{"id":2834,"date":"2023-07-20T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/segeln-lernen-segelschein-tipps\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T13:50:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:50:59","slug":"segeln-lernen-segelschein-tipps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/learn-to-sail-sailing-license-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn to sail in 2026: Sailing license, basics &amp; costs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Learn to sail<\/strong> \u2014 My experience report on obtaining my RYA sailing license in Greece. In May 2023, I took the course at the <strong>Aegean Sailing School<\/strong> in the Greek Aegean Sea, my <strong>RYA Day Skipper<\/strong> I did it. A week on a sailing yacht, learning navigation, practicing maneuvers, and visiting some of the most beautiful bays in Greece. In this guide, I share my honest experiences, the cost of a sailing license, and whether it&#039;s worth it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mh-summary-box\">\n<\/div>\n<p>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\u2014not as a passenger on a cruise, but as a skipper with my own boat. <strong>RYA Day Skipper<\/strong> is the internationally recognized entry-level certificate that allows you to charter yachts in most countries.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">Why RYA in Greece?<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There are sailing schools all over the world. But Greece has three unbeatable advantages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Perfect conditions:<\/strong> Consistent winds (Meltemi in summer), little current, hundreds of sheltered bays. Ideal for studying.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Price-performance:<\/strong> An RYA Day Skipper in Greece costs approximately \u20ac1,200-1,800 \u2014 significantly more in England or the Caribbean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Picture-perfect scenery:<\/strong> Instead of practicing in the grey Solent, you sail through turquoise bays with Greek islands on the horizon. Your motivation stays high all week.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>Aegean Sailing School<\/strong> 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 \u2013 he knew the best anchorage in every bay.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2em;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"module gallery module-gallery layout-grid\" style=\"padding: 5% 0;\">\n<div class=\"module-gallery-grid\" style=\"--gald:3;--galt:3;--galm:3\">\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-segelboot-bucht-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1721\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-segelboot-bucht-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Sailboat in a bay in Greece\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-yacht-griechenland-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1721\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-yacht-griechenland-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Yacht off the Greek coast\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-crew-rettungswesten-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1721\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-crew-rettungswesten-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Sailing crew with life jackets\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">Sailing basics: From beginner to day skipper in one week<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 1-2: Basics.<\/strong> Sailing terms, knots, maneuvers (tacking, gybing), man-overboard drill. On the first day you think: &quot;I&#039;ll never learn this.&quot; On the second day you realize: &quot;This isn&#039;t so difficult after all.&quot;\u201e<\/p>\n<p><strong>Days 3-4: Navigation.<\/strong> 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 \u2014 but extremely satisfying when you arrive where you wanted to go.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Days 5-6: Independent sailing.<\/strong> Each student takes turns being the skipper. You plan the route, give the commands, and dock in the harbor. Docking is actually the most stressful part\u2014wind, current, other boats, and 50 spectators on the dock watching as you (hopefully not) crash into the neighboring catamaran.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 7: Exam.<\/strong> 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\u2014docking, man-overboard, navigation. I was nervous, but I managed it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">RYA Day Skipper vs. Sport Boat License: Exam Questions &amp; Costs<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"mh-table-wrap\">\n<table class=\"mh-table-stripe\" style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1.5em 0;font-size:0.95em\">\n<thead style=\"background:#518C9C;color:white\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:left\">position<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:left\">Cost<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:left\">note<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\"><strong>Course fee<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">1.400 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">Aegean Sailing School, 7 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\"><strong>Flight<\/strong> (e.g. Frankfurt-Athens)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">120-250 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">Ryanair\/Aegean Airlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\"><strong>transfer<\/strong> (Athens-Poros)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">~30 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">Ferry from Piraeus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\"><strong>Catering<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">~200 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">Cooking together on board + Taverna<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\"><strong>RYA book<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">~35 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5e0\">RYA Day Skipper Handbook<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f3ef\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:bold\">IN TOTAL<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:bold\">~1.800-1.900 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px\">Including flight and meals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Money-saving tip:<\/strong> Early booking discounts (2-3 months in advance) save \u20ac100-200. And: Cooking on board is significantly cheaper than eating in the taverna every evening. We took turns \u2014 everyone cooked a bit.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2em;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"module gallery module-gallery layout-grid\" style=\"padding: 5% 0;\">\n<div class=\"module-gallery-grid\" style=\"--gald:3;--galt:3;--galm:3\">\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-max-haase-yacht-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1171\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-max-haase-yacht-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Max Haase on a sailing yacht\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-max-steuer-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1171\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-max-steuer-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Max at the helm of the sailing yacht\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class=\"gallery-item\">\n<dt class=\"gallery-icon\">\n <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-navigation-unterricht-full.jpg\" data-rel=\"tb_1171\" class=\"themify_lightbox\"><br \/>\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/segeln-navigation-unterricht-500x600-1.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Navigation lessons on the yacht\"><br \/>\n <\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-cta mh-cta-primary mh-incontent-cta\">\n<h3>Du planst eine Kreuzfahrt- oder Segel-Kampagne?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">Authentischer Content aus Kreuzfahrten, Segelt\u00f6rns und maritimen Destinations. Drohnen-Cinematography vom Meer, Reels aus Kabinen und Hafenst\u00e4dten.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/cooperation\/\" class=\"mh-btn-coral\">Cruise-Kooperation anfragen \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">Who would benefit from a sailing license?<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Honest answer: Not for everyone. But absolutely for these people:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Travelers seeking freedom:<\/strong> With a sailing license you can charter a yacht in Croatia, Greece, Thailand or the Caribbean and be completely independent.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Content Creator:<\/strong> The perspectives from a sailboat are unique \u2014 and drone footage of your own yacht in a secluded bay is content gold.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adventurer:<\/strong> Sailing is physically and mentally demanding. Night watch alone at sea, maneuvering in strong winds \u2014 these are experiences you won&#039;t forget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Who NOT for: If you need comfort, get seasick, or simply want to be on the beach \u2014 then a hotel vacation is the better choice. On a sailing yacht, you share cramped bunks, shower with saltwater, and the &quot;bathroom&quot; is a toilet the size of a suitcase.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-cta mh-cta-primary mh-incontent-cta\">\n<h3>Maritime Reise-Kooperationen \u2014 Max Haase<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">Kreuzfahrten, Segelt\u00f6rns, Yachting \u2014 authentischer maritimer Travel-Content f\u00fcr Reedereien, Charterfirmen und Hafenst\u00e4dte.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/cooperation\/\" class=\"mh-btn-coral\">Request collaboration \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">Drone on a sailboat \u2014 tips<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I have my <strong>drone<\/strong> Had it on board all week. Drone footage of sailboats in turquoise bays \u2014 that&#039;s the stuff viral reels are made of.<\/p>\n<p>My tips:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Nur im Hafen oder in ruhigen Buchten starten\/landen. Auf offener See bei Wellengang ist das Risiko zu hoch.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice hand landings.<\/strong> There&#039;s no flat surface on a sailboat. I land the drone by hand \u2014 it takes some practice, but it works reliably.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waterproof bag<\/strong> For the drone. Saltwater and electronics are not friends.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protect batteries from sunlight.<\/strong> Temperatures of 40\u00b0C+ on deck are normal. Overheated batteries will refuse to start.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/rules-for-flying-drones-abroad-vary-by-country\/\">Flying a drone abroad<\/a> You can find it in my separate guide. How I, as <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/best-activities-while-sailing\/\">Sailing boat adventure<\/a> I also described there how to make the best of every situation.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">FAQ \u2014 Frequently Asked Questions about the Sailing License<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Do I need prior knowledge for the RYA Day Skipper course?<\/p>\n<p>No \u2014 the course starts from scratch. Sailing experience is helpful, but not required. You can also skip the RYA Competent Crew (preparatory course) if you are athletic and a quick learner.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is the sailing license valid worldwide?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The RYA Day Skipper certificate is accepted as proof of competence in most countries \u2014 Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Caribbean. In some countries (e.g., Croatia) you also need a local license, which you can obtain locally for a fee.<\/p>\n<p>Can I charter a yacht immediately after the course?<\/p>\n<p>Theoretically, yes. Practically speaking, I recommend sailing as co-skipper 2-3 times before taking on sole responsibility. Night sailing and strong winds, in particular, require practice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What happens in bad weather?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You&#039;ll still sail \u2014 within safe limits, of course. Sailing in bad weather is actually extremely important for learning. In truly dangerous conditions, you&#039;ll stay in port.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:3em;\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"border-left:4px solid #518C9C;padding-left:16px;\">My conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The week on the sailboat was one of the best investments I&#039;ve made in my freedom to travel. For under \u20ac2,000, I got a license that allows me to charter yachts worldwide. The combination of sailing and drone photography opens up content opportunities you&#039;d never get as a regular tourist.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#039;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&#039;t regret it.<\/p>\n<p><em>You can find more adventure travel reports on my <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/alpine-crossing-e5-oberstdorf-merano-drone-hike\/\">E5 Alpine Crossing<\/a> or my <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/albania-travel-report-insider-tip-route-costs-tips\/\">Albania travel report<\/a>. For <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/cooperation\/\">Cooperation requests<\/a> I am available at any time.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"background: linear-gradient(135deg, #518C9C 0%, #3a6f7d 100%); border-radius: 12px; padding: 24px; margin: 32px 0; color: white;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px 0; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold;\">About the author<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0; font-size:15px; line-height:1.6;\">Max Haase is Germany&#039;s most influential travel influencer with over 4.2 million followers. He travels the world with a drone and camera and shares his honest experiences on this blog. For collaboration inquiries: <a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/cooperation\/\" style=\"color:#e8a87c;\">max-haase.com\/collaboration<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--themify_builder_content--><\/p>\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-2834\" data-postid=\"2834\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-2834 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<p><!--\/themify_builder_content--><\/p>\n<ul class=\"mh-related-links\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/learn-to-dive-travel-experiences\/\">Learning to dive while traveling \u2014 My experiences<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"mh-author-bio\">\n<div class=\"mh-ab-inner\">\n<div class=\"mh-ab-imgwrap\">\n<div class=\"mh-ab-img skip-lazy no-lazyload\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Max Haase Travel Creator\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-ab-body\">\n<span class=\"mh-ab-label\">About the author<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mh-ab-name\">Max Haase<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mh-ab-role\">Travel Content Creator \u00b7 Drone Photographer \u00b7 Visual Storyteller<\/p>\n<p class=\"mh-ab-text\">Since over <strong>10 years<\/strong> professional travel creator with over <strong>4.2 million followers<\/strong> On Instagram and YouTube. Specializing in high-end tourism board collaborations, luxury hotel campaigns, and drone photography from 82+ countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mh-ab-stats\">\n<div class=\"mh-ab-stat\"><span class=\"mh-ab-sn\">4.2M+<\/span><span class=\"mh-ab-sl\">Followers<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-ab-stat\"><span class=\"mh-ab-sn\">82+<\/span><span class=\"mh-ab-sl\">Countries<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-ab-stat\"><span class=\"mh-ab-sn\">500+<\/span><span class=\"mh-ab-sl\">Cooperations<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"mh-ab-stat\"><span class=\"mh-ab-sn\">10+<\/span><span class=\"mh-ab-sl\">Years<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--themify_builder_content--><\/p>\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-2834\" data-postid=\"2834\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-2834 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<p><!--\/themify_builder_content--><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn to sail in 2026: The honest way to get your sailing license (RYA, SBF) with basics, nautical knots and exam question tips from personal experience.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,36,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europa","category-segeln","category-travel","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2834"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8101,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2834\/revisions\/8101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}