Which licence do you need to charter a yacht in Turkey?
Which licences we accept for bareboat charter in Turkey, how we check yours, and how to sail from Fethiye with one of our skippers if nobody aboard holds one.
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- Joy Yachting
Planning to charter a yacht in Turkey and sail her yourself? Then the skipper needs a licence that is accepted for charter in Turkey: our yachts are registered under the Turkish flag.
Our sailing yachts and catamarans are based at Ece Marina in Fethiye, and each can be chartered bareboat or with one of our skippers. Below: which documents may qualify, how we check the skipper's qualifications, and what to do if nobody aboard holds a licence.
Do you need a licence to charter a yacht in Turkey?
Yes, if you charter without a skipper and sail the yacht yourself. The skipper then needs a valid licence or certificate that suits the chosen yacht and is accepted for charter in Turkey. The rest of the crew need none.
If nobody in your group holds one, you do not have to give up a week afloat: the same yacht can be chartered with one of our skippers.
Which licences work for bareboat charter?
For bareboat charter of our yachts we accept these international certificates:
- ICC (International Certificate of Competence)
- RYA Day Skipper (Practical) or higher
- IYT Bareboat Skipper or higher
- ISSA Inshore Skipper or higher
A certificate alone does not clear you for a particular yacht: we also look at her type and size, your qualifications and your experience. The skipper also needs a VHF radio certificate (SRC or equivalent). Even if your documents look complete, write to us before you book: we will check them against the yacht you have in mind.
Will a national licence do?
We also accept the Russian GIMS licence, and we look at other national licences case by case. Send us a copy with your enquiry and we will tell you, before your booking is confirmed, whether it works for the yacht you have in mind.
Why experience matters as much as the licence
A certificate shows that you have trained, but sailing on your own along the Turkish coast also takes practice. You should be confident:
- mooring stern-to
- anchoring in a bay
- picking up a mooring buoy
- manoeuvring in a marina and in tight spaces
In the Gulf of Göcek, one of the most popular sailing areas near Fethiye, many bays have mooring buoys. How to use them is on our Göcek page.
If at check-in it turns out that the skipper lacks the experience to handle the yacht safely, we can ask you to take one of our skippers, paid separately at the skipper's day rate.
How Joy Yachting checks the skipper's licence
We check documents in advance, so the first day of your charter holds no unpleasant surprises.
- When you enquire. You tell us whether you hold a licence, and we confirm in our reply whether you can take the chosen yacht bareboat.
- After booking. You upload a copy of the skipper's licence to your account, and we check it before departure.
- On the day you board. At check-in at Ece Marina in Fethiye, the skipper shows the original.
If you hold a national licence rather than an international certificate, send it as early as you can.
Can you charter a yacht in Turkey without a licence?
Yes: charter with a skipper. The skipper takes care of handling, mooring and navigation while you rest, swim and explore the bays of the Turkish coast. You plan the route together, with the weather and your wishes in mind.
A skipper costs €175 a day plus the skipper's meals. It suits a first sailing holiday, a family, or anyone who would rather not handle the yacht themselves. More on skippered charter.
What else to know before you charter
Cruising area
Our yachts sail in Turkish waters only: crossing to the Greek islands is not allowed.
Refundable security deposit
A refundable security deposit is paid at check-in:
- catamarans: €2,000
- sailing yachts: €1,500
It can be paid in cash or as a card authorisation, and it is returned when the yacht comes back on time, undamaged and in line with the charter agreement.
Choosing a yacht
Our fleet has four yachts, two sailing yachts and two catamarans, and each can be chartered bareboat or with a skipper. Compare them on our fleet page.
Ready to sail from Fethiye?
Hold a licence and some experience of sailing on your own? See how bareboat charter works with us. Not sure your certificate fits? Write to us with a copy and your dates, and we will check it and help you choose a yacht.
