Do I need any qualifications to charter a yacht?

Yes and no! It depends on what type of yacht and charter you go for.

In general, most charter companies will require at least one guest to hold an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) which demonstrates that you have reached a required standard to skipper a vessel. It is important that you obtain the correct certificate before travelling to your destination as many charter companies will recognise non-international qualifications. If you have a sailing qualification awarded by a national body, check with them to see if they can also issue an ICC alongside it. For instance, anyone with a Royal Yachting Association Day Skipper qualification and above can apply to the RYA to have their ICC issued without further assessment.

Also note that most charter companies will also require the skipper to hold a short-range radio license.

Check with your charter advisor before finalising your booking to ensure that you have the right qualifications to charter the yacht.

If you don't have any qualifications, or your qualifications are senior enough to charter the type of yacht you want, you can also opt to have a professional skipper join you for the charter.