Learn to sail: Sailing license, basics & costs 2026
Learning to Sail — My Experience of Getting My RYA Sailing License in Greece. In May 2023, I completed my RYA Day Skipper course with the Aegean Sailing School in the Greek Aegean Sea. A week on a sailing yacht, learning navigation, practicing maneuvers, and visiting some of Greece's most beautiful bays. In this guide, I share my honest experiences, the cost of the sailing license, and whether it's worth it.
- RYA Day Skipper — internationally recognized, yacht charter available in Croatia, Greece, Thailand and the Caribbean.
- Aegean Sailing School on Poros, Greek Aegean Sea, max. 5 students per group, 7 days on board including exam.
- 1,400 Euro course fee plus flight, transfer and meals — total approx. 1,800-1,900 Euro all-inclusive.
- Days 1-2: Basics and maneuvers; Days 3-4: Navigation and nautical charts; Days 5-6: Independent skipping; Day 7: Exam.
- Book in May or June — warm weather, moderate Meltemi winds, early booking discounts save 100-200 euros.
Sailing had been on my list for a long time. As someone who travels the world with a drone and camera, I wanted the freedom to be out on the water myself—not as a passenger on a cruise, but as a skipper with my own boat. The RYA Day Skipper is the internationally recognized entry-level license that allows you to charter yachts in most countries.
Why RYA in Greece?
There are sailing schools all over the world. But Greece has three unbeatable advantages:
- Perfect conditions: consistent wind (Meltemi in summer), little current, hundreds of sheltered bays. Ideal for learning.
- Value for money: An RYA Day Skipper in Greece costs approximately €1,200-1,800 — significantly more in England or the Caribbean.
- Picture-perfect scenery: Instead of practicing in the grey Solent, you're sailing through turquoise bays with Greek islands on the horizon. Your motivation stays high all week.
The sailing school on Poros has an excellent reputation. Small groups (max. 5 students), experienced RYA instructors, and a modern fleet of yachts. My instructor was a Brit with 20 years of sailing experience in the Aegean – he knew the best anchorage in every bay.
Sailing basics: From beginner to day skipper in one week
Sailing terms, knots, maneuvers (tacking, gybing), man-overboard drill. On the first day you think: "I'll never learn this." On the second day you realize: "This isn't so difficult after all."„
Reading nautical charts, planning a course, calculating tides, GPS vs. traditional navigation. We planned and navigated the course from Poros to the islands of Hydra and Spetses ourselves. Navigation at a chart table is completely different from Google Maps — but extremely satisfying when you arrive where you wanted to go.
Days 5-6: Independent sailing. Each student takes turns being the skipper. You plan the route, give the commands, and dock in the harbor. Docking is the most stressful part, by the way—wind, current, other boats, and 50 spectators on the dock watching you (hopefully not) crash into the neighboring catamaran.
Theoretical and practical exams. The theory is doable if you paid attention during the week. The practical part: You have to execute a maneuver flawlessly—docking, man-overboard, navigation. I was nervous, but I managed it.
RYA Day Skipper vs. Sport Boat License: Exam Questions & Costs
| position | Cost | note |
|---|---|---|
| Course fee | 1.400 € | Aegean Sailing School, 7 days |
| Flight (e.g. Frankfurt-Athens) | 120-250 € | Ryanair/Aegean Airlines |
| Transfer (Athens-Poros) | ~30 € | Ferry from Piraeus |
| Catering | ~200 € | Cooking together on board + Taverna |
| RYA book | ~35 € | RYA Day Skipper Handbook |
| IN TOTAL | ~1.800-1.900 € | Including flight and meals |
Who would benefit from a sailing license?
Honest answer: Not for everyone. But absolutely for these people:
- For travelers seeking freedom: With a sailing license, you can charter a yacht in Croatia, Greece, Thailand or the Caribbean and be completely independent.
- Content Creator: The perspectives from a sailboat are unique — and drone footage of your own yacht in a secluded bay is content gold.
- Sailing is physically and mentally demanding. Night watch alone at sea, maneuvering in strong winds — these are experiences you won't forget.
Who NOT for: If you need comfort, get seasick, or simply want to be on the beach — then a hotel vacation is the better choice. On a sailing yacht, you share cramped bunks, shower with saltwater, and the "bathroom" is a toilet the size of a suitcase.
Drone on a sailboat — tips
I had my drone on board all week. Drone footage of sailboats in turquoise bays — that's the stuff viral reels are made of.
Abroad, statutory health insurance provides very limited coverage, and often no coverage at all outside the EU. A hospital stay or return flight by air ambulance can quickly cost several thousand to tens of thousands of euros without private international health insurance.
My tips:
- Only take off/land in harbors or calm bays. The risk is too high in open water with waves.
- Practicing hand-landing. There's no flat surface on a sailboat. I land the drone by hand—it takes some practice, but it works reliably.
- Waterproof bag for the drone. Saltwater and electronics don't mix.
- Protect batteries from sunlight. Temperatures of 40°C+ on deck are normal. Overheated batteries will refuse to start.
More on this topic Flying a drone abroad You can find it in my separate guide. How I, as Sailing boat adventure I also described there how to make the best of every situation.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about the Sailing License
Do I need prior knowledge for the RYA Day Skipper course?
No — the course starts from scratch. Sailing experience is helpful, but not essential. Those who are completely new can take the RYA Competent Crew preparatory course (5-7 days) beforehand — recommended for anyone who has never been on a sailboat. Those who are athletic, eager to learn, and open to intensive days can skip Competent Crew and start directly with Day Skipper. Recommendation: work through the basic theory (knots, navigation basics, safety rules) online before the course.
Is the sailing license valid worldwide?
The RYA Day Skipper license is one of the most internationally recognized licenses. It is accepted as proof of competence in most charter destinations—Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, the Caribbean, and the Seychelles. In some countries (e.g., Croatia), you will also need a local license, which you can obtain locally for a fee (approximately €80–120). The German SBF-See (German Sport Boat License for Coastal Waters) has limited international validity, while the SKS (German Sport Boat License for Coastal Waters) is accepted worldwide but is considerably more complex to obtain.
How long does the RYA Day Skipper course last?
The practical part usually lasts 5-7 days on the boat—mostly Saturday to Saturday. You can learn the theory on-site or complete it online beforehand (RYA Day Skipper Theory approx. 40 hours). Those who complete the theory and practical training in a condensed format will finish in 2 weeks. The assessment is conducted continuously on board by the instructor—not a traditional exam situation.
What is the total cost of the certificate, including travel?
Rough estimate: Course €1,200-1,600 (depending on school, boat, season), flight €200-400 (Greece from Germany), harbor fees and provisions €150-300 per person, occasional local marina surcharges €50-100. Total realistically €1,600-2,500. Compared to the German SKS (which often costs €3,000-4,000 plus several weekends of preparation), the RYA Day Skipper in Greece offers extremely good value for money.
Can I charter a yacht immediately after the course?
Theoretically, yes—that's exactly what the day skipper is for. Practically speaking, I recommend doing 2-3 trips as co-skipper with experienced sailors before taking sole responsibility for the boat, crew, and guests. Night sailing, strong winds above force 5, and tight harbor maneuvers, in particular, require practice. Many charter companies also request a sailing resume detailing completed nautical miles—usually at least 300 nautical miles as crew before the first bareboat charter.
What happens if the weather is bad during the course?
You'll still sail—within safe limits. Sailing in rough weather is an essential part of the training: reefing, heavy weather maneuvers, man-overboard drills in windy conditions. Only in truly dangerous conditions (storm warning, heavy seas) will you remain in port for theory and boat handling. Good schools schedule courses from mid-May to mid-October anyway, when the Greek Aegean Sea is relatively stable.
What level of physical fitness do I need?
No need for elite sports levels, but basic fitness is a huge help. A yacht is constantly in motion; sails need to be hoisted, and setting and raising the anchor requires strength. Anyone who can't manage stairs without stopping or has severe back problems should seriously consider this before booking. Seasickness isn't a deal-breaker—most people get used to it within the first two to three days with some preventative measures (light meals, keeping an eye on the horizon, and possibly medication like Vertigoheel or scopolamine patches).
Are there age restrictions?
For the Day Skipper course—those under 18 often require parental consent. There's no upper age limit: in my course, participants ranged from 28 to 63 years old, and the most experienced sailors on other boats were sometimes over 70. What matters is a willingness to learn and fitness, not age.
How does the accommodation work during the course?
— This is part of the training and saves costs. Typical day skipper yachts have 3-4 cabins plus a saloon berth; usually 4-6 course participants share the accommodation with the instructor. A galley, shower, and toilet are on board, but small. Don't expect hotel comforts — but you'll wake up in a different bay every morning.
What are the next steps after obtaining the license? Can I then pursue the Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster certifications?
Yes — the RYA certification chain builds logically upon itself: Day Skipper → Coastal Skipper → Yachtmaster Offshore → Yachtmaster Ocean. Immediately after completing the Day Skipper course, you can log sea miles (approx. 800 for Coastal Skipper, 2,500 for Yachtmaster), complete night passages, and register for the Coastal Skipper course — usually 1-2 seasons later. The Yachtmaster qualification is demanding (navigation, exam with an RYA examiner) and opens up commercial charter options.
My conclusion
The week on the sailboat was one of the best investments I've made in my freedom to travel. For under €2,000, I got a license that allows me to charter yachts worldwide. The combination of sailing and drone photography opens up content opportunities you'd never get as a regular tourist.
If you're considering it: Do it in Greece, do it in May or June (warm weather, moderate winds), and do it with a small, personal school. You won't regret it.
Max Haase
Travel Content Creator · Drone Photographer · Visual Storyteller
A professional travel creator for over 10 years with over 4.2 million followers. Specializing in high-end tourism board collaborations and visual travel storytelling.
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