Sailing Courses in Phuket

What an ISSA licence gives you

ISSA is the International Sailing Schools Association. A licence issued by one of its schools is recognised internationally, and it does not expire — you pass the exam once and the certificate stands.

It is also the document charter operators ask for. Before handing over the keys to a bareboat yacht, the operator checks that someone on board can skipper it, and a skipper licence is how you show that.

The certificate states the size of yacht it covers, and that is the limit it gives you. A Boat Master licence covers motorboats up to 12 metres; the Inshore Skipper courses cover the yachts you are likely to charter for a week.

Which course is for you

You have never sailed. Start with ISSA Crew — four days that turn a passenger into useful crew.
You want to skipper a sailing yacht. ISSA Inshore Skipper Sail is the seven-day course that ends in a licence.
You prefer motor yachts. ISSA Inshore Skipper Power is the same qualification for power.
You need a motorboat licence quickly. ISSA Boat Master is 20 hours of online theory plus one day on the water in Phuket.
You just want to try it. Try Sailing is six hours on the water, no commitment beyond the day.

Courses

Skipper

7 days · up to 5 students

ISSA Inshore Skipper Sail

Our main course. Seven days of practice on a yacht, after which you can skipper a sailing yacht yourself.

Who it is for: You want to charter bareboat and be the skipper.

Passage planning, charts, GPS, depth sounder and radar
Tides, currents and basic meteorology
Sail handling: hoisting, reefing, points of sail, tacking and gybing
Boat handling under engine, including tight marina manoeuvres
Official ISSA exam and an internationally recognised licence

€1,590

Skipper

7 days · up to 5 students

ISSA Inshore Skipper Power

The same skipper qualification for motor yachts: seven days, small group, official ISSA exam.

Who it is for: You prefer motor yachts to sail.

Navigation, passage planning and electronic instruments
Handling a motor yacht at speed and at close quarters
Berthing, anchoring and safety drills
Official ISSA exam and an internationally recognised licence

€1,999

Crew

4 days · up to 5 students

ISSA Crew

Four days that turn a passenger into useful crew. Children from 10 are welcome, so families often take it together.

Who it is for: You have never sailed and want to start from the beginning.

Life on board, safety equipment and man-overboard drill
Ropework, winches and deck gear
Helming and trimming under instruction
ISSA Crew certificate

€999

Licence

1 day · up to 3 students

ISSA Boat Master

The fastest route to a motorboat licence: 20 hours of theory online, then a single day of practice in Phuket.

Who it is for: You need a licence for a motorboat up to 12 metres, quickly.

20 hours of online theory you take at your own pace
One day of practice on the water in Phuket
Official exam; candidates from 16 years old
International licence for motorboats up to 12 m
Certificate issued separately for €150, refunded to you as a voucher of the same value

€550

Taster

6 hours · up to 8 students

Try Sailing

Six hours on the water to find out whether sailing is for you, before committing to a full course.

Who it is for: You want to try it once, with the family.

Safety equipment and boat layout
Sails, rigging, points of sail and basic sail handling
Ropework basics
Boats up to 15 m, coastal waters within 5 nm, daylight, moderate conditions
Try Sailing certificate of completion, issued by the school

€250

Chartering bareboat? You will need a licence

93% of the charter deals we list are bareboat — that means you are the skipper, and the operator will ask to see a licence before handing over the keys. Any of the skipper courses above covers that.

See current charter deals →

Questions

Do I need any experience?

No. ISSA Crew and Try Sailing start from nothing at all. The skipper courses assume you are comfortable on a boat, but they teach the navigation and boat handling from the beginning.

What language are the courses taught in?

English — both the teaching and the course materials. The instructors also speak Russian.

How far ahead should I book?

Groups are small — three to eight students depending on the course — so dates fill up. Write to us with the week you have in mind and we will tell you what is still open.

What do I get at the end?

An official ISSA exam and an internationally recognised licence on the skipper and Boat Master courses, an ISSA Crew certificate on the crew course, and a school certificate of completion after Try Sailing. On Boat Master the certificate is issued separately for €150, which comes back to you as a voucher of the same value.

Can children join?

Children from 10 are welcome on ISSA Crew, and families often take it together. Boat Master candidates must be 16 or older.

What happens after the course?

With a skipper licence you can charter a yacht bareboat and sail it yourself. We list discounted charters in Phuket and elsewhere, updated daily — that is what the rest of this site is for.