How to Get a Sailing Licence in Greece: A Complete Guide for 2026

Greece is one of the world’s great sailing destinations. With thousands of islands, an extensive coastline and a wide variety of sailing conditions, it is also an exceptional place to learn how to sail.

If you want to move from being a crew member to taking responsibility for a sailing yacht yourself, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is:

How do I get a sailing licence in Greece?

The answer is not simply about obtaining a certificate.

Becoming a skipper means learning how to handle a yacht safely, navigate, anchor, manoeuvre in a marina, understand weather conditions, manage a crew and respond effectively when something unexpected happens at sea.

This guide explains how sailing training and skipper certification work in Greece, what you should expect from a sailing course, the difference between a sailing certificate and a Greek speedboat licence, and what to consider if your goal is to charter and skipper a yacht.

What Is a Sailing Licence in Greece?

You will often hear several expressions used:

• sailing licence
• sailing certificate
• skipper licence
• skipper certificate

In the Greek sailing-school environment, recognised nautical and sailing clubs operate offshore sailing schools and may award successful graduates a Sailing Yacht Skipper Certificate (Δίπλωμα Κυβερνήτη Ιστιοφόρου Σκάφους) following completion of the applicable training and assessment requirements.

The Hellenic Sailing Federation (EIO – Ελληνική Ιστιοπλοϊκή Ομοσπονδία), for example, publishes information about Offshore Sailing Schools operated by recognised nautical clubs. This is an important distinction because sailing education in Greece is closely connected with the established system of recognised sailing and nautical clubs.

Sailing Certificate vs Speedboat Licence

They are different qualifications and should not be confused.

A Sailing Yacht Skipper Certificate relates to sailing and the knowledge and competence required to skipper a sailing yacht.

The Greek Speedboat Operator Licence (Άδεια Χειριστή Ταχυπλόου Σκάφους) is a separate licence administered through the Greek maritime authorities (coast guard).

Another important point is that not every motorboat is automatically classified as a speedboat under Greek regulations. The legal classification depends on factors including construction, hull type, propulsion and engine power.

When Is a Speedboat Licence Required?

The legal classification of a vessel cannot always be determined from horsepower alone. Different thresholds may apply depending on the vessel’s design, propulsion and other characteristics.

A Jet Ski / Personal Watercraft (PWC) is specifically treated as a speedboat under the applicable regulations.

In simple terms:

Sailing Yacht Skipper Certificate → qualification related to skippering a sailing yacht

Speedboat Operator Licence → separate licence for craft legally classified as speedboats

One should not automatically be considered a substitute for the other.

How Do You Get a Sailing Licence in Greece?

Although programmes can differ between sailing schools and nautical clubs, proper offshore sailing education combines two essential elements:

Theory + Practical Training

At Sailing Compass, our Offshore Sailing Certification Course consists of:

8 Theory Sessions + 8 Practical Sailing Sessions

Students first develop the necessary knowledge and then apply it onboard in real sailing conditions.

Training covers the essential areas required to begin developing as a skipper:

Understanding the Yacht

Students become familiar with yacht anatomy and terminology, rigging, sails and sail controls, steering, deck equipment, safety equipment and onboard systems.

Sail Handling

Practical training develops an understanding of sail trim, points of sail, steering, tacking, gybing, reefing and adapting the yacht to changing conditions.

Anchoring & Mooring

For anyone planning to sail independently in Greece, anchoring and Mediterranean mooring are essential skills. Training includes selecting an anchorage, anchor scope, setting and checking the anchor, marina manoeuvres and stern-to mooring.

Navigation & COLREGs

Students learn the fundamentals of nautical charts, position fixing, bearings, course and passage planning, electronic navigation and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).

Safety & Man Overboard

Training also covers personal safety, emergency procedures, safety equipment, crew organisation and Man Overboard procedures.

Night Sailing

Sailing after sunset introduces students to navigation lights, reduced visibility, watchkeeping and navigation with fewer visual references.

The objective is not simply to memorise information for an examination.

It is to understand how to make safe decisions at sea.

The Sailing Compass Certification Pathway

At Sailing Compass, offshore sailing education combines structured theoretical learning with extensive hands-on training onboard real sailing yachts.

Training is led by Lefteris Amoiralis, Certified Sailing Coach and Sailing Instructor, with more than two decades of sailing experience.

For students following the certification pathway, Sailing Compass cooperates with nautical clubs for the applicable certification process.

Following successful completion of the required training and assessment process, the applicable Sailing Yacht Skipper Certificate is issued through the cooperating nautical club.

The distinction is simple:

Sailing Compass provides the structured training. The cooperating nautical club is responsible for the applicable certification process and issuance of the certificate.

But our objective goes beyond obtaining a certificate.

The real goal is to develop the skills, judgement and confidence required to take responsibility for a sailing yacht and its crew.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Sailing Certificate?

At Sailing Compass, the standard Offshore Sailing Certification Course takes approximately two months.

The programme combines: 8 theory sessions + 8 practical sessions

A more intensive Fast Track format may also be available, allowing the programme to be completed in approximately one month.

But speed should not be the primary objective.

Sailing is a practical skill.

Time onboard, repetition and exposure to different situations are essential parts of learning.

Can You Charter a Yacht After Getting Your Sailing Certificate?

For many students, this is one of the main reasons for completing offshore sailing training.

However, holding a certificate and being genuinely ready to take command of a charter yacht are not necessarily the same thing.

A charter operator may need to verify that the qualification presented is appropriate and acceptable for the intended charter. Depending on the circumstances and applicable requirements, evidence of sailing experience or another competent crew member may also be requested.

Requirements and certificate acceptance can vary and may change.

For this reason, always confirm the requirements for your particular yacht, destination and charter company before booking.

What About the Number of People Onboard?

The Sailing Yacht Skipper Certificate itself does not establish a universal maximum number of people that the holder may carry.

The permitted number of persons onboard depends primarily on the particular vessel, its approved carrying capacity and certification, its type of operation and the applicable maritime regulations.

In simple terms:

Skipper qualification → whether you are appropriately qualified to command the yacht.

Vessel certification → how many persons that particular yacht is permitted to carry.

These are two separate issues.

A Sailing Certificate Is Only the Beginning

There is a major difference between:

having a sailing certificate

and

feeling confident taking responsibility for a yacht and its crew.

Imagine approaching an unfamiliar marina with a crosswind.

Anchoring in a crowded bay.

Deciding whether the forecast makes your planned passage sensible.

Responding to a Man Overboard situation.

Or discovering that conditions are considerably stronger than expected.

These situations cannot be solved simply by showing a certificate.

They require knowledge, practice, judgement and experience.

That is why our philosophy at Sailing Compass is:

Learn. Train. Sail with Confidence.

A sailing certificate should be the result of competence — not the objective itself.

Already Have a Sailing Licence but Don’t Feel Ready?

This is more common than many sailors expect.

Some obtained their qualification several years ago and have had limited opportunities to practise. Others have considerable experience as crew but have rarely taken responsibility as skipper.

In these situations, completing another full certification course may not be necessary.

Our Private Sailing Training can focus specifically on:

• marina manoeuvres
• anchoring
• Mediterranean mooring
• sail handling
• navigation
• Man Overboard procedures
• skipper decision-making
• confidence taking command

→ Explore Private Sailing Training

Preparing for Your First Bareboat Charter?

Having a certificate is one thing.

Taking responsibility for an unfamiliar charter yacht, often in an unfamiliar destination, is another.

Our Charter Preparation Training is designed for sailors who already have sailing knowledge or certification but want practical preparation before their next charter.

Training can focus on yacht familiarisation and check-in, marina manoeuvres, anchoring, Mediterranean mooring, passage planning, crew organisation and practical skipper decision-making.

The objective is straightforward:

Arrive at your charter better prepared and more confident.

→ Explore Charter Preparation

Can You Learn Sailing Online?

You can learn a significant amount of sailing theory online — but online education should complement, not replace, practical experience at sea.

This is why we created the Sailing Compass Academy.

Instead of learning only through conventional text and diagrams, students can explore a real sailing yacht in an interactive 3D environment, supported by practical instructional videos and hundreds of interactive learning points.

This allows you to become familiar with equipment, terminology, systems and procedures before stepping onboard.

Learn online. Practise onboard. Build real experience.

→ Explore Sailing Compass Academy

Is a Greek Sailing Certificate Automatically Accepted Abroad?

A sailing certificate issued through our certification pathway can be used in EU countries and in other countries that recognise European sailing qualifications, subject to the requirements applicable in the country where you intend to sail.

Within Europe, Greek sailing qualifications are commonly used by sailors chartering yachts in other EU destinations. However, requirements can vary depending on the country, the type and size of yacht, and whether the yacht is privately operated or chartered.

Outside the European Union, a number of countries and charter operators also recognise European sailing qualifications, but acceptance should always be confirmed before booking.

If you are planning to charter abroad, we recommend checking:

1. the requirements of the country where you intend to sail,
2. the requirements applicable to the particular yacht and type of operation, and
3. acceptance of your certificate by the charter company.

In practice, always send a copy of your certificate to the charter company before confirming an international bareboat charter.

Why Learn to Sail in Athens?

Athens provides an excellent environment for offshore sailing education.

From our base in Alimos Marina, students can experience many of the situations they may later encounter while cruising in Greece:

• busy marina environments
• coastal navigation
• changing wind conditions
• anchoring
• Mediterranean mooring
• commercial traffic
• open-water sailing
• day and night navigation

With the Saronic Gulf immediately accessible, theoretical concepts can quickly become practical experience.

Ready to Get Your Sailing Certificate in Athens?

If your goal is to become a competent, responsible and confident skipper, the quality of your training and the experience you gain onboard matter far more than simply collecting a certificate.

At Sailing Compass, our Offshore Sailing Certification Course combines structured theory, practical training and a certification pathway in cooperation with nautical clubs.

Learn the theory. Practise on the water. Build real skills. Sail with confidence.

EXPLORE THE CERTIFICATION COURSE

Already qualified?
PRIVATE SAILING TRAINING

Preparing for a bareboat charter?
CHARTER PREPARATION

Prefer to start learning online?
EXPLORE THE ACADEMY

About the Author

Lefteris Amoiralis

Certified Sailing Coach · Sailing Instructor · Engineer · Educator

Lefteris Amoiralis is a certified sailing coach and sailing instructor with more than two decades of sailing experience.

Through Sailing Compass, he combines professional onboard training with modern digital sailing education, with a strong emphasis on practical seamanship, safety and skipper confidence.

→ Meet the Instructor

Official Sources & Further Information

This guide has been prepared with reference to official Greek institutional and maritime sources.

Hellenic Sailing Federation (EIO)
Information concerning Offshore Sailing Schools and the issuance of skipper certification through recognised nautical clubs.

Greek Ministry of Sports
Official information concerning professional sports coaches, coaching schools and the national sports framework.

Hellenic Coast Guard / Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy
General Port Regulation No. 20 — legal provisions concerning speedboats and recreational craft.

Gov.gr / Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy
Official administrative information concerning the Greek Speedboat Operator Licence.

Law 4926/2022 — Government Gazette A’ 82/20.04.2022
Greek legislative framework concerning recreational vessels, professional recreational vessels and yacht charter activities.

Important Note

Regulations, qualification requirements and certificate acceptance may change. Before relying on a particular certificate for a specific yacht, charter or other legal purpose, always verify the current requirements with the competent Greek authority, the issuing nautical club and, where applicable, the charter operator.