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Chartering on the German Baltic coast: which licence and how much experience?
Short answer
On the German Baltic coast the charter base wants a sea certificate and often some experience.
German skippers need the national sea licence for almost every charter yacht;
with a foreign certificate other rules apply, so get the base's answer in writing before you book.
Chartering on the German Baltic coast, in Kiel Bay, the Flensburg Fjord, around Fehmarn or off Rügen, starts with one question: which licence and how much experience will the base want? For German skippers the answer is fixed by law. On the coastal waterways they need the national sea licence once the engine is over 11.03 kW, and that takes in almost every charter yacht. Skippers from abroad are treated under separate rules, so the practical answer comes from the base, and many accept the ICC or an RYA certificate for sea.
On experience each base sets its own bar. Some will hand over a smaller yacht to a skipper with a suitable certificate and a few seasons behind them, others want a sailing CV, logged miles or a chat before handover on the larger boats. An inland only certificate is not enough for the Baltic. For the VHF you need an operator's licence such as the SRC, and many bases want at least one person aboard to hold one. If you are unsure, book a skipper or plan short hops for the first days. Get in writing what the base requires for the boat you are booking.
The water itself has three quirks. There is almost no tide, but a steady wind can raise or drop the level noticeably, and in shallow harbours and the lagoons behind Rügen that becomes a question of depth. Naval exercise areas lie off the coast, with closures announced in advance; the base's area notes list them. And the short, steep Baltic chop in a fresh breeze is more tiring than the chart suggests. If you damage someone else's boat or property with the charter yacht you are personally liable, so your own skipper liability insurance belongs in the preparations.
Worth remembering
Certificate
for sea, accepted by the base
Experience
set by the base, by boat and by area
An inland certificate will not do for the Baltic. Settle it before you book.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Is the ICC accepted for a charter on the German Baltic?
Many bases accept the ICC or an RYA sea certificate for visiting skippers. The base's answer for the specific boat is what counts, so ask for it in writing.
Do German charter bases want logged miles?
Some do, especially for larger yachts. A short sailing CV with areas, boat sizes and your role aboard helps even when it is not formally requested.
Do I need a VHF licence on the Baltic?
Whoever operates the VHF needs an operator's licence such as the SRC, and many bases want at least one crew member to hold one.
Related
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