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SKS Training Cruise in the Mediterranean – Sailing Along with sailwithus
Become Your Own Skipper and Get Your Worldwide License!
Why Get an SKS License? To live your dream, charter and skipper yachts all around the world: Join our SKS cruise and earn your official boating license! We’ll teach you everything you need in theory and practice – in a great mix of learning, fun, and relaxation – a sailing holiday with an educational twist.
What our customers say
Possible SKS Countries
Croatia
Nature
Culture
Harbour/Bay
If you’re looking for “fun and relaxation,” a sailing holiday in Croatia is the perfect choice. Along the islands of Central Dalmatia, you’ll experience an unbeatable mix of idyllic nature, dreamy bays, and vibrant party and harbour life.
Spain
Nature
Culture
Harbour/Bay
Explore Spain’s sailing paradises – from Mallorca’s hidden bays to the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands! Discover turquoise waters, golden beaches, and Mediterranean flair.
Our SKS Training Cruise: Take a Look at the Maneuver Training!
A Few Words in Advance.
Whether you want to steer a yacht yourself on vacation or become a skipper in our crew – our SKS training cruise gives you the license to do so! With sailwithus, you’ll take the practical exams for the SKS (Sport Coastal Skipper License). This official, internationally recognized boating license allows you to operate motor and sailing yachts in coastal waters (up to 12 nautical miles from the mainland).
At a Glance.
Experience an educational training week with the SKS cruise from sailwithus, including the SKS practical exam in the sailing areas of Croatia, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), or the Canary Islands. Over the week, you’ll calmly acquire all the skills needed for the Sport Coastal Skipper License, enabling you to charter and skipper yachts independently worldwide in the future.
Everything fits.
As a crew, you’ll experience a week of personalized training together. Usually, there are only 6 trainees plus the skipper on board, leaving plenty of time for everyone to practice at a relaxed pace! The climate and scenery in Spain or Croatia also impress: consistent weather, good winds, and a variety of mooring options provide ideal conditions for practicing different exercises and maneuvers. You’ll learn the mandatory tasks hands-on and gain insider knowledge that you can put to good use in the future.
By the way: sailwithus also organizes individual training cruises for private groups in the Mediterranean. Feel free to contact our customer management team for a personalized offer.
Perfect Mix.
What makes the SKS training cruise with sailwithus special is the little extra touch. We love sharing our tips and experiences and guiding you to beautiful spots in the sailing areas. That’s not all. The mix of training, learning, and a relaxed break with your crew is sure to appeal to you. Collecting real insider knowledge has never been easier!
If you want to gain even more knowledge beforehand, you can also accumulate sea miles and experience on one of our sailing trips to excel in the SKS! Book your Mediterranean sailing adventure now!
Learning Content.
Here’s what you’ll learn and practice on our SKS training cruise:
- Docking and Undocking Under Power
- Stopping and Turning Under Power in a Confined Space
- Navigation by Compass and Sea Marks, as Well as Terrestrial and Electronic Positioning
- Meteorology
- Course Sailing: Upwind/Beam Reach/Downwind, Tacking and Gybing
- Man Overboard Maneuvers Under Sail and Power
- Use of Knots and Lines
- Technical Instruction on Gas Systems, Electrical Systems, and Engine
Exam in Sight.
You can register for the practical exam at any time – even if you haven’t completed the theory exam yet. The only important thing is that your exam registration reaches the examination office at least two weeks before your practical exam date.
Practical First, Then Theory? The choice is yours! However, we recommend completing the theory first and not waiting more than 24 months between the exams. The reason: the practical exam also includes theoretical questions on topics such as meteorology, navigation, engine, electrical systems, or gas systems.
What Awaits You in the Theory Exam
You take the theory exam at an examination center near you. The exam is divided into two parts. In the first part, you answer around 30 written questions (open-ended, no multiple choice; there are approximately 500 theory questions across 15 possible question sets). In the second part, you complete a navigation task (one of ten possible chart exercises with about 18 sub-questions). By the way, you can take or retake both parts independently of each other.
Here’s How the Practical Exam Works
On our SKS training cruise, an experienced skipper will guide and train you around the clock. While sailing, you’ll learn new maneuvers every day, and in the evenings, for example during a relaxed dinner, you’ll review some theory questions together. This way, you’ll be perfectly prepared for the question section, which can also be part of the practical exam. The practical exam takes place on the second-to-last or last day of your cruise. For this, the examiner boards the yacht at the final port – in Mallorca, the Canary Islands, Trogir, or Pula. If you do not wish to take the exam, please mention this briefly during the booking process.
Don’t Have a SBF-See Yet?
The Sport Boat License for Sea (SBF-See) is a necessary prerequisite for later taking the SKS and confidently navigating coastal waters. With SegelnAG, you’ll not only learn the theory but also experience the maritime adventure up close. 🧭🌊
Start Your Sailing Journey Now – Book Your SBF-See and Become Part of the sailwithus Crew Afterwards! 🛟
Don’t Have a Logbook Yet? Get Yours Here!
Do you want to log your sea miles while keeping the memories of your cruise? You need to document and verify your miles to be able to earn sailing licenses yourself.
The sailwithus logbooks are the perfect solution! Take a look at our Crewshop! There, you’ll find not only your personal logbook but also many other cool products for true crew members and water sports enthusiasts.
Whether it’s stylish fleece jackets for cool evenings on deck, practical crew bottles & mugs for on the go, or even your own stand-up paddleboard – the Crewshop has something for everyone.
SKS Training Cruise – These are the requirements:
SKS Training Cruise – Requirements for the Exam:
Studying for a license is one thing. But with sailwithus, it’s much more than just earning a sailing certificate. You’re out there with people who think like you. You’re all hungry for the sea and share your passion for sailing on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Your crew is young and diverse, including sailing beginners.
For the SKS training cruise, you bring with you:
- Enjoying sailing to the fullest.
- Minimum age of 18 years
- a SBF-See (Sport Boat License – Sea)
- Sailing experience of at least 200 nautical miles on yachts in coastal waters (300 NM required for the exam).
- You can’t avoid the SBF-See. You need it to operate motorboats with more than 15 HP. This is legally required. You can obtain the SBF for both sea waters and inland waterways. Our Tip: Once you’ve completed the practical exam for the SBF-See, you only need to take the theory exam for the SBF-Binnen. This saves you time and the fees for the practical exam! However, you only need the SBF-Binnen if you plan to navigate on German inland waterways.
- Don’t Have an SBF-See Yet?
- Arrival and Start of the Sailing Trips: You arrive at the marina on Saturdays between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
- Rückkehr: Dein einwöchiger SKS-Ausbildungstörn endet freitags zwischen 15 und 18 Uhr am Starthafen.
- You sleep on the yacht and leave it on Saturday at 9 a.m. By then, you’ll have completed the practical exam.
- Food and drinks are provided on board. Before departure, you’ll do the shopping together. The yacht’s kitchen is also well equipped.
Registration specifically for this training cruise:
Get Your SKS License with Us and Enjoy a Wonderful and Relaxed Week with Our Crew. We look forward to welcoming you on board our training cruises soon. Why else get the SKS license? Who knows, maybe you’ll join our team as a skipper afterwards. Either way, as soon as you register, we’ll take care of securing your spot for the practical exam.
For Your Registration, You Need the Following Documents:
- Application for Admission
- Copy of the Sport Boat License with the Sea Waterways Validity (the original must be presented on the exam day)
- Sea Mile Certificate (at least 200; you’ll reach the total required 300 through our training cruise)
- Current Passport Photo (35 mm x 45 mm; no headwear)
Sport Coastal Skipper License (SKS) Gallery
SKS Crewing – This Is Included in Your Yacht Charter:
You’re traveling with like-minded people because you all share one thing: the dream of a sailing holiday in the Mediterranean. Your crew is young and a lively mix of complete beginners and experienced sailors. What matters most to you is simple, stress-free planning and preparation.
On sailwithus sailing trips you are always traveling sustainably. We encourage our fellow sailors to do a beach clean up once on every trip so that we can do our bit to preserve the beautiful areas in which we sail. Join us and experience your dream vacation without a guilty conscience. If you want more information about sustainability with us, click here.
Sailing is comparable to camping on the water and therefore not a typical luxury holiday. From time to time, there may be minor inconveniences that are simply part of the adventure.
What is not included?
Example yacht
Learn more about the SKS training cruise
SKS Training Cruise – Our Exam Locations
On our sailing trips, we are often asked: How do I get sailing training? What’s the best way to approach the exam to successfully obtain the SKS, the Sport Coastal Skipper License? And is one week on board a yacht with a skipper and crew enough to practice the maneuvers? With sailwithus, you can make your SKS training cruise an unforgettable experience!
Our Advantages: With sailwithus, you can perfectly combine theory at home with practical experience and take your exam at the end of the trip in the Mediterranean, in Pula and Trogir in Croatia, as well as in Mallorca.
With a small group, we can be extremely flexible and arrange this for you: If you book an entire yacht with a skipper for a small sailing crew, we can basically organize an SKS course for you anywhere.
SKS sailing trip with holiday vibes
Usually, we start the trip from Pula/Istria/Croatia or from Trogir, the beautiful town on the Adriatic, and sail southwards towards Mallorca. Your practical SKS training is conducted with well-qualified skippers, who gladly combine holiday vibes under the sun with maneuver training. In short, sailwithus training trips are all about practicing maneuvers while having fun. The SKS is much more than just an official license to operate yachts under sail and motor in coastal waters. With the SKS practical exam, you open a new door to the future, as you’ll then be able to explore the coasts of the Mediterranean with your own yacht.
This way to the practical leg of your sailing training.
The path to the Sport Coastal Skipper License (SKS) is legally regulated: first, you need the SBF-Binnen license for sail and motor as well as the SBF-See license for motor. Then comes the SKS practical exam: at least 300 miles of sailing experience, which is equivalent to two weeks of crewing. Of course, you don’t do this practical preparation only during the exam week.
We recommend this to every one of our participants. Once your registration for your exam cruise is set, it’s all about the fine-tuning. On the yacht charter, the focus is on learning and practicing maneuver training intensively. Sailing maneuvers are the absolute basics for any sailor. You need to master the correct techniques in both theory and practice by heart, whether it’s man overboard, tacking, jibing, or rescue maneuvers under sail.
Thursday or Friday is the exam day.
Theory and practice for the SKS Sport Coastal Skipper License are applied and practiced on Thursdays and Fridays, at the end of the week – these are the exam days. The German Sailing Association (DSV) sets the requirements: You must be at least 16 years old, hold an SBF-See license, and have logged 300 sea miles on yachts with the respective type of propulsion in coastal waters. The exam itself consists of a theory part (completed in writing) and a practical exercise. Both parts of the exam must be completed within 24 months.
As you can see from the structure of the SKS theory and practical exam, it’s not just about obtaining a license but gaining experience. On a sailing trip with sailwithus, you can gain this experience and learn from other sailors. While we can only influence the exam to a certain extent, since it is administered by the examination board, we can train you as best as possible for the practical exam in our small sailing groups with experienced participants.
SKS – Sport Coastal Skipper License completed. Now what?
Basically, getting a sailing license is similar to getting a driver’s license. If you’ve just turned 18 and hold it for the first time, you wouldn’t immediately drive all the way to Paris or Rome. On the contrary, you first gain experience in your local area and familiar surroundings. Out at sea, it’s different—there’s no hopping on a bus if something goes wrong.
Practice and experience are therefore the be-all and end-all in sailing. That’s why we always recommend not to charter on your own immediately after getting your SKS, no matter how tempting it may be. It’s better to sail for another two to three weeks with experienced sailors. Sailwithus is happy to accompany you with its qualified skippers. This provides excellent training in small groups, which we offer you. Let’s check the course dates together!
Practice, practice, and practice again for the practical SKS.
Many of our Mediterranean destinations, such as Sardinia, Mallorca, or the islands in the Adriatic, are excellent for gaining experience and additional sea miles, as well as building more confidence in yacht charter sailing. Some even gain practical exam experience in the Canary Islands or the Caribbean. Why not! At the very least, a sailing trip in the Canaries allows you to complete the training cruise in October or during the winter season. But even in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, you can log sea miles, gain SKS practical experience, and practice important maneuvers on a sailing yacht: tacking, gybing, reefing, man overboard drills, maneuvers under sail or docking under power, using both engine and sail, courses relative to the wind, engine-assisted maneuvers, and so on. There are truly many maneuvers included in an SKS training cruise with sailwithus. With six participants, you’ll practice for the SKS. The skipper will support you in all aspects for at least one week – our recommendation – and prepare you thoroughly for the practical exam.
This is what our sailing school looks like.
We sail about 100 to 150 nautical miles per week together, looking forward to the practical exam as a crew. With an experienced skipper, we navigate our yacht in coastal waters, giving each participant the chance to step into the skipper’s role and independently handle the yacht. Alongside our intensive maneuver training, this is, of course, the best preparation for the SKS practical exam. During the day, we focus on SKS exam preparation, including night sailing. For our training cruises, we always operate in a region that offers the best conditions for SKS practical training. Good to know: sailwithus, with its SKS trips for young sailors, is definitely among the most popular practical training providers.
Looking ahead: Taking the helm of a yacht.
So what do you need the SKS for? To charter yachts! Picture this: a man overboard drill, and imagine you’re a yacht owner sailing with your friends. Lines off and welcome to the club! Many sailing students dream of captaining yachts, and not all of them have had the luck of growing up in a sailing family, learning to sail on trips from a young age. After SKS practical training, this dream becomes achievable: with your SKS license, you can take a sailing yacht along the coast with friends or family and set the sails in coastal waters. Sailwithus prepares you perfectly for it.
Your Path to the SKS
In Germany, there are various licenses required as prerequisites: the SBF-Binnen for sail and motor. This sport boat license for sea and inland waters can already be obtained in Germany at the age of 14. Then there is the SBF-See for motor, the SKS – Sport Coastal Skipper License, the SSS – Sport Sea Skipper License, and the SHS – Sport Offshore Skipper License. As mentioned, the SBF-See forms the basis for the SKS, and in addition, you need 300 sea miles on yachts before you can take the practical exam. Essentially, all these different licenses, issued by the German Sailing Association (DSV – Deutscher Segler Verband) or its examination committee, build on each other. The Sport Coastal Skipper License (SKS) is therefore aimed at more advanced sailors who want to sail seriously or are simply passionate about sailing.
Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
No, you don’t need any prior experience. Our sailing trips are for everyone – whether you’re completely new to sailing or already have some experience. Throughout the week, our skippers will teach you everything you need to know and make sure you’re always safe and well taken care of.
That depends on the type of trip you book. On our Youngline trip, your fellow sailors will be between 18 and 39 years old. On our Forever Young trip, they are between 40 and 59 years old. For our themed and training trips (Green Ahoi, Yoga, SKS), there is no age limit.
All crew members meet on Saturday between 2 and 4 p.m. at the marina. Around 5 p.m., you’ll board the yacht, and after a detailed safety briefing the next morning, you’ll set sail. A later arrival on Saturday evening is theoretically possible, but we don’t recommend it – please coordinate with your fellow crew members via WhatsApp in advance!
Our fellow sailors and skippers come from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), so the main language on board will be German. However, all skippers speak English, and international sailors are very welcome.
On the first day of the sailing trip, cabins will be assigned. The crew and skippers can choose their cabins based on their preferences and needs. Generally, cabins are assigned with gender separation. If you would like to stay with a specific person or prefer not to share a cabin with someone of a different gender, feel free to mention this during booking. We will take your preferences into account.
We sail on modern yachts of various sizes: 3-cabin, 4-cabin, 5-cabin, and 6-cabin yachts. Accordingly, there are between 5 and 12 fellow sailors on board.
