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Advanced Sailing Course

Bareboat Skipper & ICC

The International Bareboat Skipper and ICC is Wayfarer's command-level sailing qualification — the certificate for anyone who wants to confidently skipper their own yacht, not just crew on someone else's.

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This isn't a beginner's course. It assumes you already have the grounding gained through International Crew (or an equivalent qualification), and it's examined to a high standard — a 75% pass mark on the written exam, with three modules (Buoyage, COLREGS, and Navigation Lights) held to IYT's highest "Complete" depth-of-knowledge standard.

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Includes food and accomodation

View Schedule

from crew to commander

This intensive program elevates your skills to master a sailing vessel up to 24 meters in fair weather coastal conditions.


Building on the International Crew foundation, we cover IYT Modules 13–25 to ensure you are fully prepared for independent skippering.


Key Training Areas:
• Small Powerboats & RIBs: Confident handling and safety procedures.
• Sail Handling: Advanced techniques for complete boat control.
• Basic Meteorology: Predicting weather patterns and sea states.
• Short Passages: Navigating heavy weather, low visibility, and harbor entries.
• Compasses & Magnetism: Understanding variation, deviation, and steering.
• Charts & Chartwork: Plotting, position fixing, and traditional navigation.
• Tides & Currents: Calculating heights and stream rates for safe transit.
• Buoyage: International markers and hazard recognition.
• Collision Regulations (COLREGS): Vital rules of the road 
• Navigation Lights: Identifying vessels and status during darkness.
• Basic First Aid: Essential medical response at sea.
• Skipper Responsibilities: Legal duties, crew management, and safety.

Upon passing, you receive the International Bareboat Skipper Certificate of Competency.

As Wayfarer is an IYT-authorized school, you are also eligible for the International Certificate of Competency (ICC). The ICC is the essential legal requirement for skippering pleasure craft up to 24 meters in most European and Mediterranean coastal and inland waters. If you intend to charter a yacht internationally, this is the credential most charter companies require.

Course Prerequisites

  • Age 16 or over.

  • Prior completion of IYT International Crew, or an equivalent qualification from another recognised training organisation.

  • A VHF radio qualification — the IYT VHF/SRC Marine Communications certificate, or an equivalent recognised VHF Radio Operator's certificate. Don't have this yet? We can add it on as a short session before the course.

  • Logged sea time of at least 100 nautical miles to start. We'll help you build on this during the course toward the 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea IYT requires by the end.

  • Genuine prior sailing experience. This is a command-level course, not an introduction to sailing — if you haven't done Introduction to Sailing or sailed before, start there first.

Documentation

Please bring the following with you on the first day:

  • Evidence of your International Crew certification, or documentation of an equivalent qualification.

  • Your VHF/SRC certificate, or evidence of an equivalent recognised VHF Radio Operator's certificate — if you're doing this as an add-on with us, there's nothing to bring for this one.

  • Your sea time log, showing at least 100 nautical miles logged so far. We'll help you build up to the 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea required by the end of the course. A personal logbook or diary with dates, distances and roles is fine — the more organised it is, the faster we can verify it.

  • Valid photo ID (passport or driver's licence).

  • Details of any medical conditions, medications or allergies we should be aware of, and any dietary requirements for the courseIf

 

If you're unsure whether a qualification, logbook, or prior sea time meets the requirement, get in touch before the course starts and we'll confirm it with you.

Recommended Gear

Space on board is limited; please bring a soft holdall instead of a hard suitcase.
Essential Packing List:
• Non-slip deck shoes and waterproof sea boots
• Wet weather jacket and trousers
• Warm hat, gloves, and a sun hat
• Polarized sunglasses with a retaining strap
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Reusable water bottle
• Personal medications and seasickness remedies
• Small, soft overnight bag
• Waterproof dry bag for phone, wallet, and documents
Pro tip: Use layers so you can adjust to changing temperatures throughout the day. It is always better to have an extra layer you don't need than to be caught out by the cold.
If you're unsure what the weather will be doing on the day, layer up — you can always take clothing off, but you can't put on what you didn't bring.

Book a Class

The IYT Bareboat Skipper course is a comprehensive programme designed to give you the skills and confidence to command a sailing vessel up to 24 metres in coastal waters.

 

You will master advanced chart work, passage planning, and tidal calculations. Additionally, completing this course qualifies you for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), the globally recognised standard for skippers operating in European coastal and inland waters. Whether you're planning a Mediterranean charter or dreaming of local coastal exploration, this certification is your essential passport to the world of recreational skippering.

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