Which Yacht Captain's License to Choose: ISSA, RYA, or IYT?

Yacht operation documents certify the captain's qualifications and their right to operate vessels in various waters. There is no single international yacht license. This leaves aspiring captains facing a dilemma—how to choose the license type that best suits their needs.

Depending on skill level and intended yacht use, candidates can select one of three international certification systems: ISSA, RYA, or IYT. Each has distinct features, requirements, and applications. This article examines their differences and provides guidance for making an informed choice.

If you own a yacht and sail in another country, you don't need a license. There is no inspection that could stop you and demand to see your certificate. However, documents will be required if you rent a yacht through a private company. The license confirms your vessel handling skills rather than granting permission to operate a vehicle, as is the case with a driver's license.

It's important to understand that completing courses and obtaining a license is primarily for your own benefit—to handle the vessel competently and complete your intended route.

As we mentioned earlier, there is no single international yacht license. Different countries have different requirements for skippers, so your choice of license category will largely depend on where you plan to sail.

Note: Beginners might wonder why they receive a skipper's license rather than a captain's license after training. The answer is simple: in maritime terminology, a skipper is the captain—but specifically of small vessels or yachts.

In our country, it's prohibited to navigate waterways without a GIMS license (State Inspectorate for Small Vessels). This agency operates under the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM). The license specifies:

• Vessel length — small vessels are considered to be yachts up to 20 meters;
• Permitted navigation area — up to 20 miles from the coastline.

This type of license can be obtained through Gosuslugi or directly from GIMS. You will need to complete 1-3 months of training, pass a medical examination, take the GIMS exam and pay a state fee of 1,300 RUB. The cost of courses varies by region from 9,000 to 15,000 RUB.

Important point: foreign yacht licenses are not valid in Russia. If you want to sail in Russian waters, you will need a GIMS document.

In our country, you can also obtain a license from the All-Russian Sailing Federation, but such licenses are needed for athletes or those who want to participate in races and competitions at the federal level. In this case, the courses cost more — 30,000 to 40,000 RUB.

There are three main license categories recognized in most countries: RYA, IYT and ISSA. To put it briefly:

• ISSA (International Sailing Schools Association) — A European certification system focused on recreational sailors. Suitable for those planning to charter yachts and sail in coastal areas.
• RYA (Royal Yachting Association) — A British system known for its rigorous training standards. Considered one of the most prestigious programs, highly valued in professional yachting.
• IYT (International Yacht Training) — An international certification system covering both recreational and commercial yachting. Popular in the USA, Canada, Asia and Australia.

Let's examine each in detail.

The documents are issued by the Royal Yachting Association of Britain — an organization founded in 1875. As the school has existed for nearly 150 years, thousands of instructors and students from different countries have passed through it, its programs have been tested many times, and all training centers are RYA certified. Thanks to this fact, RYA has great authority worldwide, and until Britain left the European Union, its documents were recognized by the vast majority of charter companies in Europe, the US and Asia.

A possible downside for students — training is conducted only in English. This often results in failing the exam on the first attempt. Fortunately, the retake fee is not too high. It's important to understand that even with a high level of language proficiency, you will need to additionally study maritime terminology in English.

You can't get a skipper's license right away — first you'll need to complete the Competent Crew program (Prepared Yacht Crew Member), and only then Day Skipper (Yacht Skipper). Both consist of theoretical and practical parts. This approach ensures quality training for captains, but can be simply boring if you've already sailed and been part of a crew. At the same time, holders of licenses from other organizations are also required to go through the entire program from the beginning.

We will be happy to answer your questions or assist in organizing your trip

The theoretical part of the course is conducted online. For the practical part, you'll need to travel to another country — this portion takes 6-7 days. The cost of a yacht license varies between schools, ranging from 600 to 700 euros without the practical component (which is priced individually). A major advantage of this license is that it's valid for life.

• The British licensing system is currently recognized only in the UK.
• It features high training standards and strict examination requirements.
• Suitable for both recreational sailors and professionals.
• Programs include intensive practical training and theoretical courses.
• Popular certificates: Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster.

Founded in 1988, this Canadian organization has a global network of schools. Unlike RYA, instruction is conducted in the local language of each country, though English maritime terminology must still be learned for working with multilingual crews. The organization's certifications are recognized in the US and European countries.

The theoretical course costs between 500 and 1,350 USD, depending on license category and training duration. Practical training is paid separately and typically costs about the same as the theoretical portion. Unfortunately, since 2013, IYT no longer issues lifetime licenses. Every 5 years, you must renew your certification and pay a fee, the amount of which depends on your license category.

Important! IYT certifications only permit daytime sailing, unlike RYA and ISSA licenses which allow nighttime navigation.

Since the training center has long approached school certification superficially, in many countries, including Russia, you may come across IYT courses of questionable quality. Although the organization has now tightened its requirements, if you need such a license for a sailboat, you should carefully research company reviews before making payment.

• International system focused on the global market.
• Licenses recognized in most countries worldwide.
• Offers a wide range of courses — from basic to commercial licenses.
• Convenient for those wanting to work in the yachting industry.
• Popular certificates: Bareboat Skipper, Yachtmaster Coastal, Master of Yachts.

An international organization established in 1969 in Europe. While it doesn't have as impressive a history as RYA, it still boasts a fairly long tradition, making it one of Europe's most authoritative sailing schools.

This system is also used for our training programs. The course consists of a theoretical part lasting 1.5 months and 7 days of practical training in Turkish waters and other countries. The theoretical portion costs 195 euros, while the practical part is approximately 2,000 euros. The price varies depending on chosen dates, country, and vessel. Additionally, obtaining an ISSA yacht skipper license requires payment of a 200 euro fee to ISSA.

ISSA licenses are valid for life and permit both daytime and nighttime sailing. Instruction is conducted in Russian.

• European yachting certification system
• Designed for recreational yachting and charters
• Recognized in some Mediterranean countries but not universally
• Flexible training program with online theory option
• Popular certificates: Inshore Skipper, Offshore Skipper

To be honest, in terms of acquired knowledge, the courses are practically identical. This is because they all comply with the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) convention, established by the UN to standardize skipper training. The list of countries where this document is valid can be found here.

There are several categories of yacht licenses. They may have different names depending on the school, but all comply with the International Certificate of Competence convention, so their program content is quite similar.

Confirms that the holder has experience as a crew member, can perform deck work, tie knots, and handle sails. However, in practice, this certificate is of limited value — it won't allow you to charter a yacht. The only important aspect, as we mentioned earlier, is that you can't obtain an RYA license without it. In all other cases, it's better to train directly for a skipper's license.

This is considered an entry-level category, but in practice it allows you to sail anywhere in the world — though no farther than 20 miles from shore during daytime in good weather. Of course, no one will check how far you've sailed from port until some incident occurs onboard. If your license doesn't permit sailing such distances but you do so anyway and an emergency happens, your insurance won't cover it, and you'll have to compensate the charter company for damages yourself.

This license is largely similar to the previous ones but allows sailing farther from shore—up to 60 miles in favorable weather. Otherwise, it matches the Inshore Skipper category, making the extra cost for this upgrade questionable.

The highest category allows sailing up to 150 miles from shore. With such license, you can undertake complex routes like transatlantic crossings. The license holder can also work as captain of small commercial vessels. The training differs: more emphasis is placed on sailing in bad weather, storm survival (including rescue operations), and challenging tidal areas. The course can only be taught by a qualified yachtmaster.

Important to remember: such yacht licenses are ultimately just documents. What truly matters in sailing is accumulated knowledge, experience, and miles sailed. Therefore, we recommend obtaining them only if you're planning serious voyages.

• The most important thing to remember if you want to become a skipper: first, you need to go sailing as part of a crew. As a crew member, you'll experience both the challenges of the journey and the joys of new discoveries. Only then will you understand whether to continue your training.
• Since there's often a gap between completing the theoretical and practical courses — sometimes quite long — it's essential to review the materials before the practical part. Of course, the instructor will remind you, but such important information should be firmly memorized.
• The low season in yachting is November-March (months may vary by country). Typically, license costs are lower during this period, but the chance of bad weather is higher.
• Take notes during the theoretical training. Since classes are usually conducted remotely and sometimes recorded, students might relax. With maritime topics, this is absolutely unacceptable — always take notes. Plus, writing helps reinforce knowledge.
• Before setting sail, be sure to meet every crew member. You'll need to establish rapport with these people — they must trust you to follow orders in emergencies. It may seem obvious, but teamwork rarely goes without tense situations.
• Remember that temperatures on water are always lower than on land. Even in hot Turkey, you'll need warm, waterproof clothing onboard. Also, pay close attention to your choice of footwear.

If you're interested in yachting training and obtaining a license, please contact us through the form. In addition to ISSA courses, we organize yacht trips in various waters, vessel rentals, business regattas and other services.