COMPLETE LICENSED SKIPPER

To obtain the right to operate a boat or yacht for personal or tourist purposes in Croatia, an individual must acquire the Certificate of Competence for Boat Leader or the Certificate of Competence for Yacht Captain. These certificates are issued by the Ministry or port captaincy upon the request of the person who meets the conditions outlined in the Regulations on Boats and Yachts.

The specific conditions for obtaining these certificates are stipulated in the Regulations published in the "Narodne novine" (official Croatian Gazette), which have been amended multiple times over the years (with the latest changes being in 2020). The certificate or diploma confirms that the individual has completed the required training and is qualified to operate a vessel safely, in accordance with Croatian maritime laws.

To summarize:

For personal/tourist use, you need either the Certificate of Competence for Boat Leader or the Certificate of Competence for Yacht Captain.
These certificates are granted after fulfilling the requirements set forth in the regulations and passing the necessary exams.
The Ministry or port captaincy is responsible for issuing these documents.

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENSE

The CATEGORY C BOAT LEADER CERTIFICATION represents the first level of professionalism for someone operating a boat. To obtain this certification, a person must meet the following requirements:

Age: The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Health Requirements: The individual must meet prescribed health conditions, with a particular emphasis on vision and hearing, ensuring that the candidate is physically capable of handling the responsibilities of operating a vessel safely.
Training and Examination: The person must complete a training program and pass an exam according to the curriculum presented for this specific certification.

**After obtaining the Category C Boat Leader Certificate, the individual is authorized to operate Boats and Yachts up to 30 gross tonnage for private or commercial purposes, regardless of the navigation area or type of vessel**

This certification allows the holder to engage in various maritime activities, such as boat tours, rentals, or other commercial services on the water. The ability to manage vessels up to 30 GT (gross tonnage) is particularly important for those who wish to run commercial maritime operations, whether along the coast or in other navigable waters. If you are considering pursuing this certification for professional purposes or to expand your maritime skills, this would be the logical next step after obtaining the basic qualifications for recreational boating.

*A Category C Skipper License is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. In order to renew it for the same period, the holder must undergo a medical examination again to meet health requirements, especially regarding vision and hearing*

*With the assurance Category C Skipper License you can manage your own or a rented boat / yacht in charter worldwide. In renting a charter agency will check what your "license" offers from your boat's offer. In practice, they are almost all sizes of the most common Sailboats in the charter, like; HANSE 50 ft or simillar models. Also Catamarans are very popular, so you can rent a BALI 4.1, LAGOON 42 or simillar models up to 42 ft. We recommend that before your charter, check with the relevant charter agency or the local harbor master's office for the validity of the Skipper License and how much gross tonnage your desired charter boat has

TERMS - EXPLANATION

*The definitions provide clear distinctions between different types of vessels used for maritime purposes in Croatia:

(Ship) Brod: is a larger vessel, over 15 meters in length, or one that is authorized to carry more than 12 passengers. This category covers commercial or large-scale ships, excluding military vessels.
(Boat) Brodica: is a smaller boat, with a length greater than 2.5 meters but not exceeding 15 meters - 50 ft, and is authorized to carry up to 12 passengers. It excludes specific types of vessels like canoes, kayaks, and competition boats. It also doesn't cover vessels designed for specific tasks like collection, rescue operations, or work-related activities.
(Yacht) Jahta: refers to a yacht, a recreational and sports vessel typically over 15 meters - 50 ft in length. These vessels are designed for extended stays at sea and are capable of carrying up to 12 passengers, excluding the crew. Whether used for private leisure or commercial purposes, yachts are primarily intended for sport and relaxation.

These categories help ensure that the appropriate regulations, licensing, and safety measures are applied based on the vessel's size, function, and capacity.

*Gross tonnage is the volume of a ship. The volume of the total enclosed space of a ship, or rather the cargo that fits in that space. Because of that "ton", it is incorrectly called tonnage. The word “ton” actually comes from the French word “tonneau” from which the English made the word “tun.” Both translate to “barrel.”

*The classification of maritime navigation areas, outlines different zones of permissible sailing, each with varying distances from shore. Here's a summary:

(Navigation Area I): This area allows for international navigation across all seas and waters that are accessible from the sea, with no specific distance limitations from the coast. This is the most expansive area for maritime navigation.
(Navigation Area II): This area covers international navigation, but with a restriction on the distance from land. The vessel can operate within 20 nautical miles (Nm) from the nearest land or island, limiting how far out to sea one can go.
(Navigation Area III): Here, the restriction is more limiting, with vessels permitted to navigate 12 Nm from the nearest coast or island. For fishing boats longer than 7 meters, this also includes territorial waters and the protected ecological-fishing zone of Croatia (ZERP). Within Area III, there are even more specific subcategories for distances from shore:
- III.a: up to 6 Nm from the coast.
- III.b: up to 3 Nm from the coast.
- III.c: up to 1 Nm from the coast.

These areas help define the zones where different types of vessels can operate based on their capabilities, and they regulate the safety measures required for those distances from land. For anyone planning to sail in these regions, understanding the navigational limits is essential for staying within legal and safety boundaries.

SKIPPER LICENSE CATEGORY C

COURSE CONTENT

• Check in/out procedure
• Docking, undocking
• Anchoring
• Points of sailing, sailing manuevers
• Navigation -work with with charts, sailing
• Basic knowledge of marine engine
• Maritime law, meteorology and first aid
• Boat maneuvering and collision avoidance
• Maritime radio communication service VHF
• Safety at sea

Comprehensive Sailing Training: From Day One to Skipper Proficiency

From day one, students are immersed in the complete organization of life on board. Alongside developing essential sailing skills, they will also learn about the everyday duties involved in managing a boat, including cleaning, cooking, and other onboard responsibilities.

The core focus of the training includes a variety of key skills:

• Boat Familiarization: Understanding every part of the vessel, from hull to sails, and how each component functions.

• Maneuvering the Boat: Learning the techniques for docking, undocking, and handling the boat in various conditions.

• Anchor Use: Mastering the safe and efficient use of the anchor in different scenarios.

• Navigation Skills: Terrestrial navigation and how to use nautical charts for accurate course plotting. Daily and night navigation, building skills for safe passage in all lighting conditions.

• Sailing Basics: Basic sailing rules, sail trimming, and understanding meteorology to make informed decisions on the water.

• Making knots and maintaining a well-equipped boat

• Marine Engine Knowledge: Understanding the fundamentals of the marine engine and basic mechanical troubleshooting.

• Safety Procedures: Comprehensive training in boat safety, including international regulations to prevent collisions at sea and handling man overboard situations.

• Charter Operations: Practical knowledge on boat check-in and check-out procedures when using charter services.

This program provides a complete foundation in both the technical and practical aspects of sailing, preparing you for real-world scenarios and ensuring you're equipped with the skills needed for both personal and professional sailing experiences.

DAILY SCHEDULE

SATURDAY - MONDAY

• 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The theoretical part of the lessons is held in the classrooms

TUESDAY - THURSDAY

• 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. Practical classes

FRIDAY

• 09:00 a.m. Practical classes at sea
• 02:00 p.m. Exam is at the port authority
• 04:00 p.m. Check out

BASE: Marina Mandalina - Šibenik, World Yachting charter main office

CHECK IN: Saturday from 4 p.m.
CHECK OUT: Friday 4 p.m.

SAILING BOAT: Elan 43 GT, Hanse 458

DURATION: 7 days

ACCOMMODATION: On a boat - shared cabin. Single cabin on request!

MEALS

• Breakfast on board-team preparing breakfast
• Lunch on boat - lunch package or team cooking - (simple food cooked on boat)
• Dinners are organized as follows - in the local taverns or on the boat-team cooking

MINIMUM NUMBER OF ATENDEES : 5

LANGUAGES: English, Croatian

PREREQUISITE

• At least 18 years of age
• Identification card or passport
• 2 passport size colored photographs
• Medical exam issued by Occupational health practice in Republic of Croatia

PRICE

PER PERSON: 1850.00€

PRICE INCLUDES:

• 7 Days course program, theory and practical
• Professional instructor, lecturers
• Sailing Yacht age: 2018 - 2023, size: 40 - 50 ft
• 4 x Double bed Cabins onboard
• Accomodation onboard - shared cabin
• Bed Linen + Towels Included
• Gas for the Galley
• Safety Equipment
• Final Cleaning
• Course Materials
• Medical exam
• Category C License Exam
• Fuel
• Marina Fee
• Toourist Tax
• VAT

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Food and Beverages
• 2 Passport size colored photographs
• Personal Insurance - recmmended!

APPLY

Info@yachtingincroatia.com

CONTACT PERSON: Mario Kundih: +38591 5701101

**Instructor with YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE - ROYAL YACHT ASSOCIATION, UK certificate with more than 25 years of experience working at sea as a professional skipper**