IYT qualifications and Training explained,

The training that we offer follows the syllabus laid down by IYT for their recreational sailing programme's. We offer this programme  because the recreational training syllabus is ideal for organisations like ourselves where we teach in a holiday environment.  It is very important that we ensure that any training that we provide, follows internationally recognised standards and and that we can issue appropriate, recognised certification.  Equally it is essential that we do not forget that most people choosing to do their training with us are also looking for a holiday, and that often in any group or family not everybody will eventually want to become a skipper. 

The IYT recreational syllabus is a modular system which offers a very flexible approach.  Total beginners can easily be brought up to an International Crew level in a week. At the same time nobody is put under any pressure, and you can be signed off just part way along the Crew syllabus allowing you to finish it later if you wish.  Those with prior experience can quickly be assessed and then may be brought up to a Flotilla Skipper level within a week, if appropriate.  If not they can be assessed  up to whichever skippering modules they have covered, allowing them to complete the skipper training at a later stage.  All tuition for these levels is on a hands on basis and you learn as the yacht goes from location to location as part of the holiday. The necessary theory is covered through practical exercises and general discussion as you go along, while all previous experience and knowledge, however obtained, is taken into account.

The International Crew Certificate

The Flotilla Skipper Certificate

Those with some prior sailing experience can be trained up to a Flotilla Skipper Level in a week, or total beginners brought up to this level in two weeks.  This is an entry level skippering qualification enabling you to take charge of a small yacht, in moderate conditions during day light hours.  Because even at an entry level, sailing conditions can vary so much around the world, it is intended that  for your first few times actually sailing as skipper, that you would sail in company of other yachts.  You would be the responsible qualified skipper on your vessel but initially you should sail in the company of other more experienced skippers, so that extra assistance and advice is available if required.  This is why it is called a Flotilla Skipper Certificate, but you are not restricted to sailing in an organised flotilla and it could equally well be in the company of friends, other yachts from your yacht club or some form of organised rally.   A log of all skippering and sailing should then be kept in your Training Development book, so that once you have had a few trips as skipper while sailing in company, then you would be ready to go off on your own and could charter yachts as skipper.

An important point to mention at this stage, is that your initial training with Activity Yachting Holidays in Croatia is in non-tidal conditions.  Because of this you can get to a Flotilla Skipper level much faster than if you were learning in more demanding conditions, allowing you to then develop further skills in due course as required.  Up to Flotilla skipper level you will only cover tides very generally, and you certainly would not be ready to go straight out as a skipper in strong tidal conditions without a more in depth study of tides.  Further study on the collision regulations, navigation and chart work and meteorology would also be necessary before you should attempt any more advanced skippering on your own.  This can be done through self tuition or by completing any general tidal, navigation and skippering theory course.

For any beginners to sailing not understanding the full significance of this point, we suggest likening learning to skipper a yacht in tidal waters, to learning to drive a car while towing a caravan.  Naturally it is much easier to learn to drive a car first and get your licence and then after some experience, if required, to add on the necessary skills for towing a caravan.  In the same way once you learn the skills required to skipper and sail a small yacht in non tidal conditions, and you have got some practice as a skipper you can easily add on the extra knowledge and skills required for sailing in tidal and more challenging conditions.  We are happy to advise and assist with arranging tidal sailing on request.

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is a certificate of competence that has been developed in accordance with a UN resolution to create a basic standard skippers certificate that is recognised internationally. It is effectively the closest thing  there is to an official state  recognised driving licence for yachts or boats.  ICC's can be for power or sail (including yachts with inboard engines) and may or may not be taken with a section to validate them for use on European Inland Waterways.  Anybody that wishes to start skippering or chartering yachts is strongly advised to get one of these.  The single biggest advantage of the ICC over other certification is that even though they are only to a basic skippering level, and are still issued by the individual training organisations concerned, they all follow the same standard and are recognised as national qualifications.  More and more charter companies are therefore now requesting, either for insurance purposes or to satisfy government regulations,  this particular qualification over others. 

Each country that has joined up to the scheme (most European ones have including the UK and Ireland) appoints training organisations that are approved to issue ICC's  to citizens or residents of that country.  As an IYT recognised training school, we can therefore assess anyone from the UK or Ireland (or genuine residents of those countries) for ICC's for Sailing Yachts. This can be either as an add on to one of our normal training courses, or a straight forward assessment for anybody doing a Pot Luck Holiday or taking a Flotilla yacht, that also wants to use the opportunity to be assessed for an ICC. 

The actual test consists of a practical boat handling assessment and then a short written paper on navigation, collision regulations etc.  Anybody that has done one of our Flotilla Skipper courses would already satisfy all the boat handling requirements  but some extra prior study would have to have been undertaken for the theory, particularly on the tidal elements.   Anybody taking a yacht on flotilla either as the Skipper or participating on one of our Pot Luck Holidays can also book an assessment for an ICC.  Please contact us for some guidance on prior study that should be done before the assessment.  A guide to the Test syllabus can be viewed by clicking here.

As the ICC is more of an official licence, anybody wishing to take one of these assessments must book this in advance as there are some extra costs and paperwork which depend on which holiday option you have booked.

ICC's are issued directly by IYT head office, and so Activity Yachting Holidays will submit all fully completed paperwork  for processing on a monthly basis throughout the season.  Full details of all information required, passport photos etc will be sent to each client in advance when they confirm that they wish to take one of the assessments.

For more information on IYT and to be taken directly to their site, please click here