IYT International Bareboat Skipper — Sydney By Sail

International Bareboat Skipper is International Yacht Training's (IYT) qualification for sailors ready to command a yacht themselves, whether their own or a chartered liveaboard. Sydney By Sail teaches it on Sydney Harbour and nearby waters in three parts: IYT online theory, a one-day practical and a three-day liveaboard, with theory and practical exams at the end.

What you'll learn

The step up from crew to skipper is taking responsibility for decisions: whether to go, where to go and what to do when things change.

• The skipper's job: responsibilities, pre-departure safety checks, crew briefings and leaving a float plan with someone ashore.
• Weather: reading forecasts, weather patterns and cloud types, and deciding whether conditions suit your boat and crew.
• Pilotage and passage planning: planning coastal passages and harbour entries, including port and customs requirements.
• Position fixing and tides: fixing your position on the chart and calculating tidal heights, so you can cross checks against electronics.
• Boat handling in tight spaces: mooring, anchoring and coming alongside, with a plan briefed to the crew before every approach.
• Collision regulations: including lights, shapes and sound signals.
• Coastal first aid, and rigging and sail trim.

How Sydney By Sail runs it

Theory is completed through IYT's self-paced e-learning portal. The practical day, 9am to 5pm, covers anchoring, sail trim, manoeuvres and berthing. The liveaboard runs from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon aboard a Dufour 412, which gives you the chance to skipper through a full day and night routine. The course finishes with practical and theory exams.

Who it suits

It is not a beginner course. The school asks for at least 200 nautical miles and 10 days at sea beforehand, and recommends a minimum age of 18. You also need a VHF Marine Radio Operator's Certificate, or equivalent, before the skipper certificate is issued. Beginners can reach this level through the school's International Skipper Package.

Where it leads

Graduates may be eligible to apply for the International Certificate of Competence for overseas charter. Building sea miles, for example on offshore passages, prepares you for IYT Yachtmaster Coastal.

Full course guide

See the IYT International Bareboat Skipper (Sail) guide for the full syllabus and what the certificate allows you to do.