6 mistakes to avoid when chartering your boat with skipper
9 May 2025
Xavier Charpy shares his experience of the Master 200 GT and 500 GT Captain training courses
9 May 2025
Turning a passion for sailing into a business is a goal for many yachtsmen. If you want to offer your boat for charter with a skipper, you need to take a commercial skipper training course tailored to French regulatory requirements. This guide will help you choose the right path to operate legally and safely.
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Sailing as a professional skipper: what you need to know about the legal framework
In France, as soon as you offer paid sea trips, whether on your own vessel or that of a third party, you fall within the scope of paid passenger transport. This activity is governed by specific legal obligations:
- Master’s certificate appropriate to the size and type of vessel used.
- Vessel compliance with current maritime safety standards.
- Professional insurance, generally conditional on possession of the appropriate certificate.
Ignoring these requirements can result in severe administrative and criminal penalties.
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What training courses are available to become a commercial skipper?
1. French patents: Capitaine 200 and Capitaine 500
These diplomas are recognized by the French government, and allow you to command ships armed for commercial purposes. However, they require :
- A long training course: about 2? years in a maritime school.
- High cost: often in excess of €10,000.
- Experience at sea: at least 6 months’ proven sailing experience.
This path is ideal for those planning a long-term maritime career.
2. Belgian patents: Captain Master 200 GT and 500 GT
Compliant with the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) convention, these patents are internationally recognized. They offer a more flexible alternative:
- Low cost: compared to French training courses.
- Recognition in France: by applying for a recognition visa.
These courses are particularly well-suited to professionals undergoing retraining, or to yachtsmen wishing to professionalize their activity.
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The Yachtsman: a flexible training solution
The Yachter offers online training courses for the Master 200 GT and 500 GT Captain’s certificates. These courses are designed to fit around your schedule:
- E-learning training with interactive teaching aids: videos, exercises, corrections.
- Personalized support: exchanges with experienced trainers.
- Community of learners: sharing experiences and helping each other.
- Practical face-to-face sessions: to consolidate what you’ve learned.
With a commitment of 6 to 8 hours a week, you can be ready to pass your exam in 3 to 6 months.
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Details of training courses on offer
– Captain Master 200 GT
- Vessels concerned: sailboats or motorboats up to 24 meters (200 UMS).
- Target audience: experienced yachtsmen, maritime professionals, skippers undergoing retraining.
- Prerequisites:
- Offshore boating license (or equivalent).
- School English level.
- Sufficient sailing experience to master common maneuvers.
– Captain Master 500 GT
- Vessels concerned: sailboats or motorboats up to 50 meters (500 UMS).
- Target audience: similar to Master 200 GT, with ambitions to sail on larger vessels.
- Prerequisites: same as for Master 200 GT.
– Captain Master 500 GT Unlimited
- Vessels concerned: sailboats or motorboats up to 50 meters (500 UMS), with no coastal distance limit.
- Target audience: professionals wishing to sail on the high seas, Yachtmaster holders wishing to be recognized in France.
- Prerequisites: same as above.
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Why train to become a commercial skipper?
Would you like to rent out your boat with skipper or sail professionally? Don’t take any legal risks. A training course for skippers in the commercial sector is essential if you want to operate within the law, reassure your customers and be properly insured.
With The Yachter, you get access to a flexible, recognized solution that’s adapted to your lifestyle.
