Our Professional Skipper Course’ is designed to prepare you for a career skippering professionally in Croatia. The program is best suited to individuals who would like to understand and gain knowledge as a skipper. Each step of the program will give you an insight into working in the industry and you can decide on your career choices as you progress. This will also give us an opportunity to build a relationship with you and to advise you on the opportunities we can offer through the course.

Skipper licenses are normally controlled through international agreements. Please check with the country licensing requirements around chartering and working in your country of choice, to see if a Croatian Category C license will be accepted for commercial or charter use. It is likely that commercial endorsements will require additional registration and certification. However the practical elements gained will be invaluable as experience.

Yes - many of our skippers prefer to do the practical elements to see what it is like to be a skipper onboard a yacht before committing to the cost of exams and certifications.

The theory course is provided through our local partner in Split. Please enquire for available course dates as this course is run based on minimum participant numbers.

Customer care and first aid training is a free course provided by Sail Croatia for everyone that works as a skipper. It is needed to give you a clear understanding and to set expectations of customer care and its importance in delivering a sustainable tourism experience. The course is by invitation only and will be given to a small number of successful skippers who will work on our flotilla and private yacht tours.

Yes. We train a number of skippers that go on to work as professional skippers for other companies and as independent skipper contractors each year.

Becoming a Skipper doesn’t discriminate against age, gender or nationality and we see people from many different backgrounds join our programs to become successful Skippers!

Skippers in Croatia are typically paid between €100 - €150 (Euro) per day. Our flotilla skippers are paid €500 - €600 per week, depending on how many seasons experience have been gained and their role.

If you don't already hold an international Skippers license, you are able to complete a practical and theoretical test and obtain a Category C Skippers License in Croatia. This qualification, or an accepted international license, will allow you to skipper a vessel in Croatia.

This practical, hands on course is 10 days long, departing from and ending in Split.

The course will be held at ACI Marina, Split, and check-in will commence at 12pm on day 1.

The course will finish at 8:30am in ACI Split Marina on day 11.

Navigation, safety, sailing, skipper skills, and mechanical troubleshooting.

A Category C Skippers license is required to legally skipper a boat in Croatia. On this license you can skipper any type of boat, and all yachts up to 30 gross tonnes. Some international licenses are also accepted. See the list of valid international skipper licenses, here.

In addition to passing the practical elements of this course, you will also need to obtain a Category C Skippers License. Once you’ve completed both elements, you will be prepared for a career skippering professionally in Croatia, however it does not guarantee a work placement. Find out more information on our Sail to Work Vocational program here.