Bareboat Charter Qualifications

When sailing in the tidal waters of the west coast of Scotland our Insurers and the MCA require the skipper of the yacht to have an RYA Coastal Skipper Certificate, both practical and theory.  In the event of the skipper becoming unfit another member of the crew with RYA coastal or day skipper qualifications must be able to take command. All certificates and Log books where available should be produced for examination before the charter begins.  When sailing on the Firth of Clyde the RYA  Day Skipper qualification is sufficient unless sailing south of a line from Campbeltown to Girvan.   The insurers give us some discretion when no RYA certificates are held to permit a charter if the charterer can prove that he or she has many years experience of skippering a similar yacht in tidal waters.

A certificate of competence and log book must be submitted by charterers from Europe and abroad, with translation if possible, in advance of the charter date.  An International Certificate of Competence (ICC) will be accepted with logbook.

In all cases one of the crew must hold a Marine Radio Operator’s licence.  The yacht has a fixed VHF set and a Hand held one.

One crew member should hold a First Aid certificate. The yacht carries a SOLAS B First Aid Kit.

Night Passages

Sailing during the hours of darkness is permitted on the Firth of Clyde which is well buoyed and lit but on the west coast there are few navigation marks and sailing at night is not recommended.