Be your own skipper, feel competent, confident and earn international recognised accreditation
The International Bareboat Skipper Course has three components – Theory, Practical & Liveaboard.
The Theory is undertaken through IYT’s e-learning portal, so you can go through the theory components within the comfort of your own home.
The Practical Course runs from 9am – 5pm on One day, and covers the real hands on components such as anchoring, sail trim, maneuvers, berthing & prepares for the next component
The Liveaboard component is run over three days – from 9am Friday to 5pm Sunday in an immersive learning environment sail training holiday.
It is not for beginners and it’s recommended to have logged over 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea before advancing to this level. Please note that theVHF Maritime Radio Operator’s certificate(or equivalent from another sail training authority) is a pre-requisite to this course and is required prior to receiving the International Bareboat skipper certificate.
The recommended minimum age to obtain this certification is 18.
This is a certificate of excellence for those who wish to take command of their own yachts confidently and safely or for those who wish to safely charter a small live aboard yacht for their family holiday.
Those who have obtained the International Bareboat Skipper qualification may be eligible to apply for the “International Certificate of Competency” (ICC), provided the student meets the requirements.
There is a whole theory day (9am – 5pm) to prepare you for the exam.
Responsibilities of a bareboat skipper
Crew safety checks
Hull and rig checks
Machinery and systems checks
Fuel and water capacity and range
Menus and quantities
Float plan
Sources of meteorological information
Weather patterns
Sea and land breezes
Cloud types and formations
Pilotage and passage planning
Considerations when planning a passage
Routine for navigating a coastal passage
Passage strategy
Port regulations, customs, immigration
Pilotage plan
Coastal first aid theory
This course includes a 3 Day Practical liveaboard. From 9am Day 1 to 5pm Day 3
Vessel handling in confined quarters
Mooring, anchoring, coming alongside
Ropes, knots, care and use of lines
General deck work
Tides and currents theory
Rigging jack-stays & usage of life raft
Tidal heights, springs and neaps
Rule of “twelfths”
Position fixing and 3 point fixes
Weather systems & local weather impacts
Clouds, precipitation & fog
Collision regulations
Lights, shapes and sounds
Application of the regulations
Health & safety modules
This course costs $1750 per person
All safety gear
Fuel
Food, water, accommodation (included in the 3 days live aboard)
Course notes
Instruction aboard a luxury Dufour 412 yacht
Complimentary online learning resource
There is an additional administration cost of the International Bareboat Skipper Certification payable to IYT upon successful completion of all modules. This admin fee is $95 USD at the time of writing but is subject to change without notice and at the sole discretion of International Yacht Training (IYT).
It is important to be prepared for a 3 Day Liveaboard
Sun safety gear
Warm jacket/jumper
Wet weather gear
Water Bottle
Notepad and pen
Non marking shoes (avoid black soled shoes)
Toiletries
Swimmers/towel
Any personal medication required over the 3 day liveaboard
Sleeping Bag
This course includes a practical and theory examination. Be prepared, study the notes prior to undertaking the course and stay cool, calm & collected on the helm.
Sydney by Sail is a dynamic leader in the Australian maritime industry, offering three decades of expertise in luxury yacht charters. Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our fleet—the newest in the country—which features a curated selection of performance and luxury yachts.