Skipper
A skipper commands the smaller end of the fleet: day boats, sailing yachts and motor yachts up to about 30m. You do the navigating, the engineering, the deck work and often the hosting, sometimes with a mate or cook alongside. For most people it's the first step into command, and the job where you learn every part of a boat because there's nobody to pass problems to.
The jobWhat fills the day
Owners and guests see someone driving the boat, but driving is a small part of the job. You plan passages, read the weather and berth stern-to in tight Mediterranean marinas. You service the generator and outboard, clear customs, keep the logbook and accounts, and look after the safety gear. On a 15m sailing yacht you may be the only crew, alone with the owner's family. On a 28m motor yacht you might lead a mate and a stewardess and manage the running budget for all three.
With guests aboard, the day is built around them: choosing anchorages, running the tender, sorting watersports and, if there's no cook, fitting in meals. You sleep lightly at anchor and get up at 03:00 to check the ground tackle if the wind shifts. Between trips the work is maintenance and admin. Winter on a small boat means antifouling, rig checks, sail repairs, engine services and collecting yard quotes in Palma, Lefkas or Antigua. Many skippers hold the owner's card and need clean, receipted accounts.
Owners and charter firms hire skippers with proven sea miles and calm judgement. The baseline is a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. It covers coded vessels under 24m within 150 miles of a safe haven. Yachtmaster Ocean removes that distance limit. With no engineer aboard, mechanical skill counts heavily. Sailing yachts want strong sail handling and rig knowledge. Couples applying as skipper and cook, or skipper and stewardess, are popular on 18-30m yachts and are often paid well as a package.
Most skippers move up by adding tickets and tonnage. The MCA Master 200gt (Yacht) opens up motor yachts from 24m to about 35m, and Master 500gt takes you further. Some skippers stay small by choice and run a 20m sailing yacht for the same owner for ten years. Others go into delivery work, or join a larger yacht as chief officer to learn big-boat systems before taking command again. A strong engineering record also opens up captain/engineer roles.
Skills captains look for
- Passage planning and pilotage
- Stern-to berthing
- Diesel and outboard maintenance
- Sail handling and rigging
- Guest hosting
- Budgets and receipted accounts
- Customs and port clearance
A day aboardCharter week, 22m sailing yacht, Ionian Islands, Greece
Check the forecast, then do engine checks, bilges and oil, and run the watermaker while the boat is quiet.
Coffee and breakfast in the cockpit with the mate before the guests wake up.
Brief the guests on the day's route, weigh anchor off Fiskardo and set sail for Ithaca.
Anchor in a sheltered bay, run the guests ashore by tender and set up the paddleboards and snorkel kit.
Quick lunch with the mate while the guests swim, keeping an eye on the anchor.
Sail on to Kioni and go stern-to on the town quay in the afternoon maestro. Pay harbour dues and fill the water tanks.
Fix a sticking heads pump, write up the log and file the day's receipts for the charter company.
Guests go ashore for dinner, and the crew eat aboard.
Last check of the anchor chain, the neighbours' lines and the fenders before turning in.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
On charter yachts, tips of 10-15% of the charter fee are shared among a small crew and can add a lot. Freelance and delivery skippers usually earn day rates of USD 250-450 plus flights. See the Captain & Relief Captain salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with commercial endorsement
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- VHF SRC radio licence
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Gets you hired
- RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
- MCA Master 200gt (Yacht)
- AEC (Approved Engine Course)
- PDSD
- Proficiency in Medical First Aid
Visas
- Schengen visa (non-EU nationals)
- US C1/D for Florida and Caribbean crossings
- US B1/B2 for cruising US waters
Where it leadsA typical career path
Captain & Relief Captain jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
What is the difference between a skipper and a captain?
Mostly it's size and paperwork. Skipper usually means the master of a yacht under about 30m, working on Yachtmaster or Master 200gt tickets with little or no crew. Captain usually means larger yachts, higher MCA certificates and a full crew to manage.
Do I need to be a sailor to get skipper jobs?
Not for motor yachts, though many skipper roles are on sailing yachts and catamarans, where real sail handling and rig knowledge are expected. Being able to do both widens your options a lot, especially in Greece, Croatia and the Caribbean.
Which ticket do I need to start?
A commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, plus STCW, ENG1, VHF SRC and Powerboat Level 2, gets you hired on coded boats under 24m. Owners also want to see miles in your logbook and some real engine experience.
Is it lonely running a boat on your own?
It can be, especially out of season on a quiet berth. The upside is full responsibility and a direct relationship with the owner, and plenty of skippers run small yachts as a couple to share the load.