royal yachting association icc

International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

Your pathway to chartering abroad.

International Certificate of Competence (ICC) can be assessed by arrangement in one day. An ICC is required in many countries, particularly in the EU, to skipper or charter a vessel. If you have completed a RYA Day Skipper or RYA Coastal Skipper practical course you are entitled to an International Certificate of Competence without any further assessment – click here . There is a charge for non-RYA members, free to RYA members.

An International Certificate of Competence is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

More general information on cruising abroad is available from the RYA here:

www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abroad

Please contact us to arrange an assessment.

Our rates are £275 per person for a one day assessment including use of training vessel. See ‘Rates’ tab below for full details.

You can download an ICC assessment form here Check you eligibility to apply here

See the syllabus and what’s involved in the test here

If you feel you are competent to pass this assessment we can arrange a day assessment by one of our Yachtmaster Instructors onboard one of our training vessels.

Our rates are £275 per person. Please contact us about group discounts.

Rates include all food and snacks onboard, use of wet weather gear and boots as required. We will confirm your successful completion of the test by signing the relevant section of the ICC application form – there is no separate certificate. You then send your signed application form together with the other items required for your application (like evidence of residency and ID) to the RYA Certification Department. This is free of charge to RYA members or £43 to non-members. There are additional charges for fast track applications.

What is an International Certificate of Competence

The  International Certificate of Competence  originates from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although the ICC allows the holder to voyage internationally this is only where the country to be visited has chosen to accept it and subject to any prescriptions made by the visited country. As the ICC’s validity is determined by the visited country it is not a truly international qualification. However, the ICC is the only international evidence of competence that exists for pleasure boaters in Europe. The ICC may either be recognised as an acceptable certificate in the visited country’s national legislation or be accepted on a purely informal basis.

Many European countries require the skipper of a pleasure craft to be able to provide evidence of his or her competence. In practice documentary evidence may seldom be inspected, but it is generally useful and in some countries essential to carry an ICC.

If a boat owner requires evidence of competence when visiting another European country the ICC will frequently suffice. It can also be useful for people wishing to charter. The requirement for evidence of competence varies from country to country. Sometimes it is required for coastal waters, sometimes for inland waters, sometimes for neither and sometimes for both.

In very general terms an ICC is required for the inland waterways of Europe and for inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. For the coastal waters of Northern Europe the ICC is generally not required, however to all of these generalisations there are exceptions. Please feel free to contact us to ask about a particular country you intend to visit on your own boat or where you want to charter a boat and we will do our best to find out up to date information for you.

Are you already entitled to an ICC?

Anyone who has passed an RYA training course which proves their ability to skipper a vessel, such as the Day Skipper Practical Course or the Power Boat Level 2 Course, has proved their competence on that type of vessel and therefore on presentation of their certificate the relevant ICC can be issued. See the table below – if you hold any of the UK certificiates listed on the left you can apply for an ICC for the categories listed on the right.

Explanatory notes to the table (above) Restricted = The ICC’s validity for power will be restricted to vessels “up to 10m LOA”.

** Powerboat Level 2 certificates issued before 15 April 2019 and endorsed as ‘inland’ cannot be used to validate the coastal waters category on an ICC. Additional acceptable evidence of coastal knowledge must be provided. This may include:

A theory course completion certificate of Essential Navigation and Seamanship Skills or higher; or Evidence that you have passed the coastal waters oral / written elements part of an ICC assessment (as detailed on the ICC application form).

What’s involved in an ICC assessment?

For boaters who have not successfully completed an acceptable RYA practical course, but already have the required level of competence, the alternative is to take the ICC assessment to prove their competence. This is the syllabus that you will be assessed against.

Can you do an ICC assessment on my boat?

Yes we can, for you, your friends and family. Your boat will need to carry certain equipment in the list below. We can help you source or loan you items you do not have. Anchor Bilge pump (manual as well as electric) Radar reflector Flares for the waters in which you will use your boat Fire extinguishers and fire blanket Lifejackets (with harness) plus safety strops Liferaft if doing coastal passages Horse shoe buoy(s) with light Dan buoy Man overboard recovery equipment VHF Radio Navigational equipment (Almanac, charts, plotter, dividers and GPS) First Aid kit Mooring warps and fenders Spare fuel Tool kit Depth and speed Engine spares – fuel/oil filters, drive belt, impeller spare oil

What to bring

• Your sailing log book
• Clothing layers – even if it’s sunny or warm on land it can get quite chilly when sailing
• Hat, sun cream, lip salve, sunglasses, gloves
• If you’re staying overnight or longer you’ll need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, toiletries
• Any medication you would normally require
• Pack your belongings in a soft bag that can be easily stowed
• Do bring any of your favourite snacks or soft drinks as we may not be near any shops (If you have your own foul weather gear you are welcome to bring it)
• If you haven’t been sailing before and don’t know if you might get seasick, some good advice is to have a sensible breakfast and don’t drink lots of alcohol the night before!
• Bring seasickness pills if you might need them.

What We Provide

• Lifejackets
• All meals & snacks while on board (vegetarian/vegan)
• Sleeping berth
• Course books in advance (if applicable)
• Access to our onboard sailing library, including RYA course books (copies available to buy)
• Quality XM foul weather trousers, jackets and waterproof deck boots (If you have your own foul weather gear you are welcome to bring it)
• Please feel free to discuss equipment concerns with us prior to your sailing trip or course, we will happily advise on purchases if you would like to buy your own gear.

For information about our privacy policy and data protection queries please contact the Sail Boat Project office

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What is the International Certificate of Competence?

How do i get an icc, am i required to have an icc when chartering in europe.

What is ASA's International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)?

How do i get an ipc.

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ICC Preparation and Assessment

What is the icc.

The ICC is a certificate which is intended to provide evidence of competence when requested by officials in foreign countries.

The  ICC  or  International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft , sometimes known as the  International Certificate of Competence .

It is issued under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Inland Transport Committee Working Party on Inland Water Transport Resolution 40.

The UK Government has accepted Resolution 40 and has authorised the RYA to issue the ICC on its behalf.

For more information see the RYA advice on Competence Abroad –  UK ICC issued by the RYA

Do you need an ICC

It is undoubtedly a requirement to comply with the law of any county you visit, and every county has differences, so it is essential to check the Requirements first. The RYA Website lists those countries that generally accept the ICC – RYA – Where might the ICC be accepted?

However, generally speaking, the ICC is accepted in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.

If you already have an RYA Day Skipper Certificate , then this is currently accepted in these countries also.

How to get an ICC

If you already have your RYA Day Skipper certificate, then the RYA will issue you an ICC, free to its members.

If you do not have an RYA Day Skipper certificate, then we can give an ICC assessment, see below for where to get assessed.

It’s important to note the assessment is an evaluation of your ability. It takes a maximum of 4 hours, and you will need to demonstrate the skills laid out in the assessment criteria section below. If you are not comfortable with this, we can give you a few days of preparation before your assessment. If you think you need more than this, then we recommend you take the RYA Day Skipper course . For more advice, please feel free to contact us.

Renewing Your ICC

The ICC certificate will last 5 years. After this time, you will need to renew it. Unless you wish to have additional categories added to your ICC, the renewal process is simply a paper exercise.

In contrast, the RYA Day Skipper certificate lasts forever. It can be used as evidence of competence in many places & at any time can be used to obtain an ICC. We would recommend the Day Skipper course to most people as the best way to get qualified.

Where to get assessed for an ICC

At our Southampton UK school, we can offer an ICC assessment and preparation over a weekend.

If you spend a week at Nikiana Beach club before your flotilla or yacht charter, we can prep and assess you for an ICC on our school tuition yacht.

Our two Mediterranean Training Centres in Greece and Croatia are better suited to 1-week courses. We recommend the RYA Day Skipper course at these locations. We can assist in the completion of ICC forms, and you can achieve both your Day Skipper and ICC simultaneously.

To help choose where to do this course see our  Training Centres overview page .

The ICC Assessment Criteria

The assessment form can be downloaded from the RYA website –  The ICC Assessment

ORAL / WRITTEN ELEMENTS ALL CANDIDATES

Regulations.

• Knows responsibility for keeping a proper lookout
• Can determine a ‘safe speed’
• Can recognise a potential collision situation
• Can identify ‘give way’ vessel in a collision situation
• Knows what action to take as ‘give way’ and ‘stand on’ vessel
• Knows responsibilities of a small vessel in a narrow channel
• Can recognise manoeuvring signals (1.2.3 & 5 short blasts)
• Can make and recognise visual distress signals
• Life jackets
• Distress alerting (e.g. DSC VHF, EPIRB, Flares, etc.)
• Fire extinguishers
• Kill cord (if fitted)
• Engine checks
• Check fuel for range / duration of trip
• Obtain weather forecast
• Avoid overloading boat
• Knows rules relating to Traffic Separation Schemes
• Knows requirements for navigation lights and shapes to be displayed by own vessel
• Can recognise the following from the lights: Power driven, sailing vessel, vessel at anchor, tug and tow, fishing vessel, dredger
• Knows sound signal to be made by vessels as in Q3
• Can interpret a navigational chart, understand significance of charted depths and drying heights and can identify charted hazards
• Can plot position by cross bearings and by latitude / longitude
• Can determine magnetic course to steer, making allowances for leeway and tidal stream
• Can use a tide table to find times and heights of high and low water at a standard port
• Can determine direction and rate of tidal stream from a tidal stream atlas or tidal diamonds on a chart
• Understands basic use of GPS
• Can recognise, by day and night, and understand significance of buoys of the IALA system
• Knows sources of information on: local regulations, port entry and departure signals, VTS and Port Operations Radio
• Can plan a harbour entry/departure, taking account of possible presence of large vessels and avoiding navigational hazards

PRACTICAL ELEMENTS

• Give safety briefing including use of safety equipment
• Has listened to weather forecasts
• Pre start engine checks
• Use kill cord (if fitted)
• Start engine
• Check cooling
• Knows fuel range

Depart from Pontoon

• Understands use of springs to depart from lee wall/pontoon
• Communicate with crew
• Position fenders correctly

360° Turn in Confined Space

Securing to buoy.

• Communicate effectively with crew
• Prepare warp
• Choose correct angle of approach
• Control speed of approach
• Secure boat effectively
• Depart from the mooring safely

Man Overboard

• Observe MOB or instruct crew to do so
• Demonstrate correct direction and speed of approach
• Make suitable contact with MOB

6a. Planning Speed Manoeuvres (if appropriate)

• Choose suitable area
• Show awareness of other water users
• Warn crew before each manoeuvre
• Look around before S and U turns
• Control speed on U turns

Handling Under Sail (if appropriate)

• Sail triangular course with one leg to windward
• Choose suitable area for hoisting/lowering sails
• Use sails suitable for prevailing conditions
• Show awareness of wind direction
• Trim sails correctly on each point of sailing
• Warn crew before manoeuvres
• Look round before tacking and gybing
• Control sails during tacking and gybing

Coming Alongside Windward Pontoon

• Prepare warps/fenders
• Stop boat in place required and secure to pontoon
• Stop engine

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How to get an International Sailing License

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The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or the SLC™ (Sailing License and Credentials)

To gain an appropriate sailing license to sail in the Mediterranean is now a simple process.

FIRST A NOTE OF CAUTION: A Mediterranean Sailing License must also accompany a worthy sailing resume

Yacht charter companies require a sailing resume as well as a legitimate sailing license. Make sure you have an acceptable sailing resume. To put some logic to it – think about it like this: to gain an international sailing license, you must have sufficient and proper experience as a skipper on a large keelboat before a yacht charter company in a foreign country will rent you a boat of a similar size. Be aware of a holding a license with little sailing experience. While you might have a “license”, no charter company will rent you a boat without sufficient experience or a proper resume. You’ll simply be left on the doc holding a piece of paper or you’ll have to hire a skipper for the week. Yacht Charter Companies don’t merely accept a certificate or license they also require a proper sailing resume. Makes sense right? Read this article for more info on this: Why a Resume trumps a certification every time. At NauticEd, we are yacht charter agents also and we often see sailing licenses where the holder has little sailing experience. They get turned down to be able to skipper for the charter.

The following is the reality about the ICC: The ICC is a United Nations created Certificate of Competence for pleasure craft operators. It was created under resolution 40 and signed mostly by European countries although South Africa also signed the resolution. The United States did not, nor did Canada. Thus there are no sailing bodies or associations in the USA or Canada who can offer the ICC through those governments. ICC’s can only be written through signatory countries to the ICC. So in North America, typically the ICC is written through the Royal Yachting Association out of the UK of which there are three locations – Florida, Toronto, and Halifax. If you are close to any of those locations then it makes sense to get the ICC.

The SLC: More recently,  the SLC is also available as an acceptable license for the Mediterranean.  The SLC is administered by NauticEd and is accepted by every Yacht Charter company and port authority in the Mediterranean. There are many accessible NauticEd schools throughout North American able to issue the SLC.

Below we show a handy infographic showing the paths to ICC and SLC licensure.

And here is the text explanation of the above.

To gain the ICC, you can do it in one of two ways

(or jump down below to the SLC license )

Regardless of how you gain the ICC, you must also have an acceptable resume to satisfy the yacht charter company that you are skipper experienced on a similar size boat. NauticEd offers a free resume building tool online. It keeps track of and presents a full resume in a manner accepted by every yacht charter company showing all your sailing experience and splits it out according to boat size, how recent the experience is, and if catamaran or monohull. To see a NauticEd example student resume go to www.nauticed.org/student_verification and enter the credentials of Joe Sailor on that page.

One Day  ICC Assessment

The first is an extensive assessment of your theory knowledge and sailing competence by an RYA qualified instructor. The assessment takes one day. It is a pass/fail assessment whereby no instruction is given. You need to know your stuff. Don’t try to wing it.

Practical Part of the One Day Assessment You’ll need to be very good at maneuvering the boat in and around the marina, including the various types of Mediterranean mooring, springing on and off, and backing the boat. Demonstrate MOB procedures, mooring, anchoring, reefing, sailing skills, heave to, holding a course, tacking and gybing, crew leadership, among other sailing and boating skills.

Theory Part of the One Day Assessment The one-day ICC assessment is a slightly grueling assessment of your theory knowledge such as navigation, tides, rules of giveway, buoy markers, lights, sounds among other sailing and boating theory knowledge topics. But don’t be intimidated, just make sure you know your stuff. There is a heavy emphasis on the theory knowledge of navigation (plotting courses, currents, tides, chart work, day and night ATONs and markers), passage planning, and navigation rules of the road in the assessment. For example, can you draw a North, South, East and West Cardinal Mark? What is the distinguishing light of a safe water marker or an isolated danger mark? Can you calculate at what time could you enter a shallow harbor given the tide almanac? Your sailboat under sail is overtaking a small powerboat on your port side, who must give way? In IALA-A is it Red Right Returning or Red to Red on Return? What about IALA-B? Given a specific current flow rate and direction changing over a tide cycle, could you plot a series of courses to arrive at a destination and estimate the time of arrival? What about fire extinguishers, can you name on the spot the best types of extinguishers for the type of fire? Thus you should learn and get comfortable with this in the theory training online prior to the assessment.

The last thing you want to do is fail. Most sailors can not “wing” this assessment without some study (even experienced sailors). Given this, our North American assessors will not allow you to test out of the assessment without having completed a significant theory knowledge course. We recommend either the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of online courses or the RYA Day Skipper online theory course. They simply do not like to fail people but will if they detect someone trying to wing it.

Usually, we find the sailor is practically competent but are lacking on the specifics of the theory. This is why we strongly suggest the student to take the online classes prior to the event else your approximate (depending on location and school) $400-$600 assessment fee could be wasted. Additionally, we have schools worldwide who can give you training prior to the assessment – we call that a “rust-out” day. It is always best to share with your assessor in advance your weaknesses. Assessors are quite willing to provide instruction prior to assessment.

Gaining the ICC via the RYA Day Skipper Certificate Route

The second method is that you gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate which automatically qualifies you for the ICC. To gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate, you need to do a theory course online and pass a practical 5-day sailing training adventure at an RYA school.

First, pass the theory course for RYA Day Skipper  which you can do online through NauticEd. The course is quite extensive and covers everything required by the United Nations Resolution 40. See below for the UN knowledge requirements. No matter your experience, we also guarantee that you will gain some great sailing knowledge.

Once you pass the Online theory RYA Day Skipper Course, you then attend one of 500 RYA sailing Schools in the world. In North America and the Caribbean, you can go to:

• The  Yachting Education RYA Training Center,  Florida
• Top Mast RYA Training Center in Toronto (Kingston), Ontario, Canada
• Discovery Sailing RYA Training Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• In Slocum’s Wake  RYA Training Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• On Deck RYA Training Center in Antigua
• Sail Grenadines  RYA Training Center in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

You can also do a viable alternative to the ICC if there is not an ICC location near you. Jump here to learn about the SLC .

Complete the theory requirements for the RYA Day Skipper Course and ICC online at home

The Online RYA Day Skipper Sailing Course

The NauticEd RYA Day Skipper online course requires a real person to take the time to grade your exam and that you do the exam with RYA Charts and an Almanac which we include in the cost of the course. Thus, the cost is a bit more than our regular other eLearning courses.

The full RYA Day Skipper course is $394. When you pass this course – you are issued with the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course and Exam complete certificate. Your practical time on the water after that is a breeze, you’ll be doing no exams on the water.

The RYA Day Skipper Practical Training

To complete the RYA Day Skipper Certification, take the 5-day vacation/learn to sail sailing course. By the end of the 5-day training, as long as you demonstrate competence to the standard then you will be issued the RYA Day Skipper Certificate. This automatically qualifies you for the ICC and NauticEd will arrange this for you upon passing the theory and Practical. Visit one of the schools listed above.

In Summary for the ICC

Gain the ICC by either of:

(1) Doing the one-day on-the-water assessment. We recommend either the  NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of online courses or the  theory course for RYA Day Skipper course prior to the assessment else you will likely fail.

(2) Gain the RYA Day Skipper Certificate via the  RYA Day Skipper online course and the 5-day on-the-water training at an RYA training center. If you pass the course over the 5 days, this then automatically qualifies you for the ICC.

Which Path to the ICC do we recommend?

Well, it really depends on you. If you are open to learning new tricks and tips and get some solid formal training, you can not beat the full RYA Day Skipper route. If you think you know enough practical, then do the assessment after having passed the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses. But again, know your stuff. Don’t show up a bit “rusty”, instead ask the assessor for a day or so exburn off the rust.

An Alternative – the SLC

For the North American sailor, if an RYA location is not close to you, we recommend that you gain the NauticEd SLC license as an alternative. The SLC works in all countries in Europe including Croatia. The SLC is relatively easy to get but has slightly higher standards than the ICC; meaning you have to know your stuff – even more – the good news is that you get better training and you’re a better sailor for it. No foul there!

To gain the NauticEd SLC you complete the  NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle  of courses online, log your past history sailing experience in our electronic logbook online (which must add to at least 50 days of experience) and do a 1-day assessment similar in scope to the practical ICC assessment at a qualified NauticEd School using these  Bareboat Charter Skills Assessment rubrics .

Learn more about the NauticEd SLC Mediterranean Sailing License here .

Learn more about how to gain the SLC Mediterranean License here

United Nations Resolution 40 ICC Standards for Knowledge

My vision for NauticEd is to provide the highest quality sailing and boating education available - and deliver competence wherever sailors live and go.

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Comparing RYA, IYT & ASA Schemes

There are many different schemes you can follow to get certified to be on the water. The three more internationally accepted are the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), International Yacht Training (IYT) and the American Sailing Association (ASA). If you want to know more in detail about the RYA scheme, I recommend you read my previous post about it,  Understanding the RYA Scheme . To get a brief overview, I made this simple graphic to help you out.

Beginner Classes

Competent crew.

Competent crew is the unofficial introduction class. It’s a 5-day class that brings you up to the level where if a skipper is asking you to do something, you know how to do it. A lot of it is learning the names of the parts of the boat and the various processes you can encounter. To learn more  visit the  RYA’s website .

Try Sailing & Introductory Sailing Skills

Try Sailing is quite a basic course. It is a half-day on board that covers basic manoeuvres, rope handling and the points of sail. IYT goes more in depth here . The second portion is Introductory Sailing Skills. This 2 day course takes it a little further by adding some person overboard and some collision regulations. It should bring you to a level where you are comfortable crewing for a skipper.

Basic Keelboat Sailing

As with the two other schemes, the 101 course is meant to ease you into sailing. The instructor will go over parts of the boat, sail trim and buoyage. This is the course I did on Lake Champlain and had a great weekend doing so! The details are available here .

Intermediate Classes

Day skipper & coastal skipper.

I’ve covered the RYA scheme quite extensively on its own so to see that, click here . The important bit to know is that it is with a Day Skipper certificate that the RYA can give you an International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC). This certificate allows you to charter a boat on vacation and also gives a good start to being a proper skipper and being able to plan short passages. The Coastal Skipper allows to understand more the passage planning portion and the harder manoeuvres in close quarters.

Day Skipper & International Bareboat Skipper

The IYT Day Skipper is slightly more limited than the RYA one. It limits the boat you can skipper to 10m but it is slightly shorter. It is a 3 to 4 day course that gives a good introduction to planning a safe sail and basic boat checks. Otherwise, the two are quite similar.

The International Bareboat Skipper syllabus is quite similar to the Coastal Skipper. It certifies that the person can sail in coastal waters and knows how to manoeuvre a boat adequately. For the IYT, it is the first course that requires other certifications and a minimum sea time. The course pushes further on the boat checks, weather, tides and general regulations. For those requirements and more information, you can click here .

Basic Coastal Cruising & Bareboat Cruising

ASA uses their different certification levels to go towards bigger boats. At the 103 level, they determine you can properly control a 25′ to 35′ boat. At the 104 level, they judge you are competent to manoeuvre a 30′ to 45′ foot boat. After learning intermediate trimming, basic weather, navigation rules and anchoring in 103, you’ll be able to push these further in 104. The 104 syllabus also adds on provisioning, passage planning, and advanced sail trimming. The 103 syllabus can be found here and the 104 details are here .

Yachtmaster

The Yachtmaster level is the highest-level one can achieve on the recreational scale. The differences at the end are very slim but two schemes resemble each other more.

The three Yachtmasters

Same as the RYA, IYT only examines at this level, officially. Schools offer preparation classes that can be taken and will help iron out any wrinkles to give you the most chances of passing. The main difference in the three levels is the distance you are considered competent to be from a safe haven. At coastal, you can go up to 60 nautical miles, at offshore, up to 150 nautical miles and the ocean level has no limit. Extensive meteorology and celestial navigation can be expected. One of the bonuses from IYT is that they not only offer sail and power endorsements but also a catamaran endorsement. For more information, the best is to go to the source at the RYA or IYT .

4 Classes left

ASA offers classes until the end of the scheme. The last 4 classes push further for the length of the boat (up to 50′) and the content covered. Essentially, they all cover the same but it is more broken down in this scheme. The goal is that at the end of this scheme, you can sail oceans comfortably and plan appropriately.

I hope this helps clarify and create links between the different schemes. If you have any questions don’t be shy to go to the contact page and I will help you find the information you need.

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Apply for an ICC

OUR CURRENT TURNAROUND TIME FROM THE DATE YOUR APPLICATION IS RECEIVED IS APPROXIMATELY 21 WORKING DAYS

Apply online

To apply for an ICC you must be:

• age 16 or over
• physically and mentally fit to operate a pleasure craft

Completing the online application for an ICC

If you are applying for your first ICC issued by the RYA or requesting a replacement for a lost ICC you will need:

• A digital copy (photograph or scan) of your passport or a national ID card showing your nationality If you do not have a passport or a national ID card showing your nationality you can only apply to the RYA for an ICC using the paper application form.
• A digital copy of a document which confirms your habitual residential address as detailed in ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility . Collectively these documents must verify your identity (name, address, date of birth, photograph) and your nationality.
• Evidence of your competence for each of the categories you request are validated on your ICC
• A photograph in portrait orientation Note: you can only upload pdf or jpg files of less than 5MB.

If you are renewing or updating the details on your ICC you will need:

• Your current / expiring ICC
• Documents which verify any changes to the information printed on your current / expiring ICC, as detailed in ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility .
• Evidence of your competence for any additional categories you would like to be validated on your new ICC.
• A photograph in portrait orientation Note: you can only upload pdf or jpg files of less than 5MB.

If your application is successful your ICC will be sent by post to your residential address. Sending the ICC to the address printed on the certificate is part of the RYA’s verification process for the issue of the certificate. The ICC will not be posted to any address other than the one printed on the certificate.

If you are an experienced boater but you don’t have evidence of competence you will need to take an ICC assessment . 

MyRYA account required

You must create or login to your own MyRYA account to apply for an ICC online. The MyRYA account must be specific to the applicant. You cannot use your MyRYA account to apply for an ICC for anyone else including a family member. 

You must log in to your personal MyRYA account to apply or renew an ICC.

Apply using a paper form

The ICC application form and supporting documents are updated from time to time - Please ensure you are usin g the current version of the form as published in the table above. Your application may be rejected by the RYA if it is submitted on an out of date form or on the basis of out of date information.

Best Sailing Organization: IYT vs RYA vs More

Have you wanted to get an international sailing certification so you can sail around the world? Do you want to learn from the best and get the most hands-on sailing education possible?

Whether you’re just starting to learn how to sail or you’re a seasoned sailing veteran that wants to become officially certified, you’ll have to choose between one of several organizations to consider for getting your sailing certificate.

The most prominent sailing organizations worldwide that provide similar certifications proving your sailing competence include:

• International Yacht Training (IYT)
• Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
• American Sailing Association (ASA)
• United States Sailing Association (US Sailing)

Before you choose one sailing association over the other, you need to ask yourself what your goals are.

Do you want to sail in the Mediterranean as well as off the coast of Southern France or the UK? Or do you have a strong desire to explore the coasts of North America?

Between the sailing certifications offered by IYT, RYA, ASA, and US Sailing, you’ll be able to explore the world on your terms and you’ll certainly have the know-how to do it.

Whether you have your own sailboat or are chartering one, these certifications will keep you covered.

International Yacht Training

International Yacht Training ( IYT ) is one of the most prominent, well-known independent sailing and boating training organizations in the world.

They are one of the few organizations that provide not only marine education on the recreational level but also on the professional level. IYT was originally founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA but is now headquartered in British Colombia, Canada.

I received my formal training in sailing through IYT, which is how I acquired the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).

As a standard for sailing, the ICC is often required before chartering a boat in European waters; both coastal and internal. I personally learned off the coasts of Spain as well as around the many islands around Croatia.

As I mentioned, IYT is a well-known marine education organization that’s reputation proceeds itself all over the globe.

Before they started providing recreational sailing courses (like the ICC), they worked solely with maritime professionals to ensure they could safely operate vessels of all sizes. They have schools over 250 schools in over 56 countries and are growing by the day.

The main advantage of getting your sailing training through IYT is that they’ve become the global standard in sailing, powerboat, and maine safety education.

Since most of those who charter vessels are aware of the strong standard IYT sets for its students, they’re more likely to provide you with a sailboat.

When it comes to the renewal time of your ICC, you’ll need to renew it every 5 years. Along with that, there are 24 countries that officially recognize it as an official certificate of sailing competence.

Countries Officially Recognizing the ICC: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

While there are many countries around the world that aren’t on this list (including the US), the fact of the matter is that presenting an ICC to someone you wish to charter a boat from will increase the likeliness of you taking a sailboat out on the water.

There may be a request to review your logbook and other documents confirming your competence, but there’s no doubt an ICC adds a lot of weight in your favor.

Anyway, there are numerous schools located in specific countries where the ICC is technically not officially recognized, like the US, Thailand, and countries in the Caribbean, which have been known to informally recognize the ICC.

It’s also important to remember that there are many different types of courses you can take through IYT, including weather, navigation, VHF, superyacht, powerboat, dive boat, dinghy sailing, Yachtmaster, and commercial/professional courses.

The possibilities are endless if you consider IYT, especially when you consider they have schools all over the world.

Royal Yachting Association

The Royal Yachting Association ( RYA ) is the oldest and most well-known governing body of dinghy, yacht, and motor cruising in the world.

Before there was any other association providing standardized education in the maritime industry, RYA was the only contributor to the expansion of maritime-based education.

Originally founded in 1875 as Yacht Racing Association in the United Kingdom, its main objective from the outset was to lay out the standards of measurement for different yachts competing in sailing races.

The reason this is important is that some sailboats may have either an advantage or disadvantage over other sailboats in a race, so they must be assigned a positive or negative handicap before the race can commence.

Since then the RYA has become a symbol of competence when it comes to sailing education and therefore has a strong reputation worldwide.

While they don’t focus as heavily on professional training as much as IYT, they have the advantage of developing a strong curriculum for recreational sailors all around the world.

Before I earned my ICC through IYT, I did my research on whether I should get my ICC through IYT or RYA.

From what I remember it wasn’t then possible to earn an ICC through RYA but instead use the evidence that you learned from RYA the necessary skillsets through their UK-based certifications.

However, they now provide a pathway for those interested in earning their ICC through RYA, which is fantastic for those wishing to sail throughout Europe and beyond.

Just like the ICC by IYT, the ICC by RYA provides the same luxuries and permissions when it comes to sailing around the world.

While not every country in the world has accepted the ICC as an official certificate for sailing competency, more and more schools are offering it as a standard for officially licensing sailing skills, including the RYA.

American Sailing Association

The American Sailing Association ( ASA ) is one of the most prominent sailing associations in the United States as well as the Americas in general. Their sole focus is on teaching recreational sailing to beginners and experts alike.

Established in 1983, the ASA is the youngest of the best places to get a sailing certification. Since their main focus is on recreational sailing, they pride themselves on providing the best quality educational content on the market.

This definitely shows when perusing their website and reading about all the fun activities they sponsor throughout the year.

If you’re looking to attain a certain level of certification from the ASA, then you’ll definitely be interested in the International Proficiency Certificate (IPC). Similar to the ICC, the IPC is also an internationally recognized certificate of sailing competence that has a strong reputation.

Unlike the ICC, the IPC allows sailors to explore the many regions of the Americas as well as the beautiful waters of Europe.

This is in stark contrast to the ICC since it doesn’t officially allow for chartering sailboats in the US and the Americas in general. The IPC is a fantastic certification that, if I were living in the US at the time of getting my sailing certification, I would have worked toward.

When it comes to the renewal time of your IPC, you’ll need to renew it every 5 years. Also, there are 27 countries that officially recognize it as an official certificate of sailing competence (as opposed to the 24 for the ICC).

Countries Officially Recognizing the IPC: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Countries Where It’s a “Maybe”: Moldova, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sweden, and Ukraine.

That’s definitely more countries than the ICC and even includes several “maybe” countries.

These “maybe” countries are known to generally accept the IPC when it’s presented while sometimes requiring some extra convincing through other documents, be them local certificates or log book evidence.

If you include the “maybe” countries, that brings the total number of countries from 27 to 32.

Again, similar to the ICC, the IPC is an internationally recognized certificate of sailing competence with certified sailing schools all over the world.

In all likeliness, presenting your IPC as evidence of sailing competence will be sufficient enough to be able to charter a sailboat in the most popular destinations around the world.

United States Sailing Association

The United States Sailing Association ( US Sailing ) is the oldest and primary governing body of sailing in the United States.

US Sailing performs a number of functions for the US sailing community, including recreational sailing and powerboat education, racing education, US Olympic team training, instructor and racing official training, and much more. Clearly, US Sailing plays a very important role in the US sailing community.

The North American Yacht Racing Union (NAYRU) was officially established back in 1897 in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, and became US Sailing in 1991 as a non-profit aimed at building and supporting a strong and vibrant US sailing community.

They even are responsible for selecting and training the US sailing teams racing in various events during the Olympics.

Just like the ASA, US Sailing provides a means for sailors to earn their IPC so they can have the freedom to charter sailboats all across the globe. The certification provides the same exact luxuries and permissions as if it was earned from the ASA.

One of the main differences between the ASA and US Sailing in terms of the schools is that they are solely located in the United States.

This should remind you of how RYA is solely located in the UK, which is also a primary governing body of sailing.

With that in mind, US Sailing has schools all up and down the coasts as well as the interior states. On top of that, they’re even located in Mexico and the Caribbean (even Bermuda!).

Another great perk about going with US Sailing is that they offer a large variety of different courses for recreational purposes.

While you’ll undoubtedly want to investigate their IPC course, there are plenty of other interesting courses that any water-loving crew member would love to dive into.

The Best Sailing Certificate for You

As the saying goes, “knowing is half the battle”. After going through the most well-known, established sailing organizations in the world, you should have a good idea of what your options are at this point.

However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages when picking one sailing organization over the other as well as which certificate you’re more interested in earning.

Let’s walk through the most important factors you should consider before choosing one organization over the other.

Professional Training

Many people get into sailing as a recreational activity so they can simply enjoy themselves be it by cruising or racing. However, there is most definitely a percentage of people who are marine professionals seeking education.

If you’re searching for a sailing organization that provides the highest quality education at a global level, you’ll most likely want to go with IYT. They have the most established international reputation for training maritime professionals all around the world.

School Location

Arguably the most important factor in choosing a place to learn how to sail is where the closest sailing school is located.

While the sailing organizations we covered have schools all over the world, others are solely present in certain countries and regions.

The two sailing organizations that have sailing schools all over the world are IYT and ASA, with IYT covering far more countries.

Either way, one of these organizations will likely have some schools relatively close to where you are compared to RYA and US Sailing.

If you’re located in the UK, consider RYA. If you’re in the US or North America, consider US Sailing. Both organizations have a very strong network in their respective countries and provide a lot of value to their local communities.

Primary Sailing Region

Depending on where you might end up sailing the majority of the time, you’ll want to consider whether it makes sense to get one certificate over the other.

The differences between the geographical regions that recognize the ICC and the IPC aren’t huge but they certainly exist.

If you know that you won’t be leaving waters European for the gorgeous waters of the US and Caribbean, then the ICC should be sufficient for your sailing adventures.

However, if you do ever plan on crossing the pond, consider the IPC as you’ll be able to sail in both US and European waters.

I mentioned this before, but the ICC is the most well-known sailing certification in the world so it’s likely that most countries, even if they don’t officially recognize it, will recognize it informally.

If there’s any further evidence required beyond your ICC, a copy of your logbook should be more than sufficient to prove your mettle.

Beyond Sailing

Shocking as it may be, some people are more interested in other activities apart from sailing.

While these sailing organizations obviously specialize in providing top-quality sailing education, they do bring other educational opportunities to the table.

Most of the sailing organizations we took a look at provide further education in other water-based activities, but the ones that really stand out are IYT, RYA, and US Sailing.

If you’re interested in learning the ins and outs of sailing as well as one day becoming a Yachtmaster (which is my goal), consider these sailing organizations.

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The International Certificate of Competence - ICC

Our Principal, Peter Ellis explains...

• Training Guide

ICC - International Certificate of Competence Explained

We are increasingly being asked about what qualifications are needed when you charter or go on flotilla holidays in Europe. Turkey, Greece and Croatia are particularly popular sailing holiday destinations and over the last few years, they have all generally got more stringent in their demands for skippers of all vessels to hold certificates which indicate levels of competence.

The type of certificate you need to hold varies from country to country. A full STCW Certificate, which by international agreement sets the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping among professional seafarers is generally accepted, but this is a very high level qualification which is seldom held by leisure sailors.

When you charter overseas the yacht will not normally be UK flagged, and if this is the case, then you will need to hold a certificate which is accepted by the country in which you are sailing. Surprisingly, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications such as Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper and even Yachtmaster are not usually accepted on their own. Most often you will be asked to provide an International Certificate of Competence, or ICC as it is commonly called. Our best advice is to check with the charter / holiday company before you book and obtain written confirmation of what sailing certificate or licence will be required when you are on holiday.

International Certificate of Competence

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC), or more correctly the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft is fast becoming the accepted qualification for leisure sailors in most European countries. Contrary to popular belief, the ICC is not of EU origin and isn’t the boating equivalent of the EU driving licence for road vehicles, which all EU member states are obliged to accept. It was originally created to allow pleasure navigation along the rivers Rhine and Danube and was adopted by The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Inland Transport Committee Working Party on Inland Water Transport (A bit of a mouthful!). Its primary aim was to standarise the qualification needed to navigate these two great rivers, which pass through a number of countries; each of which had its own certification requirements.

How to get your International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

 eligibility for icc.

There are two main criteria for getting your ICC, these are your nationality and level of competence.

Nationality

 The RYA issues ICCs in the UK in accordance UNECE eligibility criteria. Applicants should be aged over 16 and be one of the folllowing;

• British National or Resident
• National of a non-UNECE County
• National of United States or Canada
• National of Australia or New Zealand
• Evidence of Competence

 You can be issued an ICC directly if you already hold one of the following RYA practical certificates;

• Powerboat level 2
• RYA Day Skipper
• RYA Coastal Skipper
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean

Send in a completed ICC application form with a copy of your certificate, a passport sized photograph and £50 (free if you are an RYA member) to the RYA and you’ll get your ICC back within a couple of weeks. If you are in a hurry, a Fastrack service is available priced at £99 for non members but cheaper if you are a member of the RYA.

If you are an experienced skipper but you don’t hold any of these certificates, then you can gain your ICC by attending an assessment. If you have your own boat, or charter one, then we can arrange for an assessor to come along and test you with up to 3 other people onboard. Alternatively you might want to consider attending a BOSS ICC weekend on board a school boat. This will include brush up training and revision of the skills required before taking the assessment. Full details of eligibility and whats involved in the test can be found on the application form and this can be downloaded from our ICC Page .

Yacht e No28 April 2024

All you need to know about the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course. For more information Tel: +44 (0) 23404577

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International Certificate Of Competency (ICC Certificate)

What is it? What does it do? How do I get one? And is it the same as an RYA Day Skipper certificate?

What Is an ICC and What Does It Do?

The International Certificate of Competency (usually referred to as “ICC”) is a certificate designed to prove an individual’s capabilities when cruising in foreign waters. Essentially, it is an international boating licence.

It was originally designed for use in Europe and is issued under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), however, not every European has to accept the ICC, and its validity is not restricted to Europe alone.

In this blog we will cover:

• What is an ICC and what does it do?

Who Needs an ICC?

Where is an icc valid, how to apply for an icc.

You should know the licence requirements in your own country, but when you sail abroad you may be required to comply with the maritime legislation of the country you are visiting as well as that of your vessel’s country of registration.

Obviously, licencing regulations vary massively as you transit from one country to the next and the ICC helps reduce these variations and make sailing abroad easier.#

For the latest up to date information about where an ICC is officially valid and who the authorising organisation are you should check out the UNECE website :

https://unece.org/icc-resolution-no-40

Note, however, that some countries have not adobted resolution 40 and still choose to accept the ICC in the territorial waters.

An ICC has to be issued by an authorised organisation in the country that you are a national of or resident in, and can only be obtained in countries which have signed up to Resolution 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Inland Water Transport.

If you are a UK resident that means you need to apply for your ICC through the RYA.

If you are not a resident in the UK, you will have to find your authorising body via the UNECE website .

Exceptions to this rule include nationals of United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand who can all also apply through the RYA.

Applying for Your ICC Certificate With the RYA

Requirements/Examinations

There are two ways to get an ICC with the RYA:

• Present an equivalent or higher RYA certificate alongside an ICC application form.
• Undertake a one day ICC examination at an ICC test centre

You must be at least 16 years old and be both physically and mentally fit enough to operate a yacht (vision and hearing may be assessed).

Equivalent or Higher RYA Certification (e.g. Day Skipper) and Application Form

You can be issued an ICC directly if you already hold one of the following RYA certificates;

• Powerboat level 2

RYA Day Skipper

• RYA Coastal Skipper
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean

Send a completed ICC application form (available online or in paper form) with a copy of your certificate, a passport-sized photograph, and £45 (free if you are an RYA member) to the RYA. You’ll get your ICC back within a couple of weeks. If you are in a hurry, a Fastrack service is available priced at £75 for non-members but cheaper if you are a member of the RYA.

ICC Assessment

If you do not already hold any of the qualifications listed above, and do not intend to, then you will need to undertake an ICC assessment at an ICC test centre.

The assessment takes one day and cost approx. £300.

You will be assessed on your navigation skills, boat-handling skills, seamanship, and safety. When booking an ICC, it is best to find a test centre which will be willing to run a quick preassessment and provide any coaching where necessary before the ICC assessment begins.

ICC-4a Power assessment syllabus and certificate

ICC-4b Sail assessment syllabus and certificate

ICC-4c Coastal waters assessment syllabus and certificate

To find an ICC test centre, use the  ‘Where’s my Nearest’  tool on the RYA website.

An ICC is obtained after completing an assessment aboard a yacht to prove your capabilities. This can then be used when visiting other countries as evidence of your abilities.

The RYA Day Skipper certificate is part of a training programme which teaches you everything you need to know about deckwork, sail handling (if applicable), seamanship, rope and knots, anchoring and mooring, safety, navigation, collision regulations, and meteorology. The certificate is obtained at the end of a training programme and can be used privately or commercially, can can also be used to apply for an ICC without the need to undertake any further assessment.

The ICC assessment is a one day exam on the water and you are expected to know what you are doing before you arrive. It usually cost in the region of £300.

The RYA Day Skipper course is a training programme and comes in two parts, theory and practical. The theory part cost starts at around £250-£300 for an online course which can be taken from home. The practical part cost from £500, and takes 5 days living aboard a yacht.

This depends on where you intend to sail.

You will usually only need one or the other at a time, and in some cases you won’t need either. However, If you complete the RYA Day Skipper course and are a member of the RYA, the ICC is free of charge and having both gives you the most peace of mind and flexibility.

The ICC is valid for 5 years and you may renew your certificate up to 3 months prior to it expiring. The new certificate will be valid for a further 5 year period after the original expiry date. 

To renew your certificate you must either complete and submit the online application form or download, print and complete an  ICC application form . It is not possible to renew your certificate by telephone or by emailing the RYA. 

If your details change you need to submit an ICC application form to have your ICC updated. You will need to provide evidence to verify the details that have changed. Information on what is required can be found in  ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility .

You must complete an ICC application form to request a replacement certificate. You do not need to resubmit evidence of your competence, but you will need to provide documentary evidence to allow the RYA to verify your identity and nationality.  Information on what is required can be found in  ICC-2 Notes: Evidencing identity and eligibility .

The size of vessel covered by the ICC varies from country to country so you will need to check before arrival.

If you wish to obtain your RYA Day Skipper (which can subsequently be used to obtain an ICC) then get started on your theory course with Ardent Training .

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About the RYA

The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for dinghy, motor and sail cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sportsboats, windsurfing and personal watercraft, and is a leading representative body for inland waterways cruising in the UK.

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ICC Application

The International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft is intended to provide evidence of competence when requested by officials in foreign countries.  It is historically known as the International Certificate of Competence. 

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ICC power up to 24 metres LOA

The ICC is a recognized boating qualification that is valid in many countries. It is issued by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) and is designed to demonstrate that the holder has the necessary knowledge and skills to operate a boat safely. You can obtain an ICC by presenting an eligible RYA certificate or by taking an assessment of your knowledge and skills. In this page, you can find information about assessments for ICC power (motor boats).

Taught in English

All RYA courses are taught in English. We recommend a minimum level of B1 for 1-day and 2-day courses and a minimum level of B2 for longer courses, theory courses and specialised training, such as SRC (VHF) radio.

Quick facts

Here’s a summary of what you need to know.

RYA ICC International Certificate of Competence

Available for UK nationals and UK residents

Available for other nationalities, including Spanish

For nationals of countries that don’t issue ICC

ICC available power at two levels

ICC power up to 10m & 24m

Accepted in Spain as proof of competence

Since 2021, for UK nationals and UK residents

Drive powerboats up to 24 metres in length

Single and twin drives

The details

Click on the tabs for more detailed information.

• Requirements
• Recognition

The International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC) is a certificate that provides evidence of competence when you’re boating abroad. The ICC is the only international evidence of competence that exists for recreational boaters in Europe. Since 2021, the ICC has been accepted by the Spanish maritime authority as proof of competence for UK passport holders and UK residents.

The UK ICC issued by the RYA is issued on behalf of the UK Government under the authorisation of the UK Maritime and Coastguard (MCA).

ICC Assessment of competence

Applicants for the ICC can take an ICC assessment to demonstrate their competence in different categories. The ICC issued by the RYA will reflect the categories that you have been examined for. You can do an ICC assessment for sail or power boating. The sail category applies to sailing vessels up to 24 metres in length. The power category can apply either (1) to vessels up to 10 metres or (2) to vessels up to 24 metres.

The RYA will issue the ICC to UK nationals and UK residents i.e. people who are settled in the UK and whose primary residence is in the UK. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

The RYA will also issue the ICC to nationals of other countries that have not accepted Resolution No. 40 because they may otherwise be unable to obtain an ICC. However, if the relevant country later accepts Resolution No. 40, the certificate holder will no longer be eligible to have an ICC issued by the RYA and will not be able to amend or renew that certificate.

The UK ICC issued by the RYA is not available to nationals of the following countries that have currently accepted Resolution No. 40: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Spain has not currently accepted Resolution No. 40 and, for this reason, the RYA will issue an ICC to Spanish nationals.

Nationals of countries that have accepted Resolution No. 40 can only be issued an ICC by the RYA if they are resident in the UK.

Unlike the United Kingdom, Spain requires that skippers hold a boat licence to operate boats flying a Spanish flag. The same rule applies if you buy a boat or rent a boat. Whether or not your ICC is acceptable as proof of competence depends on your nationality, your country of residence and the boat’s flag state.

UK nationals and residents

The ICC is now accepted in Spain as proof of competence for UK nationals and bona fide UK residents. This change in the law came into effect on July 1st 2021.

Other flag states

The acceptance the ICC depends on their specific laws and regulations. It is determined by the legislation of the country where the boat is registered (flag state) and the legislation of the country where the boat is being used (coastal state). Acceptance may vary based on factors like the size and type of the boat, the nationality of the owner, the purpose of use, and whether it involves someone other than the owner or commercial activities.

To know if your ICC certificate(s) will be accepted, you need to check the laws and regulations of the flag state and coastal state.

Vessels with a Polish flag

Poland is an example of a flag state that recognises RYA ICC qualifications obtained by skippers who are neither nationals nor residents of the United Kingdom.

More and more boat owners in Spain are registering their boats with a Polish flag. There are many reasons, including:

Cost: The cost of registering a boat in Poland is significantly lower than the cost of registering a boat in Spain. Process: The process of registering a boat in Poland is much simpler than the process of registering a boat in Spain. Freedom: Poland does not have any restrictions on where boats registered in Poland can travel. 

Another important reason for the popularity of the Polish flag is that Polish maritime legislation (Act of 21 March 2003 on Maritime Navigation)

ICC Test Preparation Courses

At the Boat School, we offer two different itineraries for ICC Power assessments. These courses are modular and build up your knowledge and skills gradually. Your choice of training itinerary will depend on your objectives.

ICC Power up to 10 Meters

This itinerary is for people who want to drive a smaller powerboat, by day and in familiar waters. The course is a 2-day practical course with continuous assessment. It covers the same syllabus as the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course. Click on the “Book Now” button to check dates and prices.

If you already have significant experience, you can also choose to complete this level as a 1-day direct assessment, combining one-to-one coaching and assessment.

RYA ICC power 10m

2-day practical powerboat course

ICC Power up to 24 Meters

This itinerary is for people who want to drive a larger motor cruiser, usually with twin engines. You will be able to plan a trip and skipper a motor cruiser on short passages.

The training and assessment route map for this category is modular, combining practical courses, an online theory component, an ICC theory exam, and an ICC practical assessment.

Step 1: 2-Day Practical Powerboat Course for ICC Power up to 10 Meters

The first step is to complete the 2-day practical Powerboat course for ICC Power up to 10 meters. If you have already done the RYA Powerboat Level 2 course with the Boat School, you can skip this step.

Step 2: 8-Hour Course Introduction to Cruising

The next step is to complete our 8-hour course “Introduction to Cruising”. This is a blended course that combines study online with an 8-hour practical course. The online theory component includes:

• Buoyage and pilotage
• Course to steer
• Collision Regulations (COLREGs)
• Introduction to chart work
• Position fixing

The practical component includes a night sail and a longer passage (usually Denia to Javea). You’ll also get an opportunity to perfect your boat handling skills around the marina. This course includes passage planning, electronic navigation and an introduction to the DSC functions of a fixed VHF radio.

Introduction to cruising

Combined practical & theory course

Step 3: ICC Practical Assessment

The third step involves transitioning to a twin-drive cruising vessel. The first half of the day includes a familiarisation with the safety equipment for a vessel operating in (Spanish) Zone 3 (up to 25NM from land), manoeuvring with twin engines around the marina (departing and docking) and boat handling beyond the harbour. The second half of the day is the actual ICC test practical assessment. This includes departing, mooring to a buoy, anchoring, recovering a man overboard, and coming alongside.

Course Fees for Practical Assessment

Please complete the form below. We will send you more information, including a detailed article about the ICC. We’ll then get in touch to help you plan your personalised itinerary.

Course fees do not include ICC application fees payable to the RYA. These are currently 50 GBP (pound sterling).

Ready to book? Got any questions?

Please use the form below and we’ll get back to you.

Or give us a call on:

Call an RYA Boat School instructor on: 639202297

We'd be delighted to talk you through different course options and send you a personalised proposal if you need a package of courses.

The Boat School

Recognized by the Royal Yachting Association to conduct Powerboat Training, Sail Cruising courses in the Yachtmaster (sail) scheme and Shorebased (theory) courses.

Recognized by the Spanish Directorate General for Merchant Shipping, the Comunidad Valenciana and the Region of Murcia to conduct sail, motor, powerboat and VHF training.

Operational Base Denia

Marina de Dénia (Sail courses) Darsena de babor s/n 03700 · Denía Alicante · Spain Click to call

Marina El Portet (Powerboat courses) Moll de la pansa, s/n 3700 · Dénia Alicante · Spain Click to call

Classrooms & pick up for certificates Carrer de Fora Mur, 12 03700 · Dénia Alicante · Spain Click to call

Madrid Office

Greenwich Náutica C/ Marqués de Lema 7, Local 6 28003 · Madrid Spain Click to call