Chartering - do you need a Captains license?

People often ask me this.  “How do you get comfortable that people chartering your boat know what they are doing?”  In the BVI for instance, as in many parts of the world, there isn’t a requirement for a charterer to show a level of certification before you are given the keys to a large sailing boat.  So how is it controlled?

In short, it’s more thorough than just a certificate!  When you first speak to a bareboat charter company you will be asked to complete a sailing resume.  This should be a detailed statement of your sailing experience.  All experience is relevant, in all parts of the world, but there will be specific attention paid to your experience in the waters you plan on chartering in, and on similar sized boats.

While a sailing certification, like ASA or RYA,  isn’t a requirement, its always useful to list your sailing/boating certificates on this resume, however long ago you took them.  They show a basic core understanding which may well need to be polished up, but they’re a good foundation.

Once your resume is reviewed the charter manager will let you know if they think you are eligible to book one of their yachts for a bareboat charter.  They’ll also let you know that they reserve the right to have you take a skipper on arrival if they feel your knowledge is not up to the standard you claim.  Many people when chartering for the first time in a while will take a professional skipper for the first day at least.  Why wouldn’t you?  Sailing is much about confidence as anything else, and taking along someone for the first day to help you brush off the cobwebs of your experience is certainly a smart thing to do.

On arrival you will go through a thorough boat brief with the charter company.  This is an important process both for the charter manager, who will use the brief to assess the competence of the customer and crew, and also for the customer who should use the experience to absorb everything they can about how the boat works.  In many situations you can learn how to correct small problems, like winch breaker trips etc, from the knowledge you pick up here.  Knowing this stuff can really be useful.  It’s worth paying attention.

Finally there is a ‘test sail’.  Typically the charter manager will ask a new customer to take the boat out, with the boat briefer embarked.  The customer will slip, motor out of the marina, set the sails and do a few tacks/gybes, maybe run a man overboard drill, and then drop the sails and return to the marina.  If the briefer is fully satisfied that the customer is ready to go by themselves, then they are off on their planned vacation. If not, then the customer is asked to take a skipper for a day or 2 to get some more practice in, or the whole week, to protect not only the yacht but more importantly the safety of the customer and their guests. There is also the upside of taking along someone with local knowledge that will broaden your experience of the sailing neighborhood!

If you are new to the activity, use a professional skipper for your first few visits to gain experience.  You can even get certified that way if you pair the practical experience with the required online courses.  Once you have the experience you can go by yourself, but don’t let that stop you for the first time.  Plan the trip with a professional and learn the skills for the future.  Invest in yourself, and widen your holiday opportunities.  Once you have the skills, the sailing world opens up to you!

Fair winds and happy sailing!