In New Zealand and the United Kingdom you don’t need a licence to sail your own recreational boat, but the skipper is responsible for the safety of the boat and everyone aboard. The rules differ in other countries, and charter companies usually ask for proof of experience.
In New Zealand there is no licence for skippering a recreational sailing boat, and the same is true in the United Kingdom. Anyone can buy a boat and sail it. That doesn’t mean there are no rules: the skipper is responsible for the safety of the boat and everyone on board, and must follow the collision regulations, local bylaws (for example on speed limits near the shore and the carrying or wearing of lifejackets) and any harbour rules.
Elsewhere the rules vary. Many European countries require a certificate to skipper a boat in their waters, and some states of the United States require a boating education card for certain operators. Check the rules for the country and the waters where you will sail.
Qualifications are also needed in some situations even where the law doesn’t require them:
- Chartering. Charter companies normally ask the skipper for a recognised qualification or a sailing record before letting you take a boat out on your own.
- Carrying paying passengers or working on boats commercially requires formal qualifications.
- Using a VHF radio. Operating a marine VHF radio usually requires the operator to hold a radio qualification, which is a short course in most countries.
Even without a legal requirement, a recognised course is the safest way to learn. It teaches the skills and the safety habits that a licence would otherwise test for, and it makes it much easier to crew, charter or join a club. Before skippering a boat yourself, make sure you can handle her in the conditions you expect, recover someone who falls overboard, and call for help.
More in the book: Chapter 11, Safety on board