IYT International Crew (Sail)

International Crew is IYT Worldwide's starting-point certificate for anyone who wants to be a useful, confident member of a yacht's crew. You don't need any previous experience; the aim is to get you to the level where a skipper can hand you a job on deck, or a spell on watch, and trust you to do it safely.

People take it to join friends on charter holidays, to crew for a club or cruising boat, or as the first rung on IYT's ladder towards skippering their own charter yacht.

Who it suits

• Complete beginners aged 16 or over who want a recognised crew qualification
• Partners and friends of skippers who want to do more than sit in the cockpit
• Anyone planning to go on to IYT Flotilla or Bareboat Skipper, where International Crew (or an equivalent) is the entry requirement
• Travellers who'd like to crew on yachts overseas and want something on paper that shows what they can do

What you'll actually do

The course has a theory part and a practical part. IYT offers the theory as eLearning you can work through at home, with an online exam, and an IYT partner school runs the practical training on a yacht.

On the water you'll learn by doing: joining the safety briefing, finding the lifejackets and fire extinguishers, tying the knots you'll use every day, and handling lines as the boat leaves and returns to the dock. You'll help hoist, trim and reef sails, take the helm, practise man-overboard drills, learn the basic daily engine checks and run the tender. Expect to be tired and surprised by how much you pick up in a short time.

Key ideas explained

• Watchkeeping — taking responsibility for the boat's safety for a set period while others rest: keeping a proper lookout, watching the course and the weather, and calling the skipper early if anything changes.
• Rules of the road — the international collision regulations (COLREGs) that decide who gives way. As crew you need the basics: which vessel keeps clear, and how to tell whether another boat is on a collision course (its compass bearing stays steady as it gets closer).
• Man overboard — the most important drill on any yacht. Everyone learns to shout, point and keep eyes on the person, throw flotation, and help the skipper bring the boat back alongside.
• Deck seamanship — handling lines under load safely: keeping fingers clear of winches, taking a turn before easing, and never standing inside a loop of rope.
• Engine checks — the simple daily routine (oil, coolant, belts, cooling water coming out of the exhaust) that heads off many small-boat engine failures.

Where it fits

It's broadly comparable to the RYA Competent Crew and Australian Sailing's Keelboat Start Crewing, though each has its own syllabus and they aren't formally interchangeable.

The certificate covers crew competence on vessels up to 24 metres, in coastal waters up to 20 miles offshore, in daylight and in fair, moderate conditions.

Getting ready

• Do the eLearning theory before you arrive so the practical days are about practice, not note-taking.
• Bring non-marking soft-soled shoes, layers, a waterproof jacket, a hat, sunglasses on a strap and plenty of sunscreen.
• Pack in a soft bag that folds flat; hard suitcases are awkward on a yacht.
• If you get seasick, talk to a pharmacist before the course and take any remedy early, before you feel unwell.
• Ask the school about the boat, the sailing area, how many students share an instructor, and whether you'll live aboard.

Good to know in Australia

An IYT certificate is a training qualification, not a boat licence. If you later want to drive a powered vessel yourself, recreational boat licences are issued separately by each state, so check your state's maritime authority. Operating a marine radio in Australia also needs a qualification such as the SROCP, which you'll want before moving up to IYT's skipper courses.