IYT International Bareboat Skipper – ICC Fast Track — Liquid Edge

The IYT International Bareboat Skipper – ICC Fast Track course at Liquid Edge Sailing School in Balmain prepares sailors to skipper a small to medium charter yacht safely. It combines home-study theory with a five-day practical on Sydney Harbour, on either a monohull or a catamaran, and leads to two certificates: the IYT International Bareboat Skipper certificate and the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), which charter companies in much of Europe expect bareboat skippers to hold.

What you'll learn

A bareboat skipper is responsible for the boat, the crew and every decision on board, without a professional there to step in. The course builds that responsibility module by module.

• Sailing and yacht systems. Rigging, sail handling, reefing and anchoring, plus the daily routine on a charter boat: water, power, engine checks and the systems you need to manage.
• Docking, berthing and man overboard. A full day of close-quarters handling near other boats, using spring lines, and man-overboard recovery. This is the heart of the ICC practical.
• Navigation. Charts, tides and bearings, and electronic navigation with GPS, chartplotters, AIS and a Navionics app on an iPad. The aim is to cross-check electronics against the chart, not follow them blindly.
• Night sailing and pilotage. Picking out buoys, lights and leads against the lights of Sydney Harbour, a real test of navigation. This session finishes in the evening.
• Crowded anchorages. Anchoring and mooring when space is tight, as it is in popular charter bays.

How Liquid Edge runs it

The theory is done by home study, with a 300-page PDF reference manual. The practical runs over five days. Days one and two cover sailing and yacht systems, then a full day of docking, berthing and man overboard, then a combined navigation and night-sailing day. The course ends with a review and a multiple-choice written exam, which can be done online. Students who complete the online theory independently can shorten the practical to four days. Classes are limited to five students. The school's Balmain marina is walk-on, walk-off, and staying aboard is an option.

Who it suits and prerequisites

The course suits sailors planning a charter holiday in Australia or overseas and new yacht owners. You need prior sailing experience, for example as active crew or on a skippered course. To be awarded the certificates you need a VHF marine radio licence and proof of 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea. Students short of the mileage can complete the course and log the miles afterwards. IYT requires ICC applicants to be at least 16.

Where it leads

With more sea time, including night watches and time as watch leader, graduates can work towards IYT Yachtmaster Coastal, which Liquid Edge also runs.

Full course guide

For the full standard, see the IYT International Bareboat Skipper (Sail) guide and the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) guide. The radio licence is covered in the Marine Radio SROCP guide.