The Expat’s Guide to Sailing Licenses: SBF See vs. IYT

Living in Bavaria often means falling in love with the lakes and the idea of summer sailing. However, for the international community in Munich, this dream frequently hits a bureaucratic wall: the Sportbootführerschein (SBF).

The SBF is a solid license, but obtaining it requires navigating complex technical exams in German. Many of my students come to me frustrated, believing this is their only path to captaining a boat.

Here is the truth: unless you plan to own a motorboat on Lake Starnberg, you likely do not need it.

For those looking to charter yachts in Croatia, Greece, or the Caribbean, the International Yacht Training (IYT) certification is often the superior choice. Unlike the localized German license, the IYT is designed specifically for international waters. It is a gold standard for charter companies worldwide.

At Sailing Munich, we focus on the IYT International Bareboat Skipper certification. The advantages for expats are clear:

1. The Language Barrier The entire IYT curriculum is in English. You learn the universal language of the sea, not localized terminology that you will struggle to translate when renting a boat in Split or Athens.

2. Real Ocean Experience We teach you on the ocean, in real conditions. You learn to handle a 45-foot catamaran or a 50-foot monohull in Croatia, rather than just maneuvering a small electric boat on a calm lake for 15 minutes.

3. Global Recognition An IYT license is accepted by major charter fleets globally. It proves you have actual command experience, not just theoretical knowledge.

If your goal is to spend your summers navigating the Adriatic or the Aegean, do not let a German theory exam stop you. We can take you from a complete beginner to a confident, certified skipper, entirely in English.

Fair winds,

Leo Cunha