and managing luxury yachts over 24 metres in length.

Every crew member falls under the ultimate command of the Captain and will answer to him/her.

What does a Superyacht Captain do?

As a superyacht Captain, you’ll be at the top of your game, responsible not only for the yacht itself, but also for its crew, itinerary and navigating safe passages across the oceans. You’ll be in control of budgeting, administration, refit projects, yard visits, personnel, health and safety, to name but a few.

Personality traits

What personal traits are beneficial for this role.

You will need great communication skills to deal with owners, contractors, crew and guests alike. You will be dedicated to a career at sea and will already have established yourself in the industry having worked your way up the deck officer ladder building a reputation as a first-class professional along the way.

As a Captain, you must be highly skilled at dealing with people, both crew and the owner/guests. Personnel management skills are critical within this role.

Skills required to be a Superyacht Captain

What skills or experience are required.

Captains must have considerable maritime experience and training. A Captain of a superyacht has to have excellent seafaring knowledge, a good grasp of accounting, IT and administration and also deal with authorities on matters such as paperwork and health and safety.

Previous experience of yacht handling is essential and handling a yacht of the same or similar sizes a distinct advantage.

Benefits of being a Superyacht Captain

Your role really will be all-encompassing and you’ll answer to the yacht’s owner about all the decisions you make. A career as a superyacht Captain is demanding but rewarding. You’ll enjoy worldwide travel and earn a fantastic salary of anything from €4,000 per month with no cap on salary!

How to start your pathway to become captain?

More than just a love of the sea and a captain’s hat are needed to start a career as a superyacht captain. This is a career path that requires commitment, training, and practical experience. Enrolling in classes that offer the required maritime qualifications is the initial step. Take the Superyacht Cadetship Course as your first step into this fascinating industry. This extensive programme gets you ready for the rigours of the open sea by fusing classroom instruction with real-world sea experience. It is essential to network within the industry, and UKSA offers a helpful community that helps you take advantage of opportunities and pick the brains of industry experts. And never forget that your love of the sea serves as your compass; follow it to become a captain.

Career prospects

Be inspired graduates return to uksa to hire crew and further their training.

“We trust in UKSA because we did our training there and can vouch for its quality. Because the courses are all-inclusive they run back-to-back which really helps with fitting around our schedules. It is the best place from which to hire successful crew because the career courses are similar to a university degree. UKSA students devote time to their training and so are looking to stay with a boat for at least two seasons. This is valuable to us as we take time to invest in our crew and training – with UKSA we also know what to expect.” Officer Daniel Lambert

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How to become a superyacht captain: From those who know

Some join yachting for a season, but for others, it transforms into a lifelong career. With travel, decent earnings, the possibility of rotation, and a life at sea, it’s easy to understand why. We spoke to captains Neal Roche and Liz Brasler about their yachting journey.

The journey begins

All captains must start somewhere. For captain Liz, and many others, it was dock walking to get her first deckhand job. After completing more than one Atlantic crossing with her parents on their sailing yacht, Liz started to dream bigger. The first step involved compiling a CV with her most relevant qualification being a PADI divemaster. Fate stepped in when a captain overheard Liz and offered her a job provided the swift completion of her STCW certificate. Luckily, Liz was able to proceed quickly due to some no shows on the first day of the course. The rest is history – Liz was accepted on the course, then the yacht, and so began her wonderful maritime journey.

Captain Neal Roche entered the industry from a commercial maritime background - a slightly different route, but not necessarily easy sailing. Captaining M/Y Dubai as his first captaincy, Neal described this experience as one of his career highlights.

Climbing the ranks

When Liz first joined yachting, she didn’t imagine becoming a captain. However, as time passed, she found herself wondering what she would do as captain in certain situations. These scenarios intrigued Liz to explore the possibilities. There were a few challenges during her training, the hardest modules for her being Stability and Celestial. Instead of exam cramming, Liz turned to online educational videos and knuckled down to completely understand them in every way. Becoming captain is by no means easy and provided many challenges. You must decide under what tonnage you want to operate and attain the correct license. There are countless courses to complete, none of which come cheap. Not to mention the process, which is certainly not quick, it takes years of study and practice.

Neal Roche said, “Luckily, there is nothing inherent that is needed to become a captain. Everything can be learned, however this of course takes time and patience. A new captain will often think that they should know everything because of the position they find themselves in. However, just like any other person in a new position or job, they will need time to learn the ropes. They should be prepared to be honest enough to admit if they don’t know something or ask for information/advice. It is important to be respectful, both of those you work for, and who work for you. Your crew will look to you for guidance and, to set the tone onboard, it is important to be respectful of them for this reason.”

Imparting advice

Liz advises any ladies wishing to pursue this career to do everything four times better than their male counterparts. According to Liz, as a female in a male dominated industry, “the sad truth is that the expectation of failure is higher if you are female.” Despite the unfairness of it all, Liz managed to hold her own in the industry and her hard work paid off. She is an inspiration to female seafarers everywhere.

Neal’s advice for those starting their first drive:

Allow yourself the chance to learn the job. Understand that it will take time, and do not be afraid to ask for help or advice.
Learn to prioritise your tasks to avoid becoming overloaded.
Understand that delegating tasks is not seen as shirking the workload. It is giving the jobs to more appropriate people rather than doing it all yourself. People want tasks and it provides purpose, and the chance to show their captain that they can do a good job.
Understand that your crew are your biggest asset. This is the most important one. You should work even harder for them than they do for you. It is important that from time to time you are happy to help with menial jobs. Get to know them and speak to them on a one-to-one basis regularly.

To be a captain is a privilege, however, it is only so because of the hard work and support of your crew. If your crew are happy and feel that they are listened to and respected, they will go the extra mile. Attentive crew, particularly on guest cruises, will be the difference between a good and a great result for your guests.

Maintaining professionalism is important, despite what may be happening around you. As a captain, striving to strike a balance between leading by example and encouraging and supporting crew determines their potential and helps them reach their goals. When looking for a job opportunity, keep in mind the destinations of the yacht itinerary before making a decision based on the potential earnings.

From all the advice, there was a definite common denominator that stood out. One thing the interviewed captains agreed on is the importance of mentoring. A mentor is your navigational guide through the ins and outs of your career. “In such a challenging environment, it can be a lonely path if you go at it alone,” said captain Liz. There are many misconceptions about being a captain. It’s important to seek advice from mentors who have experienced everything first-hand. Reality will prepare you and assist with informed decision-making that affects your future at sea.

Being a captain comes with a heap of responsibility and often-difficult decisions. Neal quashes the popular belief that the captain has limitless authority and says it is a farce. Like any CEO role, despite the position, as captain, you are constrained by budget, management, owner requests, weather, scheduling etc.

Of course, no matter your gender, there is also always the challenge of having to be away from family, despite your role onboard, never gets any easier.

Career highlights

Captain Liz is a firm believer that hard work and dedication pay off. Passing the especially challenging modules and her master's oral exam ranks highly among her career highlights. Liz also found the most positive inspirations were the new eager crew. Full of questions and inspired by her, when in fact she was inspired by their energy and optimism.

For Neal, other than his first captaincy, highlights include becoming captain of the M/Y Barbara build and subsequent operational captain. And of course, more recently, becoming build captain of project Z1010. Day to day perks of the job for him include working with a diverse bunch of fantastic people, seeing a crew knit together, knowing that you had a part in that, seeing a happy owner or guest, knowing that your team made them happy, being out at sea in a beautiful yacht, being able to bring about visible change and improvement in your working environment.

Where to next?

Liz reminds us that with COVID-19 our plans will need to be even more fluid than usual. She and her partner will both be looking for a new position taking into consideration the current global pandemic and restrictions. Ultimately, the dream is to gain a couple’s position with her chef partner, on a research or owner only adventure yacht or to join a new build and setting up a vessel in the shipyard, which is always an exciting challenge.

These captains have proven that with diligence, humility and studiousness, achieving your goals and making a difference is within reach.

Find out more about Virtual Pursers LLC . Alternatively, you can read further articles on Crew Training .

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How to Become a Superyacht Captain With UKSA

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Superyacht Captain? To do so, it requires a combination of education, experience, and certifications across numerous years. In this article, we hear from Will Satterly, Head of Careers at UKSA , about how to become a Superyacht Captain.

Which Tasks Does A Superyacht Captain Carry Out?

As Captain, specialising in commanding and managing luxury yachts over 24 metres in length, you’ll be responsible for a crew and the safety of passengers. As well as this, you answer to the yacht’s owner about the decisions you make. Effective communication and leadership are crucial. Will elaborates:

“The Captain is responsible for the safety of the vessel and crew/passengers. Building an effective culture and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and safety whist complying to all regulatory requirements. Managing expectations of owners and other stakeholders such as management companies, is another key part of being a successful captain.”

The smaller the yacht, the more hands-on the Captain must be. Yet they will have hold more administrative duties if the yacht is larger.

How Long Does It Take?

Naturally, depending on the candidate, this will vary. However, Will remarks that “6+ years is realistic to gain the necessary experience, sea time, and modules.”

The Qualifications & Traits You Need

As Captain, you will need:

Great communication skills (to deal with owners, contractors, crew, and guests alike)
Personnel management skills
Excellent seafaring knowledge
An understanding of accounting
IT and administration skills

The UKSA pathway for MCA Deck Office certification outlines a series of steps you can take:

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What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Instead, provided you have sufficient experience, certification and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. There are a number of RYA navigation courses that will help you prepare for your exam. Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates also choose to book themselves into an RYA training centre for some specialised exam preparation training, but this is not compulsory.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

Arranging your exam

The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees and how to book.

With an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence you can start a career at sea.

You'll need to have the appropriate qualification for the vessel and area of operation.

If you want to work commercially, you'll need a commercial endorsement.

Find out more about other RYA professional qualifications.

Getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course

Can you really become an RYA Yachtmaster in as little as 14 weeks? Check out our top tips for getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course...

What Qualifications Do I Need to Sail a Yacht?

Whether you’ve finally got your hands on the boat you’ve always dreamed about, or you’re doing a bit of research before a holiday, one thing you’ll need to know before you set sail is which qualifications you need. In the UK, you technically don’t need a sailing license to take your own yacht out on the water, but it’s a bit more complicated than “anyone can sail a boat”. We break down the specifics in more detail below.

What Sailing Novices Need to Know

It might seem unlikely, but in the UK, you’re not legally obliged to have any qualifications or a sailing license to sail a boat, providing you own it.

However, if you want to charter a yacht owned by a rental company, you do need a sailing qualification, and it’s generally the RYA Day Skipper that yacht companies require. So, as long as you’re sailing a boat you own, you don’t need any yachting experience or credentials to get out on the water.

Sailing Without Qualifications or Experience: What are the Risks?

Despite the lax laws, it’s ill-advised to take a yacht – even one you own – out on the water without any sailing experience, unless you’re accompanied by someone who knows the ropes. Weather conditions can change very quickly, and even the best marine navigation tools are no good to a sailor without the knowhow to understand them.

Not only is there a chance you’ll get out of your depth and damage the boat, but you could risk injuring yourself, anyone else on board, or even those around you in the water. On top of that, if you’re sailing without a boat license in the UK, and you’ve taken out sailing yacht insurance , or yacht and boat insurance , there’s a strong possibility the policy will be void – so make sure you check the terms and conditions of your cover.

Yachting Qualifications and Required Skills

If you want to graduate from landlubber to qualified sailor, there are a few different credentials you can look into, depending on where you’re going to sail.

As we mentioned, the RYA Day Skipper Practical course is the first requirement for a standard bareboat charter. This is available to take at different centres all over the country, but it has to take place over five days, cover 100 miles and include four night hours on a sailing yacht.

But before you can take the Practical, you’ll also need the RYA Day Skipper Theory to get your navigation and theory knowledge up to scratch.

Alternatively, you can take the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), which is also offered by the Royal Yachting Association.

Functioning almost like an international boat license, the ICC enables you to provide evidence of your experience and competence when you’re sailing in another country.

That said, the ICC may not comply with the maritime legislation of the specific country you’re planning to visit, so it’s worth checking whether it’s a valid yacht license in that location before you embark on getting the qualification.

Wherever you’re planning to go, getting the right insurance policy to cover the vessel – be it a rental or a boat you own – is always a smart move. Take a look at the extensive range of cover available from Admiral Yacht and get the peace of mind you need before you set sail.

Do I need a qualification to sail a yacht?

No, in the UK it’s completely legal to sail a boat or a yacht without a license. However, if you don’t have much yacht experience in the UK, and you’re not with someone who does – this is ill advised. Plus, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance policy in the event of an incident if you don’t have a boat license.

Do I need a license to sail a yacht in the UK?

No, in the UK there’s no law that states you need a license to sail a yacht. That said, some insurance providers may not cover a yacht which is sailed by someone inexperienced or unlicensed.

How do you become a yacht captain?

Yacht captain is a highly skilled paid position, and to achieve it, you’ll likely have to start at the bottom and work your way up through several different roles on ship. You’ll also be expected to have undertaken certain training courses, and get your RYA certification.

How do you get a yacht license?

Getting a boat license in the UK usually costs somewhere between £30 and £60. But before you can get your license, you need to pass an exam set by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) which tests you on both practical and theoretical matters.

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Leading from the helm as a Captain is undoubtedly one of the most fulfilling and rewarding career paths in the superyacht industry.

The Captain holds the most senior position onboard a yacht and the one responsible for the overall operation of the yacht, the safety of its crew, owners and guests. It’s an all-encompassing position where excellent navigational capabilities are coupled with a high level of administrative and managerial skills.

The role differs depending on the size of the yacht, its usage and its cruising itinerary. Captains on smaller yachts need to be hands-on problem solvers and multitaskers. Under 35m, for example, the Captain’s position also encompasses the role of an Engineer, whilst on larger yachts the Captain has dedicated teams and Heads of Departments under their command.

What does a yacht Captain do? | Yacht Captain Job Description

Commanding the yacht and navigating safe passages across the oceans is just a small part of a Captain’s job. A yacht Captain is also in control of overall safety, crew management, budgeting, administration, refit projects, voyage planning and adhering to all international maritime regulations (ISM, MARPOL, SOLAS).

The responsibilities of a yacht Captain include:

Safe navigation and operation of the yacht

Ensuring that the yacht is in all respects compliant with the relevant laws and regulations

Ensuring that the yacht is prepared for annual flag surveys, annual class surveys and port/flag state controls

The setting of budgets and budget management

Hiring, leading, appraising and dismissal of crew

Overseeing the maintenance of the vessel

Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

Managing yacht refits and surveys

Managing fuel costs and dockage fees

Being an ambassador for the yacht, hosting and entertaining guests as required

Voyage planning

Soft and hard skills required to be a yacht Captain

Successful Captains are excellent leaders, able to set a common goal for their crew and able to communicate with owners, guests, crew, contractors and brokers alike.

The skills of a successful yacht Captain include:

Excellent leadership, management and diplomacy skills

Excellent yacht handling and navigation

Ability to stay calm in difficult situations

Good grasp of finance and legislation

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Organisation and administration skills

How to become a yacht Captain?

Maritime training and sea-going experience is required. Positions are qualification based, from a Master 200, Master 500, Master 3000 and up to a Captain Unlimited. Training may be completed in a National Maritime Academy, a university or a specialised Sailing School.

Mandatory certificates needed to work on board a yacht

All crew members regardless of position and seniority need to have a valid STCW Basic Safety Training certificate, along with a recognised Seafarers medical certificate, the most popular being the ENG1 which is issued by an MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) professional medic.

Without these two certificates, it is not possible for crew to work on board a yacht and a Recruiter will not be able to assist you in finding work onboard a yacht. For more information about mandatory certificates please visit our Mandatory Certificates Guide .

Are you ready to secure a Captain position on board a yacht?

Become a member of YPI CREW and connect with our recruiters so they can guide you through your job search.

Each of our recruiters is specialised in crew placement for a particular department and they will do their best to get you an interview on board a yacht. They will also advise you on how to best present your experience and skills and prepare for a yacht job interview.

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How to become a yacht captain - certifications & experience.

Just like any other highly paid and highly specialized position, becoming a yacht captain is a long grind. Nothing is given to you. You have to start from the bottom and work your way up. It is a process that takes many years of sea time, education, and experience.

Assuming that you are relatively new to the industry, it’s best to start from the very beginning. In the following chapters we will go through a detailed breakdown of the certifications and qualifications you need, and show you how to become a yacht captain.

Table of contents

How to become a yacht captain - Basic education

Rya certification, creating your resume, get to a yachting capital.

"Earning" your first job
Get experience & continue your education

Climbing the ranks

Becoming a yacht captain, responsibilities of a yacht captain, yacht captain salary, final notes on how to become a yacht captain.

Before you get your first job onboard of any yacht, there are a few courses you need to take. These are mandatory for everyone who wishes to work onboard, and are commonly known as basic training for seaman:

STCW 2010 Basic Safety Training (BST) - This training consists of first-aid practices, response to emergencies, personal safety, social responsibility, and best practices for sea survival. The duration of this course is 5 days and pricing starts at $1012.
Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) course) - This course teaches basic seamanship, rope and wirework, painting and maintenance routines, as well as other safe working practices aboard. Much like the BST, this course is 5 days long and pricing starts at $964).

At this point, what you want to do is get your Royal Yachting Association (RYA) certificate. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is a recognized organization that issues your Powerboat Handling Level 2 (basic course), Yachtmaster™ Offshore , and Yachtmaster™ Ocean .

Note that the costs associated with the RYA certificate can vary, as you need to find an associated training center, purchase all the necessary materials, and abide by all the entry requirements. So you might need to do some research at this point.

Once you successfully complete the courses mentioned above, you will need to put your CV together. There are many templates you can use for this purpose. You can start by using this one .

Once your CV is created, you will need to seek out the best yacht crew agencies and start applying to all of them. This page gives a good overview of the most popular options.

Keep in mind that there are many options when it comes to resume templates and yacht crew agencies. It might be a good idea to use Google to find more options.

To increase your odds of getting a job onboard, you will now need to get to one of the yachting capitals. This is, by far, one of the best tips for ambitious young sailors that want to know how to become a yacht captain.

Don’t get fooled by those who tell you of their single best yachting capital of the world. Depending on your current location and budget, you will have several options. Check this article to start your research.

“Earning” your first job

As soon as you arrive at your yachting capital of preference, you will need to get a job. Similar to any other industry, this usually happens by actively seeking out open positions. For yachting work, this is done through “dock walking”, a term that refers to the process of going from boat to boat, searching for opportunities.

What you want to do here is be pleasant, hand out your CV, grow your network, and offering any kind of service. There might be owners that need help with buffing, sanding, polishing, scrubbing decks… you name it! Take any job that you can because each hour you spend onboard improves your resume.

After a while, you will hopefully manage to get a job aboard a (super)yacht. This is where you want to be. It is important to manage your expectations and prepare to work very hard. Your first job will not be glamorous and it will certainly not be a “working holiday”. You will be living in a cramped scape, away from home, doing chores most hours of the day.

Don’t let the day-to-day tasks discourage you. Everything you do at this point helps you build character and shows that your position is “earned”. You will have many opportunities to gain experience, overdeliver, and start climbing the ladder.

Gain experience & continue your education

As you become more experienced and collect enough hours onboard, you will qualify for a few more courses, which are issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Officer Of the Watch (OOW) - This course allows you to become an officer on board a vessel up to 3000gt. In order to apply for this course, you will need to meet several requirements, including >250 days onboard, holding an RYA certificate for at least 36 months, and having completed an MCA training record book . The latest is a list of tasks that you need to complete while serving onboard a vessel that exceeds 15 meters in length. Anything smaller is not qualified as valid experience according to the MCA. The modules of OOW include:
General Ship Knowledge (GSK) - Price between $1000 - $1100
Navigation & Radar (ARPA operation) - Price upon request
Global communications training (GMDSS GOC) - Price starting at $1625
HELM Training Operational Level - Price upon request
Proficiency in survival cross & rescue boats - Price between $860 - $900
Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) Training - Price between $1300 - $1800

Each of the modules, once completed, requires a written exam. This means that you need to find a partner organization where you can go and write the exam. If you pass, the certificate will be sent to your location (including a digital copy that you can add to your resume).

You need to pass all of the modules in order for the MCA to issue your certificate of competence (COC). And as soon as all that is done, you are officially qualified to perform your oral exam for the OOW. Here is a video that shows you the steps you need to follow:

The exam itself consists of a discussion with a qualified instructor, where you go through all the modules through a series of questions. Upon passing the exam, and given that you hold all the aforementioned certificates, you will receive the MCA Yachts OOW certificate and are officially qualified to be a deck officer.

Keep in mind that the certificate itself doesn’t automatically guarantee you a promotion. You might move slightly up the ranks (lead deckhand) but you will still need to gain more experience in the form of additional sea time.

More specifically, you can continue with higher-level education once you gain even more experience on board.

The course you want to do is known as MCA Master 500 yachts . You can do this once your certificate of competence has been issued for OOW and 12 months have passed. You will also need to have an additional 120 days of verified sea service.

The course consists of several master modules, which include:

Ship Stability - Price: $1500
Business and Law - Price: $1500
Navigation, ARPA, and radar simulator - Price: $3350
Seamanship & Meteorology - Price: $1500

The course also includes some ancillary course modules, as well as the requirements you need to abide by in further detail. Similar to the OOW, you will need to pass a written certificate for each of the modules, in order to proceed to an oral exam to receive your Master 500 certificate of competence (COC).

You now have all the necessary qualifications - there are no more modules. However, you still need to perform an additional 12 months of sea time, and 120 days of sea service.

The final step is getting your MCA Master 3000 certification, a process that consists of an oral exam only. You can find more information about the requirements and components here . The oral prep course for this exam is highly recommended, takes 5 days, and costs between $890 and $1160, depending on the number of students that choose to participate.

Those who have little to no experience tend to think that a captain’s only responsibility is to command the ship. The truth is much “broader”. A yacht captain’s responsibilities are divided into three areas:

To ensure the safety of life of everyone onboard
To ensure the safety of the vessel (paperwork, unforeseen circumstances, etc.)
To ensure the safety of the marine environment

This may sound rather simple, but remember that there are many subcategories that fall under these responsibilities:

Ensuring the crew is well-trained, rested, and qualified to do their job, all while remaining safe. This requires strong (cross-cultural) people skills and is probably the hardest part of the job.
Make sure that all your personal certificates, as well as the vessel documentation, is in order.
Staying up to date with yacht inspection, maintenance, and logging all the necessary information. You can completely automate this responsibility by using our software, PlanM8 .
Make sure that the vessel is compliant with the International Safety Management code
Navigation of the vessel
Make sure the yacht owner (or guests) are satisfied.

The salary of a yacht captain depends on several factors, including the years of experience, the size of the vessel, and the duration of the contract. Generally speaking, the low end of the salary is approximately $5000 per month and the high end exceeds $18.000 per month. For more information, check this resource .

After reading all of the above you should have a better idea of how to become a yacht captain. There are many courses you need to complete and lots of personal sacrifice in the form of sea time. This is why only the most passionate ones - those willing to go the extra mile - will manage to get a hold of the helm.

Remember that in between each of your certifications it is important to get as much sea time as possible, doing everything in your power to learn from the master on board. Much like any traineeship, your primary concern should involve gaining lots of experience.

The discipline and character you build along your former years will help you understand the importance of continuous education. You will naturally want to familiarize yourself with the latest industry practices and improving your abilities.

New Feature: Comprehensive Operator Manuals and Maintenance History PDF Export

How To Get Qualified With Sailing Courses – RYA, ASA, IYT

Getting out on the water for the first time can be a daunting task, and navigating through the range of sailing courses and qualifications can be overwhelming. In this blog, we are going to explain the different yachting schemes available around the world (ASA, RYA etc), the qualifications they can offer, and discover the best path for you.

This applies to anyone wanting to sail or motor any yacht under 500 tonnes, most yachts are only around 10 tonnes!

Do I Need Sailing Qualifications/Licences?

If you keep your boat in the UK, only sail in the UK, and your boat is under 24m long, then no, technically you don’t. However, if you want to charter a boat, sail anywhere else in the world, or want to keep your insurance renewals low then a qualification or two is essential!

Finally, it’s not just about the licence, do you really want to take out your pride and joy, that probably cost 10’s if not 100’s of thousands, and try your luck? There is a lot of training and knowledge involved in becoming a skipper and working towards a qualification is the best approach to gaining the skills and knowledge.

An image showing a yacht heading into bad weather. The title is 'this skipper should have gone to Ardent Training'.

How To Get Qualified

We have decided it is a good idea to get some qualifications, now how do we achieve them? Before picking a school or instructor, you first have to look at which association they belong to. There are many to choose from as most wealthy countries have their own associations with their own qualification schemes. Once an association has been picked we can start looking at the appropriate qualifications, and finally, the schools that teach those qualifications.

RYA vs IYT vs ASA

Every qualification has to have an authorising body or association. You would be forgiven for thinking that just picking the most local yachting or sailing association is the way to go, but sailing is an international sport and hobby. Yachts can take us all around the world and we wouldn’t want to limit our future selves by obtaining the wrong certificate. The three biggest associations are Royal Yachting Association (RYA), International Yacht Training (IYT) and American Sailing Association (ASA) so let’s start by looking at those.

Royal Yachting Association

The RYA is the oldest and most internationally recognised governing body of dinghy, yacht, and motor cruising in the world. They were the first association to standardise training in the yachting industry and they have been going strong for nearly 150 years.

The RYA is equally focused on recreational boating as it is on professional boating which makes their qualifications particularly versatile.

Once you gain the RYA Day Skipper certificate you can easily convert it into either an ICC (international certificate of competence) which is free to do for RYA members or even get it commercially endorsed as a professional qualification without having to repeat any exams. The same can be said for the subsequent RYA Yachtmaster qualifications. This versatility and global reputation make the RYA qualifications a difficult route to beat.

International Yacht Training

IYT is a relative newcomer and was founded in 1998. Despite being a relatively new organisation, it has made quite an impact and shaken up the yachting industry for the better. International Yacht Training forced the RYA to take a more international approach to their training and the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) was actually created by International Yacht Training. However, the RYA rapidly got on board with this and now offers the ICC to holders of its own qualifications without any further or retesting required. Put simply, you can easily convert RYA qualifications to IYT qualifications, but cannot convert IYT to RYA.

You would expect there to be a strong rivalry between these two organisations but instead, they appear to work well together and have both worked to make the ICC the internationally recognised qualification it is today.

The IYT also have a good offering of professional qualifications, allowing their holders to work in the industry and arguably offer the best set of qualifications for those wishing to go on to working on superyachts. IYT are without a doubt a well-regarded association worldwide, but despite this, these newcomers are much less well known than the RYA and have far fewer training centres around the world, making their qualifications harder to obtain.

The ASA is the most prominent sailing association in America. They are solely targeting recreational sailors and have a well thought out approach to this market. Whilst they are less well known internationally, and they don’t offer the same options to progress into professional sailing, they do offer a good alternative to the ICC called the International Proficiency Certificate (IPC). Officially, the IPC is the only recognised yachting ticket in the USA when it comes to chartering boats, however, in reality, the ICC will usually be accepted.

If you only want to sail in the USA, the ASA will probably do. However, for the most versatile qualifications, internationally recognised, for recreation and professional use, as well as the easiest to find training centres for, is, without doubt, the RYA. I chose the RYA when I learnt to sail and it has never once held me back from all my adventures. On the other hand, I have met many sailors who gained other qualifications elsewhere (ASA, IYT, SA Sailing, Australian Sailing, etc…) who have had to retest at some point to get their RYA tickets.

The RYA wins hands down.

RYA Cruising Scheme – Day Skipper to Yachtmaster

Okay, so RYA it is, but which RYA course should you start with?

The RYA offers many courses from complete beginner courses to celestial navigation courses. Where you start really depends on your prior experience and what you want to achieve. This diagram outlines the progression and entry points into the RYA Cruising Scheme:

A diagram displaying the steps involving RYA Start Motor Cruising, RYA Start Yachting, RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship, RYA Helmsman's Course, RYA Competent Crew, RYA Day Skipper Theory, RYA Day Skipper Motor, RYA Day Skipper Sail, RYA Yachtmaster Theory, RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper Motor, RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper Sail, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Motor, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail, and RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory.

Up until Day Skipper, you can really jump in at any point depending on your ambition. However, once you reach Day Skipper Practical, each course assumes you have a certain amount of prior experience and knowledge, usually exactly equivalent to the course that came before it. Watch out when trying to jump or skip courses from Day Skipper Theory and onwards as you will often get caught out by your fragmented knowledge and either downgraded or simply fail the course.

There are lots of courses to suit your needs and lots of different entry points depending on our experience. If it seems a bit overwhelming we can make this simpler if we ask the question: Why do you want to take a course?

If you just want to try out being on the water for the first time, go for Start Yachting, or Start Motor Cruising.

If you want to learn to be a useful crew, start at Essential Navigation and Seamanship.

If you want to learn to be a skipper, start with Day Skipper Theory.

If you are already an experienced yachtsman and want qualifications to back it up, start with the Fast Track to Yachtmaster.

Choosing An RYA Sailing School

Finally, we know what course we want to take, now we just need to find somewhere to take it! The RYA has over 2,500 recognised training centres around the world. That’s a lot to choose from! Luckily, we are here to help make the right choice for you.

RYA Theory – Online Vs Classroom

There has been a recent shift from classroom learning to online learning. We did a lot of research into this and found the benefits of online learning to be so great that we have fully switched over to this medium and embraced e-learning. We believe we can provide a much better quality theory course with the aid of technology and are proud to be producing some of the best-prepared students for their practical training. By removing the need for travel and the cost of premises and accommodation, we have found we can offer a tailored experience for each of our students at a far more reasonable cost.

We actually wrote a whole blog on Online Vs Classroom courses so if you want to find out more, I urge you to check it out: Can You Really Learn to Sail Online ? Or, if you are already sold on the idea of an online course, head on over to our website and give our Free Trial a go .

Ardent Training are the premium providers of RYA Day Skipper Theory courses online.

RYA Practical Centres

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a practical centre, first and foremost, where do you want to sail? Some people just want somewhere local, some want adventure, and some want sun. Think carefully about where you want to sail and make a holiday out of your practical course in the right location.

Once you have a location in mind, time to start searching. There will no doubt still be multiple options but remember, cheaper is not better! There isn’t a large profit margin on RYA courses, so if a training centre is cheap, they are probably cutting corners. The first corners to cut are instructor wages and vessel maintenance so getting a cheap course may just result in your hard-earned money getting wasted on inexperienced instructors and poorly maintained vessels. This is not worth the savings as it will severely impact your enjoyment and how much you can get out of the course.

Armed with that advice, we recommend using the RYA’s Find a Training Centre tool to help you find the best training centre for you: https://www.rya.org.uk/wheres-my-nearest

Once you have completed your RYA Theory courses, you will want to head out and take your RYA practical courses on a boat like this.

So, what have we learned?

You need qualifications to charter a boat.
Qualifications will lower your insurance premium.
Qualifications will help you learn, stay safe, and enjoy your time on the water.
Go with RYA qualifications for maximum versatility and recognition.
If you want to be a Skipper, you need the RYA Day Skipper certificate.
Take your theory courses online with Ardent Training.
Choose where you want to learn to sail (in the sun or somewhere close to home?)
Go quality over price to get more out of your training.

If you want any more advice, you can always contact one of our team at Ardent Training. Just drop us an email at [email protected] or give us a call on 01688 325025.

If you can’t wait to get started, check out our Free Trial of our RYA Day Skipper online theory course.

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Home » News » How To Become A Qualified Yacht Skipper

How To Become A Qualified Yacht Skipper

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Author Lee Savage

Whatever your reasons for getting into sailing, it is not as difficult as you might imagine and there are a lot of different ways to get started. With so many destinations to choose and so many sailing experiences, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start.

If exploring fantastic bays, discovering remote islands, swimming and relaxing in the sun with a good book sounds like the kind of yacht cruising you are looking for then Cabin Charter will be the way to go.

If you would like to dip in and see but you are not sure if it’s for you our beach club has a dedicated Yacht where we offer several opportunities including two days Beginner Yachting (16h) while you stay in our Beach Club Hotel .

But you are here to find out how to become a Yacht Skipper, learn a new skill and take the first step towards becoming qualified, opening a whole new world of possibility for holidays and adventure travel. Even if you only ever do one course, you will have experienced the trip of a lifetime.

The RYA is a world-recognised organisation authorised by the UK maritime coastguard agency to issue international certificates of competence. Seafarer instructors are all experienced RYA instructors and can deliver a challenging syllabus to take you from no experience to a qualified licensed skipper through a series of RYA courses outlined below.

Our Training Centers – help you become a skipper

RYA Training In The Mediterranean

For our training yachts in Greece and Croatia, you have the opportunity to learn alongside a fantastic holiday experience. Naturally, it is a more intense experience than a Yacht Charter holiday. You will spend most of your days absorbing the syllabus, but there will also be opportunities to swim and explore the beautiful islands.

Learning alongside our flotilla, you will also have the chance to participate in group meals, our punch, and beach parties. Popular with experienced and newly qualified skippers alike or those seeking to improve their abilities with the support of our skilled lead crews. Filled with like-minded sailors, you will meet skippers who have already taken steps into the sailing world and discovered how accessible it is. It’s a tremendously positive and supportive environment to learn alongside.

RYA Training In The UK

Our UK school offers numerous bespoke courses for those wishing to brush up on any particular skills before flying to their next sailing holiday be it boat handling or just refreshers. Of course, we offer all the practical RYA courses including Competent Crew, Day Skipper & Coastal Skipper (for Day Skippers wishing to take there sailing further)

Based in Southampton, it offers fantastic sheltered waters sailing in the lea of the Isle Of Wight. It’s a great location to challenge your tidal knowledge and experience the lively sailing environment made famous for events like the Fastnet Race, the Round the Island Race and Cowes Week.

How to Become A Skipper

The Competent Crew course is perfect for somebody who has never been on a yacht before. It is the broadest course in the RYA syllabus covering virtually everything to do with sailing and living onboard a boat. You will have the opportunity to test your skills and will come away with a great sense of achievement and a good understanding of where to go next!

As an instructor for many years, I have discovered that even more experienced sailors can benefit from this course, there is always another level of detail to learn. If you haven’t sailed for a while or had any formal training, this course will not only be an excellent refresher, but you will be surprised how many new things you can learn. For more experienced sailors, this is a unique opportunity to polish the essential fundamentals of sailing.

Training in Croatia Training in Greece Training in the UK

Theoretically a skipper

With some sailing experience under your belt, you are ready to study the theory. Reading about navigation, sailing, and charts will seem much less daunting. You are now prepared to take the Day Skipper theory course. The Day Skipper Theory syllabus contains all essential theoretical knowledge required to become a skipper. It can be completed online at your own pace, We offer Navathome with all the needed resources sent to your home, and you can even use your repeat customer discount.

If you don’t feel ready

Not everybody is prepared for the Day Skipper course right away, we all learn at different rates and bridging the gap between the competent crew and Day Skipper courses is best achieved with Bespoke training, this can help you refine those skills that you think you lack. Commonly this is boat handling, we all know there is nothing more exhilarating than bringing a beautiful yacht alongside a concrete harbour wall! We offer bespoke training at all of our bases in Greece, Croatia, and the UK.

The courses in the Mediterranean are all one week. Our UK school offers much more flexibility for weekends or any other length or start days. Talk to one of our consultants to find out more.

General skills training works very well alongside the day skipper course. You will get to see others go through the course while you polish the fundamentals. Having feedback from an instructor while learning alongside the standard RYA courses can give you the confidence to grow without the pressure of a restricted syllabus. Talk to one of our consultants to find out where and how we can help you get to the next level.

The Sailing Licence

With your Day skipper theory ticket in hand and some recent sailing experience, You will be ready for the Day Skipper practical course. Taking everything you have learned in the first two courses, this turns you into a responsible skipper. You will learn to handle the boat, bringing it into port, directing your crew to ensure everyone is safe and comfortable.

Call 0208 324 3118 Email [email protected]

Now you are qualified as a skipper

With your internationally recognised license in hand, you now have the opportunity to take your friends and family sailing on Yachts around the world. I am not surprised if this might feel incredibly daunting as this license can be achieved in as little as three weeks.

Flotilla can be a great option to help build your confidence. As well as being fantastically social flotilla offers you the opportunity to grow as a skipper with the security of having our lead crew on standby to assist or advise on any aspect of sailing. You can find more about our flotillas here .

A whole world of sailing

As soon as you feel ready, you will be free to charter yachts worldwide. As an internationally recognised skipper, you can benefit from bareboat prices and the freedom to travel at your own pace. Seafarer has a vast range of worldwide destinations. Click here to find out more.

If you are still not sure

Perhaps you are not sure where you fit into all of this. Why not talk to one of our team? We are a small yet experienced company in the world of sailing, and we would be happy to advise you on how best you can get started.

How to Get Your Captain’s License –A Step-by-Step Guide

From captain requirements to the coast guard application process – how to navigate the process of becoming an official boat captain.

Like all other areas of professional endeavor, getting a Captain’s license is an essential and non-trivial process. Despite the years between my earliest thoughts on having one and actually applying…or perhaps because of that time…I am quite proud to call myself Captain !

From the time I was Quartermaster aboard the Chesapeake Lightship back when she was berthed in Washington, DC, I had wanted to get my Captain’s license. We in her crew had plenty of sea time. The late Capt. Joe Murray, John Hart, and particularly Chris Krusa saw to it that each of us developed our skills and knowledge beyond the minimum that we needed for our jobs. We met collectively with a Coast Guard officer to explore the options for us all getting licensed; however, the wind was taken out of our sails so to speak when he told us that since most of us were not 18, we were not entitled to take the written exam.

I left that session crestfallen but I put it all behind me as I moved on with a career in research physics. Later, I learned that what the officer SHOULD have said is that if we had just waited (a few months) until we turned 18, we could have taken the exams. Years later, my problem was that I could not meet the requirement to have 90 days of sea time in the last 3 years. My employer would have more than frowned on my having been gone so often. And all of us had not even bothered to ask for sea service forms or letters to document our time on the Chesapeake.

Fast forward 34 years and serendipitous events led to my being able to get signed sea service forms for my time on the Lightship. Shortly thereafter, I became a boat owner WITH vacation time afforded to a very senior engineer in the company.

Long story short, I am Capt. Rob Chichester – 200 Ton Master with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing Endorsements.

Navigating the path to a Captain’s license can be full of the brambles of regulations, forms, and oddly worded requirements. In this article, I will try to clarify the process and help interested skippers decide what type of license, scope, and tonnage they should pursue. Then I will discuss the application process and all the elements needed to assemble a successful license application package.

More Resources: If you would like a one-on-one consultation to have your specific questions answered on this topic or others related to boating, please sign up for 30 minute video consultation with me!

The Basics of a Captain’s License

A first time applicant will need to decide while type of license to pursue. There are two types available to one applying for a new license.

You may apply for a license to be an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or the more familiar “Six Pack” license. It is so called because the holder of this license is limited to carrying no more than 6 paying passengers on any vessel within his tonnage rating regardless of the maximum capacity rating for the vessel.
The other option is a Master’s license which allows you to carry up to the maximum number of passengers indicated for the vessel in question. Whereas a Master’s license requires US Citizenship, an OUPV license holder can be non-US citizen. Clearly holding a Master’s license offers more opportunities; however as I will explain later, the knowledge requirements are appropriately greater.

The scope or route for one’s license is the waters in which you are authorized to function in your licensed capacity.

There are effectively three such areas defined:

The first is Inland which covers all inland rivers and bays not otherwise outside the demarcation line for the high seas. This may also include portions of the Great Lakes up to the International boundary line. (I will not explicitly discuss the Great Lakes or Western Rivers in this article but those waters are also covered by an Inland scope with a specific endorsement for each.)
The second route is near-coastal which means ocean waters not more than 200 miles offshore. By extension, a near-coastal route endorsement includes inland waters as well.
Lastly, Oceans refers to all waters seaward of the Boundary Lines as described in 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 7.

Tonnage rating is determined by the size vessels upon which an applicant has served. The tonnage is not simply the weight or displacement of a given vessel. It is not how much stuff you had loaded on a boat. It is a calculation of theoretical displacement if the complete available interior volume of a ship were filled with material of density 1 (i.e., water).

There are formulas available to estimate that based on the dimensions and type of boat. The calculations are necessarily different for a sailboat and a power boat. On a very rough order of magnitude, a 100 Ton powerboat would be about 80 feet long and a 100 Ton sailboat would be about 100 feet long. The tonnage rating is a not to exceed limitation.

One need not necessarily serve on a 50 ton or 100 ton vessel to earn the equivalent tonnage rating (see the table below for specifics on that). One cannot be granted more than a 100 Ton rating on an initial license because higher tonnage requires that one has served in a licensed capacity before applying for the higher tonnage. When I renewed my license in November, I applied for a 200 Ton rating which was granted conditional to my successfully passing the mandated written test. By the time you read this, I expect to have taken that exam.

Tonnage and route are determined by one’s documented experience. While you may apply for a 100 ton rating, you may only be granted 50 tons (or less) if your experience does not justify the higher rating. Additionally, the greater the scope, the more sea time is required to qualify for the rating.

For example, while an Inland scope needs 360 days of total sea time with 90 days in the last 3 years, a near-coastal scope requires 720 days and again the 90-day recency requirement. The take-away here is that experience is a big determinant and should NOT be discounted in any way. Note that there is no path to being granted an Ocean scope except by being a licensed mate or master for at least 2 years with documented service on those waters. That is, it is impossible to apply for an Oceans scope on a first application.

It should be noted that an OUPV license is automatically issued with a 100 Ton rating. As coarse as this may sound, the reason is that it is assumed that with an OUPV license, the most damage one can do is to 6 people. Therefore, there is no particular benefit to issuing OUPV with varying tonnage ratings. New Master’s licenses are issued with ratings of 25, 50, or 100 tons. Discussions of ratings over 100 tons or Ocean routes are beyond the scope of this article. You may contact the author if you wish more information on those specific topics.

The table below is a guide to determining for what rating one may qualify.

Your Sea Time Experience

For a Near Coastal route, ideally, all of your time will be on Near-Coastal waters; however, you are allowed to substitute up to half of the 720 days required minimum with Inland route service. For the purposes of documenting sea time for a Near Coastal route, any time served beyond the 3-mile limit counts for that purpose. So if you charter in the Caribbean or crew on an offshore fishing trip, that time counts.

Just to be clear, sea time is not counted unless you are a working member of the crew of the vessel named on the sea service form. That is to say, just being a passenger is not sufficient.

To keep things on the up and up, the applicant is required to get the signature of the owner, manager, or master of the vessel on the sea service form. If the applicant owns the identified vessel, proof of ownership must accompany the form. Proof might be a Bill of Sale, vessel document, or a state registration.

Sea time is not counted unless you spend at least 4 hours of a given day underway . Being onboard the boat at the dock swabbing the decks does not count. Time underway is counted whether it is in route or adrift. Being anchored or moored also does not count. It can be tedious to collect and collate all of your sea service forms, especially after the fact. My best advice is even if you are only thinking about getting a license, keep blank sea service forms with you for the vessel operator to sign at the end of a trip. Note that the forms are not per trip but per vessel. There is room to document up to 5 years of sea time on any given vessel. There is room for five years of data because your license will be up for renewal every 5 years .

Technically, vessels over 200 gross tons now require a Service Letter from the employer or vessel manager. However at the time I applied for my original license, I submitted my time on the Chesapeake Lightship on a Sea Service form (CG-719S). That form was accepted for that as well as again when I renewed and requested an upgrade to 200 Tons. I may have been grandfathered so new applicants should verify their individual situations with the National Maritime Center .

Health and Medical

To be a Captain, one must be in good health and of reasonable physical ability. The Medical form ( CG-719K ) is the most extensive form one will need to complete. It also requires the signature of a licensed physician. Unlike an FAA pilot’s license, the physician need not be approved by the US Coast Guard. Your family doctor is acceptable.

For my part, I completed as much of the form as was reasonable. I then FAXed the form ahead of my annual physical so that the doctor could review what was needed and to be prepared to sign off on it. The only extra thing the doctor had to do was conduct color vision and standard wall chart vision test. Your vision need not be perfect without glasses but if that is the case, you should expect a requirement to be written on your license requiring corrective lenses to be used and a spare pair to be available when on duty. If your medical form is accepted, you will be issued a separate medical form which is to be kept with your Merchant Mariner Credential. There is a pocket on the back cover to hold it and the required Transport Worker’s Identification Card ( TWIC ). The TWIC will be addressed below.

Another form to be completed, this time by an authorized physician, is the DOT five-panel drug test . An applicant must submit proof of drug testing with no findings as determined by an authorized physician. Also be aware that to work aboard any vessel in any compensated capacity, you must have proof of participation in a drug test program, whether it be one in which you elect to participate as an individual or one required by your marine employer. Such proof is to be carried with you at all times just as your license and medical certificate must be. It is generally in the form of a letter attesting to your compliance and passing a test within 12 months of the date of the letter.

Criminal and National Security Background

One has always been required to agree to a criminal background and driving record check . As you can well imagine, adverse findings in either of these areas will negatively affect one’s application.

With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a requirement was added that licensed mariners have a TWIC card . In fact, anyone working in the transportation sector (air, rail, marine, trucking, etc.) is required to have a TWIC card. You will be investigated for any evidence of threat potential to national security. This is because as a licensed Captain, you may have access to vital and strategic marine facilities.

The TWIC card is issued by DHS through a federal contractor. There is an application to complete and a fee to pay. Furthermore, you must appear in person so that your photo and fingerprints can be taken. This bio-metric data is stored on the TWIC card and protected by a pass code. You must submit a copy of your TWIC with your license application; therefore, one must start the TWIC process at least four to six weeks or more before submitting one’s license application.

Separately, a photograph of the applicant must accompany the application. This can be a driver’s license or passport photo . It should be a state or federal government issued document. Others may be accepted but the applicant should verify this with the NMC before submitting the application to avoid processing delays.

Coastal Navigation
Deck General Knowledge
Rules of the Road

Deck General includes a wide variety of topics including fire and safety, terminology, and laws and procedures. Rules of the Road covers exactly what it says. Bear in mind that even if you are applying for an Inland or Near Coastal license, the Rules of the Road test will include elements of International Rules. So when you are studying, do not neglect to familiarize yourself with those details. There are some variations in vessel precedence, sound signals, and lights and shapes displayed by vessels.

If you are applying for a Master’s license, there are additional areas of test. The same is true if you are additionally requesting an endorsement for Sail, Auxiliary Sail, or Commercial Assistance Towing. The net effect is more questions overall.

You must score at least 70% in all areas except Rules of the Road for which you must have a minimum score of 90% to pass . Generally, that means you may miss no more than 3 questions to pass with a 90% grade. The Navigation questions will require you to work with a chart to plot position, routes, and so forth.

You may either pay an examination fee to take the exams administered by the Coast Guard or you may enroll in any number of approved Captains’ courses. You will receive a certificate of completion from the school to submit with your application in lieu of the Coast Guard exams; however, you will still take exams which include questions from the same list of questions that the Coast Guard uses. In the latter case, you will not need to pay an examination fee but obviously, you will have to pay a tuition for the course.

Completing your Application

The license application is not unlike many others. It is actually shorter than the medical form discussed earlier. There are two things to note on the application:

Item 1 of Section IV describes how one may be asked to serve on behalf of the country in times of national emergency. An example of this was the massive sealift conducted in support of the first Gulf war in the 1980’s, Operation Desert Storm. This is a voluntary action. However it should be noted that during the call up for Desert Storm, more mariners were needed than responded. It is a possibility, particularly in these times, that another such national emergency could arise.
Secondly, Item 5 of Section IV contains an oath to which an applicant must swear. If you present yourself in person you will be sworn in by Coast Guard personnel. If you choose to submit your application by mail or electronic means, you must provide proof that you appropriately took the oath as written. This generally means being sworn by a Notary or a local government official such as a county clerk.

Payment of all required application and examination fees is made online prior to submitting the application. You will receive a receipt which you should include with your application package. Pay close attention to the various fees and be sure you select all that apply but ONLY those that apply. An error either way will delay processing of your application.

Submitting your Application

When you apply for an original license and especially if you plan to take the Coast Guard exams , you will need to present yourself in person with your complete application package at a USCG Regional Examination Center (REC). Photo ID will be necessary as well.

One thing that happens if you appear in person is that you will raise your right hand and take the oath on the application. That was a very moving moment for me. Delivering your application package in person also allows you to interact with the personnel directly which could be very valuable if there are errors or omissions in your application package.

If you are not taking the Coast Guard exams and if you have been sworn by an authorized official, you may wish to submit your application by mail or electronically. Be aware that electronic submission has a limit on the size of the email attachment. My applications have always been larger than what is accepted by the Coast Guard mail servers.

Waiting for Your License

The Coast Guard has implemented a very good system of tracking your application and providing feedback at every step of the way. You will receive emails as the application moves through the system. It may take up to a week for the REC to review and forward your application to the National Maritime Center (NMC) in West Virginia. That was my experience with the New York City REC. It may be less in smaller, less congested venues.

By the way, you are not required to use the REC nearest to you. If you wanted to fly to Hawaii or Alaska instead of driving into Baltimore, you may do so. A good friend of mine drove from New Jersey to Boston to submit his application there because he heard the processing times were less than for New York.

Once the NMC has your package, the process usually will not take long at all. It is very likely you will receive 2 or 3 emails a day, often within minutes, as the application moves through the various approvals. Nothing beats the feeling you will have when you get the final email saying that you have been approved and your credential is being printed!

My original license took slightly more than two weeks from dropping off my application at Battery Park in New York to finding my MMC in my mailbox.

Once you get your license, look it over thoroughly. You may not necessarily have been granted the scope and rating you requested. Sometimes that reduction will be legitimate. Other times, it may be due to an honest mistake. Both my original and renewals had honest omissions. I was only granted a 50 ton rating on my original license when I had applied for 100 tons. I submitted the sea service form supporting the request for 100 tons after the fact and I received an endorsement sticker for the 100 ton rating a week later. Similarly with my renewal, I asked for an upgrade to 200 tons. My renewal was approved at 100 tons. When I contacted the NMC, they amended the approval and showed that I was then approved to take the required test for the 200 ton upgrade. So my message here is to not necessarily accept the delivered MMC as if it were carved in stone.

More Resources from Captain Rob

Being a licensed Captain is a great source of pride to me. I have enjoyed working with my clients as well as pursuing other commercial opportunities like relief captain jobs on various schooners, water taxi and tow boat jobs, and tour boat and ferry captain work. I look forward to many years of working on and enjoying the water.

If you would like a one-on-one consultation to have your specific questions answered on this topic or others related to boating, please sign up for 30 minute video consultation with me!

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24 Comments

Hi, I am hoping you can help me out. I am a USCG vet that was stationed at a small boat station in NJ from 1983-1989. I am trying to get my sea time documented but I am having a very hard time finding out how to do that since the station records were not computerized at that time. I have contacted the NMC and they told me to call the station to get an Abstract of Operations report. They just laughed at me when I called the station. I have requested info from vetrecs.archives.gov but I am sure that will take some time just to get an answer as to wether they can do that or not. I was wondering if you knew how to go about getting the information that I need. I am sure I am not the only person with this issue and I can’t seem to find anyone that knows exactly how to go about documenting that time.

Thanks Jeff

Thanks for your question. I don’t have a lot of advice for you regarding USCG internal procedures. Perhaps you can contact the Office of Personnel and try to get a copy of your service record. Alternatively, is there anyone at that small boat station who knew you? Would the OIC be willing to write a letter? The last and least likely option would be to fill out your own sea service form and see if anyone there would sign off on it for you. Now the regulations speak of a Certificate of Discharge being acceptable. See for example 46 CFR 10.232 ( https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/46/10.232 ). If you already have that, you might be good to go!

So…start with your Certificate of Discharge and if you don’t have that, then contact the Office of Personnel to see if you can get the requisite documents. Let me know how you make out!

Hi Captain Rob, My name is Elton the 66 year old owner of a small 35 ft. Kingscraft houseboat. I spend a lot of time on one large lake. It is an older wonderful all aluminum vessel but weighs only about 8000 lbs. In the chart the lowest weight rating is 17 tons. I would love to educate myself and become a Captain. Is that possible at some level? I would also have to document my own time as pilot.

Sir, you have open to you both options that I describe in my article. You could pursue either a Master’s license OR an Operator of an Uninspected Vessels license. From what you have written, I see no inherent obstacles. You must be able to document your seatime, get a medical evaluation, and pass the 4 or the 3 parts of the written exam depending on which license you choose to pursue. In any event, you would qualify for an Inland license. Your tonnage rating would also depend on which license you pursue. Solely based on what you have said above, you would qualify for a 50 ton Master’s license. If you pursue an OUPV, that comes with a tonnage rating of 100 tons. For most people, the biggest challenge is acceptably documenting seatime. (It needs all be as captain. You can include time served as master, mate, or crew but NOT as a paying passenger.) If your concern is your age, I know a few captain’s in the 60s and 70s. I am one of the former myself. Good luck!

Capt.Rob I am US Army Veteran And I was wondering if their was a school i could attend to obtain a licence, I ask this because i have to decide what i want to go to school for and this job would be a top pick for me. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated thanks

There are MANY captain schools that can help you with the written tests but there are NO schools that can help you with the sea time requirements unless you are considering enrolling in a maritime college like Kings Point or Fort Schuyler in the New York State university system. I used Mariners Learning System for my written tests only because it was more convenient than going to the USCG REC to take the exams.

Where would I get sea service forms . I have owned and operated my own boats for over 30 years and am now being asked to get a captains liscence

There is a link in the article for the National Maritime Center. All the forms you needs can be found on their website. Alternatively, you can search for USCG National Maritime Center with your favorite search engine.

Couple questions. Would working as a divemaster on a dive boat in the Gulf of Mexico count for near coastal sea time? And if you were to have 8 hours of sea time in one day, could you potentially count that as two days at sea? Or would it still be just one day? Thanks for all the info this has been a huge help!

Any time spent aboard a vessel underway counts as long as the owner, manager, or master of the vessel will attest to that. When submitting Sea Service forms, your option for your role aboard the vessel are things like crew, mate, master, engineer, etc. You will need to determine what your position was. Divemaster is not recognized and does not speak to maritime skills necessarily. (For example, you can dive from shore never having been in a boat.) Regarding the near coastal time, you just need to verify that the vessel upon which you served was indeed in near-coastal or ocean waters. The form has spaces for days spent within the specified boundaries and outside those boundaries. I once saw an interactive chart online for finding the boundary lines in a given area. For your purposes, you cannot count 8 hours as two days underway. You need a MINIMUM of 4 hours underway to count that day. Being at anchor or otherwise moored or secured does not count. Good luck!

Capt. Lots of good and helpful info. I boated the Chesapeake for 10+yrs, from the Delaware bay to Virginia in a 27′ cruiser. i’ve not been on the water since 2012. So to be clear, I need to acquire some time on a charter vessel to even attempt the basic “6-pack”. I have my CG boating skills and seamanship certificates,and will work on the CG719S. Living in Florida, lots of opportunity, should have done this sooner !! Thanks

Thank you for your feedback. I am glad you found the article helpful. Apart from documenting your sea time, I found the most labor intensive aspect was verifying that a) I had all the documents that I needed and b) I had correctly completely all of the USCG forms. A lesser challenge may be in determining what correct application fees are. If you are not sure, contact USCG NMC by phone, email, or online chat to get clarification on what fees you have to pay. Good luck!

This is great info..

I am starting out (hopefully) as a plan is due to new lifestyle i desire to get an two oceans open ocean 800 expedition catamaran (again very expensive so fingers crossed) but the plan is while the vessel is being built, i can take several classes and get a few certifications prior to launch, then as life you see everywhere on youtube for example have the vessel at dock, then day trips, then a week trip and just push it a little further until you are ready for the maiden voyage, really looking to live off anchorage in around the philippines / guam area mostly philippines or south pacific area, mostly friends and family but my question is any licence for that type of boat, and also if you have heard of any schools in the philippines? I know they have a few courses that are completely certified like any american school but a fraction of the cost, just curious if any particular licence i need to get or have?

You did not say whether you intended to take passengers for hire. Generally, one only needs to be licensed if you are getting paid to carry passengers OR if you working in more advanced maritime fields like tug boats and large cargo vessels. If you are only operating your private vessel for your own personal or recreational purposes, you usually do not need any kind of license other than possibly taking a multiple choice test on local safety rules and rules of the road. I am not familiar with the licensing requirements in foreign venues like the Philippines. Each nation has its own requirements. I was able to find information at this link: http://www.marina.gov.ph/policies/MCs/mc170.pdf . You may find some useful information in that document.

Good luck! And safe sailing…

Your information was helpful, thank you. I have decided to pursue getting my License but I am starting from scratch. Should I take classes before looking to get sea time? And how does one go about getting sea time with no experience?

Any course work you take will typically culminate in a certificate of completion. However that certificate will only be valid for 1 year. Therefore, do NOT take any exams more than about 6 months prior to submitting your original license application. As for sea time, you can look for marine work that does not require a license like deck crew on water taxis or excursion boats. Time spent on a friend’s boat counts. Have that friend complete and sign a sea service form. Sea time never expires and can be counted from the age of 15. Learn your rules of the road and learn to feel your vessel. Driving a boat is a lot different from driving a car. As a licensed captain, you are expected to step up to the helm and handle the ship with relatively little training time. Good luck!

Great article, thanks for writing it! Does time spent aboard a recreational boat that I own, when I am the only person aboard, count towards sea time? If so how do I document that – there’s no one to sign for the time. Thanks again.

Time spent on your own boat absolutely counts. You would sign the CG-719S Sea Service form yourself where it says Applicant AND where it says Person Attesting to Experience. However, you will have to provide proof of ownership for the vessel. The Bill of Sale is usually what is used but the vessel’s CG document or state registration card should also be sufficient. Remember that seatime is counted only from the age of 15 and it is underway time of at least 4 hours per day. Time on the anchor or alongside do NOT count. The presence of others is irrelevant.

Hi Shane. Sea time is defined as time working aboard in any capacity relevant to the rating you are pursuing. For instance, if you are a bos’n or deck crew, that time it unlikely to count towards a engineer’s license and conversely, time in the engine department or work on mechanical systems would be difficult to apply towards a deck officer’s license. The highest rating one can get on an original (i.e., first) license is 100 Ton Master. It is likely that your Navy time would count; however, your challenge is getting an appropriate service letter from the Navy. You cannot submit a CG-719S for your Navy service as that form is for SMALL VESSEL service. Consult the USCG site at http://www.uscg.mil/nmc for more information. Also note that you may use any valid sea time accrued from the age of 15. Good luck!

Hi Capt. Rob, I have one question rather just some clarification regarding the time at sea, for the tonnage rating. Does “time at sea” mean just that or does it mean operating the vessel. I was in the Navy for several years as an operations specialist and I am not sure what level I would qualify for if I were to pursue getting a Captains license. Also I was wondering how much the entire process would cost.

Hey Rob, Thanks so much for taking the time to write this, it was really very useful to read. This has been on my mind for some considerable time, but I am now finally starting on the road to getting my licence and taking a nautical shift in my career. I have been a sailor all my life, was sailing single handed as soon as I could walk and now own a 38 foot Irwin racer/crusier.

My one big question is online study vs going somewhere to do the required course? I wonder how you gained your licence and what you might recommend?

My issue was primarily NOT wanting to have to take the tests at the NYC REC and to NOT attend intense 8-10 hour weekend classes. I was comfortable with the Rules of the Road and chart navigation issues as well the Deck General material. Since I got a Master’s license (versus the OUPV), there was more legal stuff to know in the category they call Ship’s Business. I did an online course through Mariner’s School in Princeton, NJ. The price was good and the location was convenient for when I did go to take the test.

The bottom line is do what works best for you given what you need to learn or refresh, how much time you have to do it, and where you will need to go to take the final tests.

(Please note that you can submit your application and/or take your tests at ANY REC anywhere. It is not a function of where you live or where you will sail.)

Great article Rob. Thanks for sharing your experience

Thank you for the feedback. Do please let me know if you have any further questions or if I may be of service in some other regard!

Comments are closed.

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How to Become a Boat Captain

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 References

Getting a Job

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Nitzan Levy . Captain Nitzan Levy is a Sailor, Social Entrepreneur, and the Founder of Sailors NYC, a recreational sailors’ club based in Jersey City, New Jersey that specializes in cruising boats and a variety of community programs. Capt. Levy has over 20 years of sailing experience and has sailed in many places around the world including: the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, The Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean. Capt. Levy is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Master of vessels up to 50 Tons with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing Endorsements. Capt. Levy is also a NauticEd Level V Captain Rank Chief Instructor, an American National Standards Assessor, an SLC instructor, an ASA (American Sailing Association) Certified Instructor Bareboat Chartering, and an Israeli licensed skipper on Boats for International Voyages. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 130,686 times.

Becoming a boat captain can be a time-consuming but rewarding process. A captain’s license isn’t necessary if you just want to take your own boat out for pleasure cruises, but it is required if you receive any compensation for your boat services. With the right education, experience, and test scores, you will be on your way to becoming a licensed boat captain.

Step 1 Earn your high school diploma or GED.

Learn communication skills through English classes and other language classes.
Also consider taking computer classes and mechanical drawing classes.

Get a degree in the field of marine transportation, marine engineering, maritime operations and technology, or shipyard management.

Even if you can’t afford a full 4-year education, try to audit some maritime-related classes at your local university or community college.
Look for classes offered by local organizations like the yacht club or sailing club.

Step 4 Enroll in a captain’s license class.

If you live near a coast, look for local businesses that specialize in these classes. If there's nothing near where you live, you can take an online course.
These courses end in a written exam that can often stand in for the official exam. Check the Coast Guard website to find approved courses. [4] X Research source

Step 1 Log at least 360 days of sea-time.

If this sea-time is spent under another captain's command, you will need to have this captain sign your license application when the time comes.
Any time spent on a boat counts. So include hours working in positions such as a maid or deckhand on a cruise ship.

Step 2 Spend additional time training on a boat.

Some positions to aim for are deckhand, third mate, second mate, chief mate, or engineer.

Look for positions like tour guide, dockhand, sanitation officer, or boat mechanic.

If it's not necessary, simply provide a statement with your application that says you don't need it.
If a TWIC card is necessary for you, you can apply for it through the TSA.

Step 2 Choose between the “Six-Pack” or the Master license.

The Master license involves far more sea-time hours, but there’s no need to get the six-pack license first. Jump right to the Master if that’s the one you want.

Step 3 Satisfy all of the physical and legal fine print.

Additional identification will be required, such as a social security card or an I-551 alien registration card.

You can submit your application and any supporting documents in person at a local Regional Exam Center (REC) or send it to the REC through the mail.
If you're outside the U.S., you'll need to apply for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) through the Royal Yacht Academy.

Step 5 Present three character references.

References from licensed captains, commercial fishermen, or others who own and operate their own boats are generally best.
These character reference letters should also be notarized.

This exam will usually consist of multiple choice questions about deck and safety procedures, general navigation, and rules associated with operating a boat in shared waters. [17] X Research source

If your application is approved, your license and credentials will be printed and mailed to you.

Step 1 Network through your professional contacts.

Join your local yacht club or sailing club to make more contacts there.
Go mingle with other captains at local docks and start up conversations with them. They may know of more job openings.

↑ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/transportation-ship-captains-marine-pilots
↑ http://education-portal.com/become_a_ship_captain.html
↑ http://study.com/become_a_ship_captain.html
↑ http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/faq/exams_faqs.pdf?ver=2017-07-13-110959-517
↑ http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/how-to-become-a-boat-captain/
↑ http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Ship_Captain/Salary
↑ Nitzan Levy. Sailing Instructor. Expert Interview. 24 April 2020.
↑ http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/faq/twic_faq.pdf?ver=2017-05-31-144812-903
↑ https://asa.com/news/2013/08/12/uscg-captains-license/#
↑ http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/National-Maritime-Center-NMC/merchant_mariner_credential/

About This Article

If you want to become a boat captain, obtain your high school diploma or GED. After school, enroll in a captain’s license class or a college program where you’ll learn about navigation, tidal calculations, international and inland boating rules, and meteorology. Before you can obtain a captain’s license, you must have a minimum of 360 days worth of sea time within a 5-year period, where a “day” is 4 consecutive hours on the water. This can be piloting the boat or working as a deckhand on a cruise ship. For more information on getting your license, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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One Crew Member Was Fired and Another Left During an Explosive Below Deck: "Not Acceptable”

Find out which crew members left St. David on Below Deck Season 11, Episode 7.

After several weeks of less-than-smooth sailing with the St. David crew, Captain Kerry Titheradge completed his first official Below Deck firing on Season 11, Episode 7 (which aired on March 18).

How to Watch

Watch Below Deck on Bravo Mondays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock . Catch up on the Bravo App .

The Aussie captain, who joined the series for Season 11 after appearing on Below Deck Adventure , let (SPOILER) Jared Woodin go following a series of mistakes as well a conflict with deckhand Kyle Stillie .

Jared wasn't the only yachtie who left the boat, however. Stew Cat Baugh decided to leave the vessel voluntarily after getting a serious phone call from a friend.

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Who did Jared Woodin get fired on Below Deck Season 11, Episode 7?

As soon as Season 11 began, Captain Kerry recognized that Jared wasn't cut out to be the Bosun of a mega yacht. After giving Jared a few charters to see if he could improve during dockings and with his communication, Kerry decided to fire the Connecticut native.

Captain Kerry told Jared, "The way that you're treating these guys is not acceptable, and we've had discussions, and I've tried to guide you, I've shown you compassion. But, you've got sh-t going on, mate. You're your own worst enemy right now. You need to depart the vessel."

Jared Woodin wearing a blue shirt on a yacht.

How Jared Woodin Reacted to Getting Fired

Once Kerry fired Jared, the dad of one seemed surprised. "I'm getting the boot?" Jared asked, and Kerry confirmed that was the case. "Really?"

Kerry noted that Jared did "have a lot going for [him]," but that St. David wasn't the right place for him.

"Take this time and work on yourself," Kerry said. "Me keeping you here is a disservice to you."

Jared ultimately agreed with that assessment in an interview on the episode.

"I thought I was in a good headspace coming in to this, [but] I'm really not. And, as much as I would like to be, I'm just lying to myself," he said. "Although the situation sucks, I actually really do feel a little bit lighter."

Watch Captain Kerry Titheradge's Girlfriend Make Her Below Deck Debut

Why did cat baugh leave on below deck season 11.

Jared wasn't the only crew member who left St. David on Season 11, Episode 7. After expressing how it was hard for her to find her place amongst the rest of the yachties, stew Cat Baugh received a troubling phone call from a friend named Megan when she was in her cabin.

"I'm sorry, I know you can't talk, but she's not answering, and no one else is awake right now," Cat's friend said on the phone. "Do you have, like, a couple seconds? I'm freaking the f-ck out."

Cat didn't reveal what exactly the phone call was about, but she recognized that she needed to get back home.

"So, I got a call from my friend, Megan," Cat explained in an interview on the episode. "This is a situation I really can't talk about, but my friends are my family, so it feels really sh-tty not being able to be there for her."

Cat Baugh Hugs Captain Kerry as she leaves the yacht

After the charter guests arrived, Cat talked to her boss, Fraser Olender , about what she was feeling. He encouraged her to put her mental health first. Kerry did the same.

"My number one job is to take care of my crew and their health," Kerry said. "I'm well aware of mental health. She's got to go, now."

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"I wish I could have stayed. But, the thing is, there's no way I could have," Cat concluded. "This is too much. I need to be with the people [who] need me, and also, on this boat, I'm at a breaking point. I need to protect my mental health. It's like my support system is at home, not here."

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Superyacht Deckhand job description

A deckhand is the entry level for almost all professional crew jobs on superyachts. The deckhand position will encompass many responsibilities, but most importantly, he/she will maintain the exterior of the yacht and keep it in pristine condition at all times. You could be the only deckhand on board, but on larger superyachts there may be as many as five or more deckhands working.

Your day will typically start very early and end very late. You will be involved in a number of tasks, including:

Fibreglass restoration
Line handling
General exterior maintenance
Driving tenders and/or toys
Escorting guests when they use the toys
Diving (if qualified)
Helping interior staff serve meals or clean cabins
Occasional assistance with the Chef in the galley

The deckhand is also normally responsible for the general day to day operation and maintenance of jet-skis and other toys and tenders.

The deckhand’s role is incredibly varied and gives an excellent opportunity to learn about the general operations on board a superyacht.

Required Skills and Experience

Deckhands do not have to have boating qualifications but having them is an asset. General seafaring skills are expected. Deckhands should ideally have some knowledge and experience of navigation, boat handling, engines and radio equipment.

Any skills or experience in any of the above mentioned tasks would be a distinct advantage over other candidates.

If you’ve never worked on a yacht before, it doesn’t mean that you are unsuitable for consideration. Captains have, in the past, hired crew with a variety of backgrounds such as hospitality and hotels, cruise lines, recent graduates, mechanics, engineers, tour leaders, divers and anyone who can prove they have the willingness to learn and the right work ethic.

Required Certification

Qualifications and certification are not normally needed to become a deckhand – experience is generally more important, but RYA qualifications such as Day Skipper, Power Boat Level 2 and VHF/SRC Radio Operators Certificate or IYT Tender Driving Licence may be beneficial. As an alternative the MCA approved Yacht Rating Course is acceptable. As you progress you will be expected to achieve the MCA Yacht Rating Certificate.

You may be required to hold the MCA STCW Basic Safety certification, and if you wish to progress from the deckhand role this certification is likely to be required for higher positions.

Salary Range

At entry-level a deckhand could expect to earn between £1,250 and £1,750 per month. An experienced deckhand could expect up to around £1,750 or £2,000 per month.

Career Progression

Superyacht Crew A Deckhand is an excellent place to start your career on board a superyacht as it gives you a good grounding in day-to-day operations.

A Deckhand may choose to continue working in a deck role, and progress to the position of Bosun. Alternatively he/she may prefer to move into the Engineering department as an Engineer, or get into the Service department as a Steward/ess.

Marine Industry Experience as a Deckhand on board a superyacht would be valuable in a whole host of other crew positions. For example in the Leisure sector holiday companies employ both engineering and stewarding crew for their flotillas.

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Captured Somali pirates brought in for prosecution by the Indian Navy, in Mumbai

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IMAGES

How to Become a Yacht Captain? [Complete Career Guide]
How to Become a Yacht Captain? [Complete Career Guide]
How to Become a Yacht Captain
How to Become a Yacht Captain? [Complete Career Guide]
Yacht Captain careers
How to Become a Yacht Captain? [Complete Career Guide]

COMMENTS

Seafarer skills and training
Get help with seafarer training. Contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency ( MCA) if you need more information on training and skills. MCA helpline. 023 8032 9231. Find out about call charges ...
Superyacht training and certification
MCA stands for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It is the organisation responsible for maritime safety in the UK. This role encompasses setting the standard for training and certification for seafarers, including the minimum requirements for certification of superyacht crew. The MCA is an agency of the Department for Transport of the British ...
How to Become a Captain on a Superyacht
As a rule, the smaller the yacht, the more hands-on the Captain must be. The larger the yacht, the more administrative duties the Captain will hold. A superyacht Captain specialises in commanding and managing luxury yachts over 24 metres in length. Every crew member falls under the ultimate command of the Captain and will answer to him/her.
RYA courses and qualifications
View your RYA certificates online by registering for a free MyRYA account. The RYA's training courses and qualifications are recognised and respected all over the world. With more than 2,400 recognised training centres across 58 different countries and more than 100 courses, there's something for every age, interest and ability.
Careers
Careers in the superyacht industry. A superyacht is defined as any leisure yacht over 24 metres (79 feet) in length. There are many hundreds of superyachts sailing the seas and oceans today - motor or sail, and they employ thousands of crew members from around the world. Owning or chartering a multi-million-pound superyacht is an exclusive ...
Becoming a yacht captain: Insights from industry experts
One thing the interviewed captains agreed on is the importance of mentoring. A mentor is your navigational guide through the ins and outs of your career. "In such a challenging environment, it can be a lonely path if you go at it alone," said captain Liz. There are many misconceptions about being a captain.
RYA Sail Cruising Training
Our practical and theory courses will take you from complete beginner to capable skipper and beyond. Stepping into the world of sailing for the first time is exciting and exhilarating. The courses in the RYA Yachtmaster training scheme will help you learn to sail and build confidence, become a useful crew member and even learn how to skipper a ...
How to Become a Superyacht Captain With UKSA
Which Tasks Does A Superyacht Captain Carry Out? As Captain, specialising in commanding and managing luxury yachts over 24 metres in length, you'll be responsible for a crew and the safety of passengers. As well as this, you answer to the yacht's owner about the decisions you make. Effective communication and leadership are crucial.
Yachtmaster
The gold standard. The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster.
What qualifications do I need to sail a yacht?
No, in the UK it's completely legal to sail a boat or a yacht without a license. However, if you don't have much yacht experience in the UK, and you're not with someone who does - this is ill advised. Plus, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance policy in the event of an incident if you don't have a boat license.
Careers
Salary Range. A junior Captain based on a smaller superyacht (<30 metres) could expect a salary of between £3,500 and £5,500 per month. More experienced Captains, working on medium-sized superyachts (30-50 metres) could expect between £4,500 and £7,000 per month. Very experienced senior Captains on large superyachts (>50 metres) could ...
Yacht Captain careers
We have exciting yacht captain careers available! We're a leading yacht crew recruitment agency with various jobs. Apply now & start a rewarding career!
How to Become a Yacht Captain
Becoming a yacht captain. You now have all the necessary qualifications - there are no more modules. However, you still need to perform an additional 12 months of sea time, and 120 days of sea service. The final step is getting your MCA Master 3000 certification, a process that consists of an oral exam only.
How to Become a Qualified Boat Captain With Sailing Courses. ASA, IYT
If you keep your boat in the UK, only sail in the UK, and your boat is under 24m long, then no, technically you don't. However, if you want to charter a boat, sail anywhere else in the world, or want to keep your insurance renewals low then a qualification or two is essential!
How to become a qualified yacht skipper, RYA training center
Call 0208 324 3118 Email [email protected]. Training in Croatia Training in Greece Training in the UK. Monday to Friday. 0900 to 1800. Saturday. 0930 to 1700. Seafarer Sail training offers a RYA courses and advice on how to become a qualified yacht skipper. From Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Costal Skipper.
How to Get a Job as a Deckhand
One way to break into crew work is by getting real-world experience in the maritime world, adds Hollingshead. "Go and get a job in a marina, work for a boat-building company, learn about teak, painting, epoxy, etc. 10 Tips for Newbie Deckhands. "There are two main work/life experiences that I value in a candidate," he continues.
Yacht Crew Training, Courses & Qualifications
Yacht Engine Courses. Yacht Engine Rating (0) Engine-room Watch Rating (2) Approved Engine Course (23) Marine Engine Operator Licence (0) Chief Engineer (Yacht 4) - Less than 200GT and less than 1,500kW (1) Chief Engineer (Yacht 3) - Less than 500GT and less than 3,000kW (0) Chief Engineer (Yacht 2) - Less than 3,000GT and less than 3,000kW (0)
How to Become a Yacht Captain
The most common path to a yacht's wheelhouse is by rising through the ranks in the yachting industry, starting on deck and building sea time, gaining boat handling and geographical experience, and accruing licenses. But even after the golden ticket is earned — that 500GT or 3,000GT Master license — you'll find there is more to getting ...
How to Get Your Captain's License -A Step-by-Step Guide
The Basics of a Captain's License. A first time applicant will need to decide while type of license to pursue. There are two types available to one applying for a new license. You may apply for a license to be an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or the more familiar "Six Pack" license.
How to Become a Boat Captain (with Pictures)
2. Spend additional time training on a boat. Even though you only need 360 days of sea-time to get your license, if you want an actual job as a captain, you will usually need at least three to four years of professional experience. This experience should be directly related to the operations and management of a ship.
Below Deck Season 11: Who Got Fired and Left the Boat
Captain Kerry told Jared, "The way that you're treating these guys is not acceptable, and we've had discussions, and I've tried to guide you, I've shown you compassion. But, you've got sh-t going ...
Careers
A Deckhand is an excellent place to start your career on board a superyacht as it gives you a good grounding in day-to-day operations. A Deckhand may choose to continue working in a deck role, and progress to the position of Bosun. Alternatively he/she may prefer to move into the Engineering department as an Engineer, or get into the Service ...
Somali pirates return, adding to global shipping crisis
MOGADISHU, March 21 (Reuters) - As a speed boat carrying more than a dozen Somali pirates bore down on their position in the western Indian Ocean, the crew of a Bangladeshi-owned bulk carrier sent ...

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