US Sailors' Guide to Chartering in Europe

Chartering in the Mediterranean is one of the world's great sailing experiences — and it's well within reach for American sailors. The three things to sort before you go are the right sailing qualification, your flights, and Europe's entry requirements. Here's how each works for US travellers, and how we make the whole thing simple.

Do I need a sailing licence?

In the US you can charter without a formal licence, but most European countries require a recognised sailing qualification for a bareboat charter. The important thing to know: your US domestic certifications aren't automatically recognised in Europe. The document charter bases look for is the ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or an accepted equivalent.

There's a catch — the United States isn't part of the international agreement behind the ICC, so you can't have an ICC issued in the US. Fortunately there are a few straightforward routes:

US Sailing IPC

If you've completed US Sailing's Bareboat Cruising course, you can obtain the International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) — created specifically so US sailors can bareboat charter in EU waters. Widely accepted.

Convert to an ICC

Holders of ASA or US Sailing certificates can convert to an ICC through an RYA- or IYT-affiliated school (some offer it largely online). Allow roughly 4–8 weeks, so start early.

Bring a sailing résumé

Charter companies also ask for a short sailing CV — the boats you've handled, their size, where and how recently. We'll tell you exactly what to include.

Or take a skipper

No qualification needed at all. A professional skipper handles the boat and all the paperwork — comfortably the easiest option for a first European charter.

Already ASA-certified? If you hold ASA 104 (Bareboat), 106 (Advanced Coastal) or 108 (Offshore) — or US Sailing's Bareboat Cruising — you're in good shape to get the IPC or convert to an ICC. Send us a photo of your certificates and we'll tell you what you need.

What each country accepts

Country	What's required for bareboat
Greece	An ICC or accepted equivalent (e.g. IPC), plus a second experienced crew member aboard, both aged 18+.
Croatia	A recognised sailing licence (ICC / RYA Day Skipper / US Sailing IPC / equivalent) plus a marine VHF radio operator's certificate (US sailors: the FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit).
Spain (Balearics)	An ICC or accepted equivalent; a sailing résumé is usually requested too.
Italy (Sardinia, Sicily)	An ICC or equivalent — straightforward with a valid qualification.

Don't forget the VHF licence: Croatia (and some other bases) require a separate marine VHF radio operator's certificate as well as your sailing qualification. For US sailors, the equivalent is the FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit — a lifetime permit with no exam. It's easy to overlook, so we'll flag exactly what your boat and country need before you commit.

Getting there — flights from the US

The Mediterranean is very well connected to the United States, especially through the summer sailing season. Here's how to reach the main charter gateways:

Charter gateway	Getting there from the US
Athens (ATH) — Greece	Seasonal nonstops from New York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dallas and Washington (American, Delta, United, Norse). The hub for Ionian, Saronic and Cyclades charters.
Split (SPU) — Croatia	New for 2026: United launches the first-ever nonstop US–Split service from New York/Newark (from late April). Otherwise one stop via a European hub.
Dubrovnik (DBV) — Croatia	United seasonal nonstop from New York/Newark; otherwise one stop via a European hub.
Palma de Mallorca (PMI) — Spain	United nonstop from New York/Newark (the only US nonstop); otherwise via Madrid or Barcelona.
Sardinia (Olbia) & Sicily	Connect via Rome, Milan or another European hub, then a short onward hop.
Lefkas · Corfu · Zadar	Fly into Athens or a major EU hub, then a short connecting flight or transfer to base.

Arrive a day early. Most charter bases are 20–40 minutes from the nearest airport, and the Med is 6–10 hours ahead of US time zones. Landing the day before you board shakes off the jet lag and protects you against flight delays — you don't want to miss your Saturday check-in.

Entry requirements for US citizens

US passport holders can currently travel to Europe for tourism for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. A few things to keep in mind:

Passport

Valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from Europe, and issued within the previous 10 years.

ETIAS (from late 2026)

Europe is introducing ETIAS — a quick online travel authorisation (a few minutes to complete, a small fee, valid around three years). It's expected to launch in late 2026 with a transitional grace period, then become mandatory. Check the official EU source before you travel.

The 90/180 rule

Your total time across the Schengen area — which now includes Croatia — can't exceed 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

ETIAS isn't live yet: it's an online authorisation, not a visa, and its start date has moved before. We'll always point you to the official EU government source so you have the current rules in hand before you book flights.

A few practical tips

Aim for the May–October season, with June and September the sweet spot for warm weather and fewer crowds. Bareboat weeks almost always run Saturday to Saturday. The euro is used across Greece, Croatia, Spain and Italy, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. And if in any doubt about qualifications, a skippered charter removes the question entirely — you just turn up and sail.

We handle the details. Tell us your experience and where you'd like to sail, and we'll confirm exactly which qualification you need, suggest the best base and flights from your city, and match you to the right yacht — bareboat or skippered. Requirements do change, so we always verify the current rules for your specific boat and country.

Frequently asked questions

Not directly in most European countries — US domestic certifications aren't automatically recognised. The usual routes are to obtain US Sailing's International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) or convert your certificate to an ICC. Alternatively, book a skippered charter, which needs no licence at all.

The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is the standard proof of competence European charter bases accept. The US isn't part of the ICC scheme, so it can't be issued in the US — but you can obtain one through an RYA- or IYT-affiliated school, or use US Sailing's IPC instead, which serves the same purpose in EU waters.

Greece requires a recognised certificate (ICC or equivalent) plus a second experienced crew member aboard. Croatia requires a sailing certificate plus a marine VHF radio operator's licence — for US sailors that's the FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit. Spain and Italy are more straightforward but still want a valid qualification and a résumé. We'll confirm what your specific base needs.

Not currently for tourist stays under 90 days in any 180-day period. Europe is introducing ETIAS — a quick online travel authorisation, not a visa — expected from late 2026. Always check the official EU source for the latest before you travel, as the timing has shifted before.

Book a skippered charter. A professional skipper handles the boat and all the local paperwork, so no qualification is required — it's the easiest way to enjoy a first Mediterranean charter, and you'll pick up plenty from an experienced local skipper along the way.

The US sailors' guide to chartering in Europe