yacht classes

Crew Training Courses

We offer MCA Master and RYA Yachtmaster courses in Antibes and Palma for those starting in yachting and all the required modules to reach the highest levels of professional yachting.

Superyacht Courses

• Recreational / Superyacht
• Marine Communications (VHF-SRC)

IYT offers courses for the professional superyacht industry from interior and deck crew training to Master 200 Ton Unlimited. Whatever level of training you need we can help you achieve the necessary qualifications and guide you towards a fulfilling career in the industry. Please see the courses page for information about all professional courses and read the general information for Master of Yachts courses below.

Remember, an IYT certificate is a qualification that can be used globally. Unlike other training organisations, IYT insists on an understanding of IALA regulations in areas A & B, weather systems and tidal calculations in the north & southern hemispheres.

• Small Powerboat and Rib Master (MCA Recognised)

• Superyacht Deck Crew Course

• Superyacht Hospitality Training

• Superyacht Chef

STCW Overview

• Master of Yachts Coastal/Mate 200 Tons (Power or Sail)

• Master of Yachts Limited (Power or Sail)

• Master of Yachts Unlimited

• Boat Engineer Course (SCV Code for Vessels Operating in the Caribbean)

• IYT-MSWI BoatMaster Course
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Professional Yacht Crew Training Fort Lauderdale

Stcw 10 training, international convention of standards of training, certification & watch keeping for seafarers the qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships., mca compliance - oow, officer of the watch - yachts up to 3000 gt accreditation is widely recognized by all major yacht regulatory bureaus, insurance companies, as well as charter & management agencies., mca master modules, certificates of competency - 500 - 3000 gt certificates of competency (coc's) are required in order to command vessels up to 500 gt or 3000 gross tons., your career choice stay the course, experienced & knowledgeable yacht training professional yacht training is the only accredited iyt megayacht training provider in florida, marshall islands master & mate, marshall islands 350 gt master & 500 gt mate for the marshall islands 350 gt master & 500 gt mate course you must possess a 200 gt master of yachts or greater., mca officer of the watch, certificates of competency - 500 - 3000 gt training - oow yachts less than 3000 gross tons seven (7) different modules are required for a certificate of competency, +300 google & facebook reviews 5 stars rating - the favorite among crew, yacht crew training for successful careers in yachting, what is stcw training & stcw 10 basic safety.

The International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers defines the training necessary for all persons employed at sea. Starting out requires the completion of basic safety training courses which are compulsory requirements for all yacht crew.

STCW Refresher Program (STCW 10 Refresher / Revalidation)

Have You Satisfied the STCW Five Year Requirement – Providing Evidence You Have Maintained the Required Competence in Basic Training? STCW 10 Refresher / Revalidation entry requirements stipulated that you have previously been issued with a STCW certificate (STCW 95). This course is a requirement of the amended STCW 2010.

On-Line Tacht Crew Training Courses

Professional Yacht Training, Fort Lauderdale offers select on-line training courses through our training partner, VIRSEC. From MCA Approved STCW ISPS Maritime Security trainings to Hostile Environment Awareness & Antiterrorism trainings, VIRSEC’s fully online courses are user-friendly, affordable and easily accessible.

We provide the Fort Lauderdale yacht crew training courses you require for MCA compliance and which are widely accepted for the private and commercial operations of both power & sailing yachts up to 3000 gross tons. The accreditation is widely recognized by all major yacht regulatory bureaus, insurance companies, as well as charter & management agencies.

The mca officer of the watch certificate consists of seven different modules ( oow crew training courses ), these are required to be completed for the mca officer of the watch (yachts less than 3000 gt) certificate of competency and are preparation for the mca oral exam., fort lauderdale yacht crew training school, professional yacht training (pyt usa) offers international yacht training (iyt) for professional and recreational yacht crew. iyt worldwide master of yachts 200gt certificates are mca recognized and essential for working on board a yacht., since its founding in durban, south africa, in the year 2000, pyt has established an enviable reputation and we are delighted to now be able to bring our special approach to the us and offer selected courses in fort lauderdale., pyt reached a milestone in april 2013 when our subsidiary, pyt usa , was granted the license to offer iyt worldwide courses in fort lauderdale , florida thereby allowing us to bring our style of teaching to one of the main centers of the mega yacht industry., yachting careers | yacht jobs, start your yacht crew training in fort lauderdale, florida and work on a yacht, no surprises – no hidden costs.

Your costs are inclusive of exam fees and training boat time.

You receive a commercial-grade certification, not an “endorsed” leisure ticket.

Full MCA approval for 200 ton Masters Certificate.

Fort Lauderdale Training Facilities

Centrally located in the heart of the “yachting capital of the world”.

Within walking distance of crew houses and marinas.

Crew agencies are also just steps away.

Professional & Knowledgeable Staff

Experienced trainers give you the individual attention often lost in bigger classes.

We provide a wide experience of training for all levels of international yachting.

Committed to succeed & progress towards the fulfillment of your career ambitions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Inside Sailing with Peter Isler

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Learning to sail is just the beginning...

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Upcoming events.

SPRING 2024

Performance racing seminars.

MAR • APR • MAY 2024

Virgins islands - florida - texas - maryland.

St Petersburg, FL

MAR 19 & 21 • 4:30PM PT

Marine weather planning - 2-part series, tue • mar 19 • 4:30pm pt, marine weather planning - part 1, thu • mar 21 • 4:30pm pt, marine weather planning - part 2.

SUN • MAR 24 • Grapevine, TX

Racing strategy, tactics & rules.

Learn techniques, tactics, and decision-making skills to help your performance on the race course at this in-person seminar

TUE • MAR 26 • 4:30PM PT

Night sailing demystified.

THU • MAR 28 • 4:30PM PT

How to buy a cruising boat.

APRIL 2 · 4 · 16 · 18 • 4:30PM PT

Advanced cruising & seamanship, tue • april 2 • 4:30pm pt, advanced cruising & seamanship | part 1, thu • april 4 • 4:30pm pt, advanced cruising & seamanship | part 2.

SAT • APR 6 • Nepean, ON

Sail trim & boat speed.

Learn about sail dynamics, sail trim, and optimizing performance for various wind conditions at this in-person seminar.

SAT • APR 6 • Halifax, NS

Paraty, Brazil in South America

APR 9 & 23 • 4:30PM PT

Diesel engine fundamentals - 2-part series, tue • apr 9 • 4:30pm pt, diesel engine fundamentals - part 1.

THU • APR 11 • 4:30PM PT

Couples sailing, tue • april 16 • 4:30pm pt, advanced cruising & seamanship | part 3.

Charleston, SC

Thu • april 18 • 4:30pm pt, advanced cruising & seamanship | part 4.

Islands of Belize

Experience the beauty of Belize on this sailing flotilla. Explore new locations every day, enjoy snorkeling, and more.

SUN • APR 14 • Park City, UT

Tue • apr 23 • 4:30pm pt, diesel engine fundamentals - part 2, sat • apr 27 • denver, co, sun • apr 28 • eugene, or.

Annapolis, MD

THU • MAY 2 • 4:30PM PT

How to keep your boat shipshape, sat • may 04 • lakeside, mt.

Explore Croatia aboard Cataleya

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Greece & The Aegean Sea

Sail with us on the Magical Aegean Sea, visit ancient ruins and old castles, and taste the real Greek Mediterranean diet.

MAY & JUN 2024

Dalmation islands, croatia.

Embark on an unforgettable sailing journey tracing a course across Croatia's beautiful coastline.

British Virgin Islands, Caribbean

Find out why cruising sailors refer to the British Virgin Islands as a “sailor’s paradise.”

Greece & The Ionian Sea

Greece & The Saronic Gulf

Lenny Shabes Sailing Festival

Pay tribute to Lenny and join us in the Caribbean for a week of sailing festivities including sundowners, beach bonfires & regattas.

Victoria & the Gulf Islands

Join fellow sailors for a week cruising the beautiful San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands to Victoria, BC.

Experience Greece's Corfu Islands through sailing, cultural immersion, and personalized bareboat chartering.

AUG / SEP • 7 DAYS

Grand tour of new england.

Gastro-Sail, Croatia

Explore the ancient city of Dubrovnik, Discover Ston & its well-preserved city walls and salt works.

Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

Discover why the “Christmas Winds” make December in the BVI a sailing mecca!

ASA TEXTBOOKS

Learn to Sail

You have wanted to learn to sail your entire life. ASA can bring you closer to fulfilling your dream. Our collection of resources will get you out on the water safely and confidently. With 400 schools worldwide you can find a school near you. To help you get started, we have an large collection of new sailor resources including beginner sailing lessons, online courses, webinars, and mobile apps. Become an ASA member and enjoy the many benefits of being part of the largest sailing education organization in the world.

Intermediate

Build your Skills

So you know how to sail. Now what? Now you'll work on getting better, feeling more confident, and taking your sailing to the next level. Now that you have a basic foundation of sailing it's time to have fun with your new knowledge. You can focus on expanding your sailing resume to make you a more effective skipper. We have continuing education classes like Celestial Navigation (ASA 107), Offshore Passagemaking (ASA 108), Cruising Catamaran Sailing (ASA 114), and more.

Sail the World

You are now ready to entertain the thought of sailing around the world, sailing in exotic destinations or quiting your job and living on a boat. You can safely navigate a boat in most conditions and you are only limited by your imagination. Your ASA certifications open the door to bareboat charters in Greece, flotillas in Croatia and family sailing vacations in the Caribbean. ASA partners, affiliates and schools are worldwide and they can help you find the sailing adventure that fits you best. ASA members get steep charter discounts - join today.

North U Courses & Webinars

Since 1980 North U has been the most prestigious organization in performance sailing education in the world...

Inside Sailing with Peter Isler is a captivating series that immerses viewers in the beautiful world of sailing. The series explores sailing...

Online / Interactive Learning

It is important to understand that you cannot learn to skipper a boat without actually being on a boat but you can learn some of the information...

Learn how to dock a sailboat under sail, or under power, in a variety of different scenarios. Sailing legend Peter Isler walks...

• Bite Sized Lessons

We know that learning to sail can be overwhelming and there is a lot to take in. In an effort to help we’ve created...

• Knots Made Easy

There are as many sailing knots as there are stars in the night sky — or so it seems. But the reality is that most sailors...

Find A Sailing School

• Catamaran Challenge

Go Sailing App

Membership Benefits

Your membership supports the important environmental and charitable initiatives that help to keep our waterways clean and give back to sailing communities.

ASA members enjoy unique discounts on charters around the world, paying for the cost of annual membership in a single day sail.

Discounts off sailing products including West Marine, iNavX, DAN Boater, Sailflow, and more.

Discounts on ASA Educational Video Series, ASA Webinars, magazine subscriptions and more!

ASA Sailing Fun Program and ASA Junior Sailing Program Coming to Asia in 2024!

Interview with nigel calder and jan athenstadt of boathowto.com, unlock trouble-free sailing: expert insights from jan athenstadt and nigel calder on boat maintenance essentials.

Put your skills to use,

Teach others.

Share your passion for sailing as you teach others to sail. Teach at a local school on the weekends or get out on multi-day excursions and share your knowledge. Becoming an instructor is easier than you think.

#NeverStopLearning

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Boats for sale

Find from the full list of classes Please select 10 Rater 11 Metre One Design 125 12ft Skiff 12m 13ft Skiff 16ft Skiff 1720 18ft Skiff 1D35 1DL 2.4m 2000 29er 29erxx 3000 4000 405 420 470 49er 49er FX 5.5m 505 59er 6m 707 8m A Class Catamaran A Scow AC40 AC45 AC50 AC72 AC75 AC9F ACC Adams 10 Ajax Albacore Albin Express AltO Artemis 20 Australian Sharpie B14 Bahamian Sloop Bembridge One Design Bembridge Redwing Beneteau Beneteau 40.7 Beneteau First 21.7 Beneteau First 31.7 Beneteau First Class 8 Bic Techno Bittern Blaze Blokart Boss Bosun Brightlingsea One Design British Moth Broads One Design Bug Bull 7000 BUSA Buzz Byte C Class Cat C Scow C&C 30 Cadet Cal 20 Cape 31 Catalina 22 Catalina 37 Catamaran Catapult CB66 Challenger Charter Powerboat Charter Yacht Cherub Chichester Scow Class 40 Class Mini 5.80 Classic & Vintage Dinghy Classic Yachts Clipper 70 Clipper Ventures ClubSwan 36 ClubSwan 50 Colgate 26 Comet Comet Duo Comet Trio Comet Versa Contender Contessa 26 Contessa 28 Contessa 32 Conwy Fife One Design Cornish Crabber Couta Boat CR:X Cruising Yacht D-One D-Zero Daring Dart 15 Dart 15 Sport Dart 16 Dart 18 Decision 35 Devon Yawl DF95 Dhow Diam 24OD Dinghy Dinghy Cruising Association Disabled DN Ice Yacht Dolphin Dragon Dragonfly Drascombe DX 15 DYAS E-Boat EAORA East Coast One Design ECHO Elliott 5.9 Elliott 6m Elliott 7 Enterprise Environment Esse 850 IC Etchells ETF26 Europe Extreme 40 F101 F50 FarEast 23 FarEast 26 FarEast 28 Farr 280 Farr 3.7 Farr 30 Farr 40 Farr 400 Farr 45 Farr 52 Fast 40 Figaro Finn Fireball Firebird Firefly Fish Class Fisher Fishing boat Flying 11 Flying Ant Flying Dutchman Flying Fifteen Flying Junior Flying Mantis Flying Phantom Flying Scot Flying Tiger Folkboat Footy Formula 16 Formula 18 Formula 20 Formula Windsurfing Fotoboat Foundation 36 Fowey River Class Foxcub 18 Foxer Fusion Gaffers GC32 Golden Globe Race GP14 GP42 Graduate Grand Surprise Gull H boat H22 Hadron Hadron H2 Half Tonner Halo Hamble Star Hansa Hartley 14 Hartley TS16 Hawk 20 Heatwave Heron Hobie 14 Hobie 15 Hobie 16 Hobie 17 Hobie 18 Hobie Dragoon Hobie Fox Hobie Tiger Hobie Wild Cat HOD35 Hornet HP30 HPR Hunter Formula One Hurricane 5.9 SX IC24 IC37 Icon IDRA 14 ILCA 4 ILCA 6 ILCA 7 Illusion IMCO IMOCA Impala 28 Impulse IMS International 12 International 14 International A Class International Canoe International Moth International One Design IOR iQFoil IRC IRM ISO J Class J/121 J/122 J/22 J/24 J/35 J/44 J/88 J/97 J/99 J100 J105 J109 J111 J120 J133 J70 J80 J92 Javelin Javelin Skiff Jeanneau JMST JOD 35 John Merricks Sailing Trust Joshua One-Design Junk K1 K2 K6 Ker 11.3 Kestrel Kirby Torch Kiteboarding Korsar KZV L30 Land Yacht Lapwing Lark Laser 13 Laser 16 Laser 2 Laser 5000 Laser Bahia Laser EPS Laser Pico Laser Stratos Laser Vago Leader Libera Lightning Lightning 368 Liverpool Bay Falcon Loch Long One Design Longtze M Class M32 M34 M4 Magic 25 Manly Junior Marauder Marauder 8.4 Marblehead Marine Industry MarineVerse Martin 16 Match Racing Maxi Maxi 72 Class Maxi Cat Maxi One Design MC Scow MC38 Melges 14 Melges 15 Melges 17 Melges 20 Melges 24 Melges 32 Melges 40 Melges E Scow Melges X Boat Menai Straits One Design Merlin Rocket Mersea Fishermans Open Boats Micro Tonner Mini Tonner Mini Transat Minisail Minnow Miracle Mirror Misc MOCRA MOD70 Model Yachting Mosquito Mothquito MRX Multi 50 Mumm 36 Musto Skiff Nacra Nacra 15 Nacra 17 National 12 National 18 Nicholson 32 Nikki Noelex Norfolk 14 Foot One Design Norfolk Punt NS14 NSSA O'pen Skiff Ocean Globe Race OCEAN50 OK One Metre OneFly Open 30 Open 35 Open 40 Open 50 Open 7.50 Open 70 Optimist ORC ORMA 60 Osprey Oyster Oz Goose P class Pac 52 Pacer Pandora Paper Tiger Peacoq Persico 69F Persico Fly40 Phantom PHRF Piper Pirat Platu 25 Poole AB Power boat Power Cat Prima 38 Projection 762 Puddle Duck Racer Q Class Quarter Tonner R19 Race Committee Radio Sailing RC Laser RC35 RC44 Rebel RedFox Redwing Reedling RG65 Rhodes 19 RIB River Cruiser RL24 Rooster 8.1 Royal Burnham One Design Royal Corinthian One Design Royal Mersey Mylne RS Aero 5 RS Aero 6 RS Aero 7 RS Aero 9 RS Cat14 RS CAT16 RS Elite RS Feva RS Neo RS Quba RS Quest RS Tera RS Vareo RS Venture RS Vision RS Zest RS:One RS:X RS100 RS200 RS21 RS300 RS400 RS500 RS600 RS600FF RS700 RS800 Ruffian RYA Sailability S80 S9 Sabot Sabre Sabre 27 Sailing Holiday Sailrocket SailX Salcombe Yawl San Juan 21 Sandhopper Santana 20 SB20 Scorpion Scow Sea View One Design Seafly Seascape 18 Seaview Mermaid Setley Cup Shadow Shannon One Design Shark 24 Sharpie Shearwater Shields Shrimper Sigma 33 Sigma 38 SigneT SK2 Skate SKEETA SKUD 18 SL16 Smeralda 888 Snipe Soling Solo Solution Sonar Sonata Soto 40 SP80 Speed Record Challenge Spice Spitfire Splash Sportsboats Sprite Squib SSL47 St Mawes One Design Star Starling Stella Streaker Sun Fast 30 Sunbeam Sunbird Sunfish Sunsail F40 Superfoiler Supernova Superyacht Surprise SV14 Swallow Swan Swan 42 Swan 60 Switch Swordfish Sydney 38 SZV Taipan Tall Ships Tasar Team Racing Tempest TF10 TF35 Thames A Rater Thistle Tideway Tinker Tiwal 3R Topaz Topaz 14 Topaz 16 Topaz Argo Topaz Magno Topaz Omega Topaz Taz Topaz Vibe Topaz Xenon Topper Topper 4.2 Topper Breeze Topper Sport 14 Topper Sport 16 Tornado Tortola Sloop TP52 Trimaran Troy Ultim Ultimate 20 Ultra 30 Unicorn Vaurien Victory Viper Viper 640 Virtual Regatta VJ Volvo 70 Volvo One-Design Vortex VPRS VX One Wally Wanderer WASZP WASZP_X Water Wag Waverley Wayfarer Weta Windermere 17ft Yacht WindRider Windsurfing Wineglass Wing Foil Wivenhoe One Design X-332 X-35 X-41 X-99 X-Treme 26 X-Yacht X1 XOD Yachting World Dayboat Yare & Bure One Design Yarmouth One Design Yeoman/Kinsman Yngling Yorkshire One-Design Young 88 Zoom8

UK Nationals Gear Guide in association with Selden

Please select a class Please select 1720 (0) 18ft Skiff (0) 2.4m (0) 3000 (0) 420 (0) 470 (0) 505 (0) A Class Catamaran (0) Ajax (0) Albacore (0) B14 (0) British Moth (0) Cadet (0) Challenger (0) Cherub (0) Contender (0) Contessa 26 (0) Contessa 32 (0) Dart 15 (0) Dart 15 Sport (0) Dart 18 (0) Devon Yawl (0) Dragon (0) Enterprise (0) Etchells (0) Europe (0) Finn (0) Fireball (0) Firefly (0) Flying Dutchman (0) Flying Fifteen (0) Folkboat (0) Formula 18 (0) GP14 (0) Graduate (0) Heron (0) Hornet (0) Hunter Formula One (0) Illusion (0) Impala 28 (0) International 14 (0) International Canoe (0) International Moth (0) J/24 (0) J105 (0) J109 (0) J70 (0) J80 (0) J92 (0) Javelin (0) Kestrel (0) Lark (0) Leader (0) Lightning 368 (0) Marblehead (0) Melges 24 (0) Merlin Rocket (0) Minisail (0) Miracle (0) Mirror (0) MOCRA (0) National 12 (0) National 18 (0) OK (0) One Metre (0) Optimist (0) Osprey (0) Phantom (0) Quarter Tonner (0) Redwing (0) Salcombe Yawl (0) Sandhopper (0) Scorpion (0) Seafly (0) Sharpie (0) Shearwater (0) Sigma 33 (0) Sigma 38 (0) Snipe (0) Soling (0) Solo (1) Solution (0) Sonar (0) Sonata (0) Splash (0) Squib (0) Streaker (0) Sunbeam (0) Supernova (0) Swallow (0) Tempest (0) Thames A Rater (0) Tornado (0) Unicorn (0) VX One (0) Wanderer (0) Wayfarer (0) XOD (0) Yachting World Dayboat (0) Yeoman/Kinsman (0)

Class Finder

Find a class of boat quickly with our easy-to-use options:

Search for boat type dinghies keelboats catamarans trimarans for any number of crew singlehanded sailing doublehanded sailing three-man sailing with any number of trapezes no trapeze 1 trapeze 2 trapezes 3 trapezes and any number of sails only a mainsail a mainsail & jib only a mainsail, jib & spinnaker a mainsail & spinnaker only

Championship Attendance

The full attendance table can be found here

If your class has had its championships but your attendance is not shown then please email us the figure and we will update the database. You can sort the data by each of the years shown, by alphabetical order or by number of people at an event.

The figure is the number of boats to start at least one race at a championship. For combined championships (such as Worlds and nationals), only the UK boats are counted. For open national championships all competitors are included.

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Marine radio course with dsc - roc(m) certification, open to non-members.

Course Date & Time:

Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

REGISTRATION DEADLINE -  Monday, April 1, 2024 @ 4:00 PM

Course Fee:

NYC Members –  $160 + HST Non-Members –  $200 + HST Register Now  

Marine Basic First Aid *Blended Online & In-Person Course*

• Angina and Heart Attack
• Compression-Only CPR
• Life-threatening External Bleeding
• Life-threatening Internal Bleeding
• Wound Care Head and Spine Injuries
• Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries
• Sudden Medical Emergencies
• Environmental Emergencies
• Correct use of protective equipment (PPE), including donning and doffing a medical gown, mask, protective eyewear and gloves

REGISTRATION DEADLINE -  Monday, February 26, 2024 @ 4:00 PM

NYC Members –  $130 + HST Non-Members –  $160 + HST *Students must attend 100% of the course and score at least 75% on the multiple choice knowledge test to be successful. Register Now

Sail Canada Basic Coastal Navigation Course *Condensed Format*

NYC Members –  $315 + HST Non-Members –  $470 + HST Register Now

Sail Canada Intermediate Coastal Navigation Course

NYC Members –  Fees TBA Non-Members  –   Fees TBA

Marine Composites & Gelcoat Repair Seminar - Part 1 *Online Course*

• What are composite materials?
• Fiberglass / Aramid (aka Kevlar®) / Carbon Fiber
• Different types of fiberglass cloths. How to choose?
• Resin systems: Polyester versus Vinylester versus Epoxy.  How to choose?
• Tools needed
• Gelcoat and Colour Matching
• Core materials
• What is the risk to your eyes, nose, mouth and skin?
• What is the minimum necessary personal protective gear?
• Safe handling and storage of materials
• Why Material Safety Data Sheets?
• What could possibly go wrong?
• Selecting the right material for the repair.
• Preparation for your repair.
• “Dings” (aka dock damage)
• Gelcoat colour matching
• Filling holes
• Hand-layup of fiberglasss

NYC Members –  Fees TBA Non-Members –  Fees TBA

Private Lessons

The Ephraim Yacht Club offers private sailing lessons by appointment. This is a great way to get a lot of instruction in a short period of time. Private lessons might be for you if:

• Group lessons do not fit your schedule;
• You want to learn at an accelerated pace;
• You want intensive instruction to catch up to the other students in your age range;
• You want to take a lesson together with specific friends or family members;
• You want intensive instruction in a specific sailing skill; or
• You feel more comfortable in a one-on-one situation with an instructor.

Private lessons are available to both adults and juniors. Up to four persons can take a private lesson together. The pace and content of private lessons are geared to the individual student(s) and can be taught in any of the EYC’s fleets, Flying Scots, 420s, Optimists, or Lasers.

Private lessons are available by appointment. To schedule a private lesson, contact the club director at  [email protected] , or phone the EYC (920) 854-7107, or stop by the EYC during open hours.

Online signup is not available for private lessons.

The private lesson per-student per-hour rate, based on a single instructor:

• 1 person – $35.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for a single student would be $105) + 5.5% sales tax
• 2 people – $25.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for two students would be $150) + 5.5% sales tax
• 3 people – $20.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for three students would be $180) + 5.5% sales tax
• 4 people – $18.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for four students would be $216) + 5.5% sales tax

If private lessons are not for you, and you would like to learn more about group lessons for adults and juniors, please view alternative options on this page.

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Understanding Yacht Classifications – Definitions, Explanations, and Regulations

Yacht classifications, also known as classification societies or class societies , are an important part of maritime safety. These classifications dictate the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of large commercial vessels and yachts.

The classifications provide highly detailed and technical standards that cover the yacht’s hull, its engines, and key safety systems.  The application of common safety requirements to personal vessels like yachts is something relatively new, so the procedures are constantly evolving. Typically, it is dependant on the service and the flag of the yacht.

Standard Yacht Types

Before discussing the different types of yacht classifications, it’s important to understand the different yacht types. Yachts are typically segmented based on the overall length and how many passengers they can accommodate. The standard yacht classification types are large yachts or luxury sailing yachts, commercial yachts, and private yachts.

Large Yachts

Large yachts, also known as luxury yachts, is the largest classification type for yachts. A large yacht has a load line length equal to or over 24m or about 80 feet. Just about every flag administrations have adopted safety codes for large yachts. Therefore, this is the only yacht definition having a universal meaning in the international regulatory framework of yachts.

Commercial Yachts

Commercial yachts are ones that are used for commercial use, whether it be sport or charter. These ships do not transport or carry any cargo and carry no more than 12 passengers.

All flag states require that commercial yachts are certified in accordance with a specific large yacht safety code. The most widely used safety code is the MCA Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) published in 2004.

Private Yachts

Private yachts are typical pleasure vessels used for the recreational and leisure purpose of its owner and his guests.  In some cases, they are also known as cruising yachts.

What Is A Classification Society?

Classification societies are organizations that set the rules that govern the construction, maintenance, and operation of yachts and vessels. Currently, there are 13 members of the International Association of Classification Societies . Classification societies were first started when insurance underwriters at Lloyd’s of London set standards for the ships that they would ensure.

As a result, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR) was the original classification society. While many of the 13 members do not classify yachts, they cover everything from container ships to supertankers.

The main class societies involved in yachting are the American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, and RINA.

What Is A Flag State?

A vessel’s flag state is the jurisdiction or nationality under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed. The flag state has the authority and responsibility to create regulations for vessels registered under its flag. These typically involve those relating to the inspection, certification, and issuance of safety and pollution prevention documents for a vessel.

Different flag administrations may perform inspections on the safety aspects of yachts using their own inspectors or use classification societies or other recognized organizations to perform these inspections.

The main flag authorities in the yachting industry are the UK-MCA, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Italy, and Luxembourg.

What Is The Classification Process

The first step of classification involves the assessment of a yacht’s designs and regular inspections during the construction or conversion of a yacht. Once it is confirmed that all standards have been met, a certificate of classification is issued.

The certificate details the standards met, the intended use for the vessel, and whether the vessel should be used only in sheltered waters. The certificate is evidence that a yacht meets industry standards but isn’t necessarily a guarantee of seaworthiness.

Maintaining classification is achieved through regular surveys. These surveys, also known as ‘special’ surveys, typically take place every five years. These surveys assess things like the thickness of the hull, possible fractures, and other potential damage. They also consider the condition of electrical systems, machinery, and equipment.

Mandatory Classification Certificates

There are a variety of different classification certificates. The number and type of the mandatory certificates for a given ship will depend on its size.

International Tonnage Certificate This expresses the internal volumes of the yacht in gross tons. Unlike displacement tonnage, this does not quantify the weight of a vessel.

Large Yacht Code Certificate This certificate covers navigational and signaling equipment, life-saving appliances, fire protection, means of escape, and manning and crew accommodation.

Class Certificate This mainly deals with the yacht’s hull, machinery, electrical equipment, and outfitting.

International Load Line Certificate This certificate covers the weather-tightness of the yacht.

Safety Radio Certificate This certificate only applies if gross tonnage exceeds 300GT. It covers radio communication and distress installations.

MARPOL Annex I Certificate This certificate only applies if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT and covers the disposal of oil and bilge water.

MARPOL Annex IV Certificate This certificate only applies if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT or the yacht is certified to carry more than 15 people and covers the disposal of sewage from ships.

MARPOL Annex V This certificate covers the disposal of rubbish and applies to all ships.

MARPOL Annex VI  This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT as well as to all main and auxiliary engines with a power exceeding 130kW. It concerns the emissions from main and auxiliary engines (NOx and SOx).

Safety Construction and Safety Equipment These cover machinery, electrical parts, life-saving and navigational equipment for yachts with a gross tonnage above 500GT.

International Safety Management Certificate This only applies to yachts with a gross tonnage greater than 500GT. A certified management company is requested to carry out this service, preparing operational manuals, procedures for drills, and taking care of the maintenance of the yacht and its installations.

International Ship and Port Security Certificate This only applies to yachts and ships with a gross tonnage greater than 500GT and covers the anti-piracy certification. A certified management company is requested to provide ashore assistance and establish onboard procedures and operational manuals.

Keeping Your Yacht Up To Classification

Tess Electrical has years of experience in maintaining yachts and commercial vessels. We deal with vessels 125’ and above, which have more complex systems dictated by Classification, Flag State and Insurance requirements. Even if vessels are not classed, we can still maintain them to those standards.

Give us a call or send us an email to speak with one of our experienced marine engineers about developing a maintenance strategy for your yacht today.

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Demystifying yacht classification A, B, C, D

N.B. For your information, a more recent article was published on 24 Oct 2022 on the same subject, click here for direct access.

Demystifying yacht classification :  Class A, B, C and D

Since 1998, CE certification is required for all recreational boats entering or being sold in Europe obliging boat manufacturers to respect certain building and security standards.  Therefore, yachts ( boats ) are classified into four categories depending on their aptitude to confront navigational conditions taking into account both force of the wind and height of the waves.  The categories are not to limit the area and distance of navigation (that is defined by security equipement onboard) but  to  sensitize the owner and/or captain of the boats capacities to navigate in complete security.

Let us start with the Beaufort Scale.   A scale for classifying the force of the wind ranging from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane).   It was devised by an admiral in the British Navy, Francis Beaufort, to uniform the description of the effect of different winds at sea.

There is a direct link between the Beaufort scale and boat classification.   For discussion purposes, we will use only the 6, 7 and 8 forces.

A Class A yacht ( boat ) is a vessel that is built to navigate the open ocean and surpass a force 8 on the Beaufort scale and surpass waves higher that 4 meters.   These yachts are constructed to be self sufficient in hostile seas.

A Class B yacht ( boat ) is a vessel built to navigate on the offshore waters (200 miles and less) and can substain UP TO force 8 and waves UP TO 4 meters.

A Class C boat is a vessel built to navigate inshore such as lakes, rivers, bays and close to the shore and can sustain UP TO force 6 and waves UP TO 2 meters.

A Class D boat is built for protected or sheltered waters such as canals, rivers, small lakes and sustain a force 4 and waves UP TO .3 meters (less that 1 ft).

With this said, you can understand that the Class A yacht ( boat ) respects a rigorous building code more so than a Class B and so forth.    But regardless of the class, it is strongly discouraged to navigate in a force 7 for the reasons of safety and comfort as « pleasure » should always be on the agenda.  Always consult the weather forecast prior to leaving any port and check hourly the weather situation.

Classification is very important and should be on your question list before purchasing any boat or yacht.

Classification rules are developed to assess the structural strength and integrity of the essential parts of the hull, the reliability and function of the propulsion, steering systems, power generation and all the other features installed on board which contribute to guarantee the main essential services of yacht.

Also for a class A, the portholes will be more resistant against a sustained wave, the drains to evacuate the water more abundant and of good size, the joints of the hull more hermetic, in short everything is in place to prevent water from s’ infiltrate on board.

By way of information, let us quote for example all the Ferretti yachts (60 to 96 feet), Pershing (60 to 115), the Riva (44 to 122) are all of class A just like the Magellano range at Azimut including also the 66 Flybridge.

Ferretti yachts (500, 550, 670 fly and over), Pershing (7X and over), Azimut Yachts (62, 64, 66, 68 Fly and over, the Sport Series 7X and over, all Magellano) are Class A.  There are also other classifications such as RINA and American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd Register, that are more precise regulations and we will cover this later in another article.

Below is the graph of the Beaufort Scale along with photos.

Do not hesitate to contact us for any additional information, team Ita Yachts Canada is at your disposal.

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Yacht classification definitions

The merchant shipping sector is ruled by safety regulations developed since the beginning of the 20th century, and is familiar with international conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and Load Lines. But the application of common safety requirements to pleasure vessels is something relatively new – a continuous work in progress – and is very much dependant on the service and the flag of the yacht.

Defining the problems

Definitions do not help. How often have we read of large yachts, superyachts, megayachts, gigayachts or other bombastic adjectives? How many times have we mentioned MCA, RINA, and Lloyd’s, without having a clear idea of who’s doing what?

A good starting point for understanding the subject is to clarify the main definitions and the roles of the main players:

Large yacht

A large yacht is a pleasure vessel with a load line length equal to or over 24m. Almost all the flag administrations have adopted safety codes dedicated to large yachts and this is, therefore, the only definition having a universal meaning in the international regulatory framework of yachts.

Commercial yacht

A motor or sailing vessel in commercial use (i.e. charter) for sport and pleasure, carrying no cargo and not more than 12 passengers.

Private yacht

A pleasure vessel solely used for the recreational and leisure purpose of its owner and his guests.

Flag administration

The government of the state whose flag the yacht is entitled to fly . This administration sets the safety regulations, manning requirements and fiscal aspects relevant to the yacht registration.

Different flag administrations can inspect the safety aspects of yachts with their own inspectors (see MCA for example) or delegate this activity partially or totally to other recognised bodies such as the classification societies.

The main flag authorities in the yachting industry are: The UK-MCA, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Italy and Luxembourg.

Classification societies

Organisations that establish and apply technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of ships.

Classification rules are developed to assess the structural strength and integrity of the essential parts of the hull, the reliability and function of the propulsion, steering systems, power generation and all the other features installed on board which contribute to guarantee the main essential services.

In addition to this ‘third party check’ function, class societies carry out statutory duties on behalf of the major flag administrations in accordance with specific delegation agreements signed with each government.

The main class societies involved in yachting are: American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, and RINA.

Large yachts: Applicable rules and certificates

Private yachts

The mandatory requirements for these boats are very light. For the majority of flag states, a registration survey and a tonnage measurement, carried out by an authorised surveyor, are sufficient.

The only mandatory international conventions are those relevant to the marine environment: MARPOL and the Anti-Fouling System Convention.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is intended to eliminate the intentional pollution and to minimise the accidental pollution of the marine environment caused by harmful substances.

The Anti-Fouling System Convention’s purpose is to eliminate the presence of harmful substances for the marine environment contained in anti-fouling paints applied to ships.

Classification

While classification is not mandatory, building and maintaining a private yacht in class is the only evidence that the boat has been designed, constructed and operated in compliance with appropriate technical standards. It is therefore highly desirable, especially in relation to insurance and re-sale purposes.

Commercial yachts

All flag administrations require commercial yachts to be certified in accordance with a specific large yacht safety code.

The most popular of these safety codes, and the first that was developed, is the MCA Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) published in 2004. It replaced the Code of Practice for the Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels (LY1) published in 1997.

LY2 is applied by the Red Ensign Group Flags (UK, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Bermuda, Gibraltar, British Virgin Islands, etc.) and is recognised as a reference standard for all the yachting industry.

Other flags have developed similar codes. Luxembourg, Italy, Marshall Islands, Malta, Belize and The Netherlands are some examples.

While introducing a stricter set of rules and regulations compared to private yachts, commercial registration offers yacht owners the possibility of making a profit from the chartering activity of their boats, and allows them to take advantage of all the other benefits of a commercial operation (in particular VAT exemption on the purchase, sale, bunkering, provisions, dry-docking, and others).

Mandatory certificates

The number and type of the mandatory certificates depends on the size of the vessel; the following is an indicative list:

• International Tonnage Certificate : A measurement of the internal volumes of the yacht expressed in gross tons (GT). This measurement should not be confused with displacement tonnage, which quantifies the weight of a vessel.
• Large Yacht Code Certificate : Covers life-saving appliances, fire protection and means of escape, navigational and signalling equipment, intact and damaged stability, manning and crew accommodation.
• Class Certificate : This mainly deals with the yacht’s hull, machinery, electrical equipment and outfitting.
• International Load Line Certificate : This certifies the weather-tightness of the yacht.
• Safety Radio Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 300GT This concerns the radio communication and distress installations.
• MARPOL Annex I Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT This deals with the disposal of oil and bilge water from machinery spaces.
• MARPOL Annex IV Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400 or the yacht is certified to carry over 15 persons. This deals with the disposal of sewage from ships.
• MARPOL Annex V : This is applicable to all ships. It covers the disposal of rubbish.
• MARPOL Annex VI : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT as well as to all main and auxiliary engines with a power exceeding 130kW. It concerns the emissions from main and auxiliary engines (NOx and SOx).
• Safety Construction and Safety Equipment : These are additional prescriptions on machinery, electrical parts, life-saving and navigational equipment for yachts with a gross tonnage above 500GT.
• International Safety Management Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT. A certified management company is requested to carry out this service, preparing operational manuals, procedures for drills, and taking care of the maintenance of the yacht and its installations.
• International Ship and Port Security Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT and deals with the anti-piracy certification. A certified management company is requested to provide the ashore assistance and establish on-board procedures and operational manuals.

The GT Factor

The gross tonnage value (GT) is a key issue, not only as a reference for the registration fees applied by the different flag administrations, but also because it determines whether an international convention, rather than a particular safety standard, applies to a yacht.

The table below summarises how the conventions and relevant certificates come into force depending on the gross tonnage of the yacht. In particular, the following values may have a critical impact:

300GT: In many codes, when you reach this value the yacht must be certified in unrestricted service (stricter requirements regarding stability, load line and life-saving appliances).

400GT: This is the threshold for almost all the environmental conventions such as MARPOL and Anti-fouling System.

500GT: This is the threshold for the application of the SOLAS Convention, meaning stricter requirements on machinery, safety systems, materials of construction, fire protection, life-saving appliances and navigational equipment. Furthermore an external certified management company is requested for the ISM and ISPS certifications.

The tonnage issue could also arise on existing yachts when undertaking major refits or modifications, in that any change to the internal volumes of the boat – such as adding enclosed deckhouses or superstructures, or modifying the hull transom or bow – will modify the tonnage value with the risk of subjecting the yacht to stricter mandatory rules.

UPDATE: Since this article was originally published, LY2 has been superseded by Large Commercial Yacht Code Revision 3 (LY3) .

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Benetti ’s latest design concept and the smaller Oasis deck that preceded it are just two examples of how clients are looking to replace starched salons and prim dining rooms with larger, easier-living exterior spaces. This also includes a preference for foldout rear decks, reimagined bows, and balconies that extend when activated, all of which are in evidence on Bilgin ’s 263-foot Leona , which showcases how to design every conceivable square foot across the yacht toward enhancing the outside environment. 

That trend “has really gained steam,” says Dickie Bannenberg, of yacht-design house Bannenberg & Rowell . “Now it’s all balconies, beach clubs, and shell doors everywhere you look. And it’s not just on 200-foot boats, either—it extends down into production models.” 

Andrew Collett, team principal at U.K.-based design firm RWD , which conceived both the Oasis and the Veranda deck configurations, says the change in tack is driven by a new generation of owners who are “seeking spacious areas that blend indoor and outdoor living, with clear views of the water.” 

The pandemic intensified demand for airier layouts, says Collett, much as tuberculosis impacted modernist architecture in the 20th century, when residential blueprints began to include hospital-inspired sanctuaries with balconies and clean, well-lit interiors. And while he says that some of the aesthetic shift predated the pandemic’s lockdowns, it’s also true that “Covid heightened the appreciation for open-air environments and privacy. Now we’re just aligning with new preferences for health consciousness.” 

As with carbon fiber’s popularity in smaller boats, “the evolution of glass-related technologies makes possible what really wasn’t achievable in the past,” says Bernardo Zuccon of Studio Zuccon , designer of Sanlorenzo ’s 57Steel Virtuosity and many other glass-laden superyachts. “Since structural glass is at times stronger than steel, we’re seeing the extreme enhancement of transparent surfaces. That allows for great versatility in our designs.” 

Glass’s technical renaissance—and how the notion of boundaries has changed thanks to it—is evident on gigayachts including the 297-foot Dar, the 263-foot Excellence, and the 263-foot Artefact, but nowhere more so than the 141-foot catamaran This Is It, with a superstructure and hull made of more than 50 percent of the material. 

Other recent launches, including Sanlorenzo’s SX112, feature entirely open aft decks with cutaway sides, while Sanlorenzo’s X-Space and Baglietto ’s T52 maximize as much exterior square footage as their designers could justify across their tiered decks. 

“People don’t want to be inside,” says Bannenberg. “They want healthy outdoor living, and the designers are adapting accordingly.” Which means, for increasingly innovative superyacht concepts, the sky’s the limit. 

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Class Notations on Yachts – Classification Guide

9 December 2016

INTRODUCTION TO YACHTS CLASSES

Classification.

Rules are developed to establish standards for the structural strength of the large yacht’s hull and its appendages, and the suitability of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship to assist in its operation, and even pollution protection systems. A yacht may be maintained in class provided that, in the opinion of the Society concerned, it remains in compliance with the relevant Rules, as ascertained by a periodic or non-periodic survey(s). Today a vessel either meets the relevant Class Society’s Rules or it does not. As a consequence, it is either “in” or “out” of “Class”.

In summary, Class Notations on Yachts will tell you a lot about the building quality and condition of each vessel and its components on an annual basis, according to the excellence of its construction and its adjudged continuing soundness. A yacht that has been designed and built to the appropriate Rules of a Society may apply for a Certificate of Class from that Society or for a periodical survey (generally required every 5 years) meant for the Renewal of Class Certificate . Class Societies have often developed two separate sets of Rules for Commercial and Private Yachts . They can be applied to New Construction as well as Existing Yachts .

Classification Societies

Classification Societies play a fundamental role in today’s marine industry. A Society will act on behalf of ship-owners and builders to ensure high build quality and the safety of a ship’s main structural parts . Classification also provides a point of reference with regard to those who were involved in the supply chain including builders, charterers and insurers.

As an independent, self-regulating, externally audited, body, a Classification Society has no commercial interests related to ship design, shipbuilding, ship ownership, ship operation, ship management, ship maintenance or repairs, insurance, or chartering.

The process begins with the design and construction phases, focussing on the implementation and manufacture of key components as well as technical specifications. The standards which must be adhered to are dictated by the regulations of the chosen society and are published as rules, evolving continuously to incorporate new technologies and client requests via the advice of highly competent engineers and architects.

All Classification Societies waive liability for future faults as a surveyor can only record a vessel’s quality at the time of inspection; it is then the responsibility of the yacht owner to maintain the vessel and inform the society in the event of damage or structural alteration. Although the surveys are thorough, they do not cover all aspects of a ship’s build and operating service. This can include crew qualifications, navigational aids and manoeuvrability.

Classification Societies are often simply referred to as “Class Societies” or just “Class”. There are currently 13 members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) , each with a unique set of rules, classification layouts and notations. Five of the biggest Classification Societies are listed below, along with their identifying signature, to denote a ship constructed under special survey in compliance with the Society’s rules, suitable for unrestricted sea-going service:

The marks following the Society’s standard signature are not interchangeable between organizations, meaning each letter or number will represent a different characteristic for each society. Each mark can be broken down to highlight a yacht’s capabilities, equipment or restrictions.

Each of the Classification Societies has developed a series of notations that may be granted to a vessel to indicate that it is in compliance with some additional voluntary criteria that may be either specific to that vessel type or that are in excess of the standard classification requirements.

The Classification of a yacht does not absolve the Interested Party from compliance with any requirements issued by Administrations and any other applicable international and national regulations for the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment such as SOLAS, ILLC, MARPOL, ILO or IMO.

Smaller vessels are categorized differently, adhering to different requirements and statutory regulations. With a heavier focus on passenger numbers and distance of operation from shore, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) outlines guidance for UK vessels (up to 24 meters in length) which are used for charter or commercial use.

As RINA is today the most reputed Classification Society in the Mediterranean and a leader in the yachting certification business, developing and offering services of ships classification, certification, verification of conformity, inspection, and testing, we will hereby provide you with a summary of their more common Class Notations on Yachts , this will be helpful to identify these most peculiar symbols :

CLASS NOTATIONS – RINA

Main class symbol.

The main class symbol C is assigned to ships built in accordance with the requirements of the Rules or other rules recognized as equivalent and maintained in a condition considered satisfactory by the Society. The period of class (or interval between class renewal surveys) assigned to a ship is a maximum of 5 years.

Except for special cases, a class is assigned to a ship only when the hull, propulsion and auxiliary machinery installations, and equipment providing essential services have all been reviewed in relation to the requirements of RINA’s Rules.

With the 5 year class period is to be understood as being the highest class granted by the Society.

Construction Marks

The construction mark identifies the procedure under which the yacht and its main equipment or arrangements have been surveyed for the initial assignment of the Class.

Construction marks defined below are assigned separately to the hull of the yacht and its appendages, to the machinery installation.

The construction mark is placed before the symbol HULL for the hull, before the symbol MACH for the machinery installations, and before the additional Class Notation granted, when such a notation is eligible for a construction mark.

When the same construction mark is assigned to both hull and machinery, the construction mark is assigned globally to the ship without indication HULL and MACH after the main class symbol.

Hull Construction Mark (HULL)

• Construction mark ✠ is assigned to the hull when it has been surveyed by RINA during its construction in compliance with the new building procedure.
• Construction mark ✠ is assigned to the hull when it was built under the survey of another Society.
• Construction mark ● is assigned to the hull in all cases other than those listed above.

Machinery Construction Mark (MACH)

• The construction mark ✠ is assigned when the propelling and auxiliary machinery has been designed, constructed, certified, installed and tested in accordance with RINA Rules.
• The construction mark ✠ is assigned when the propelling and auxiliary machinery has been designed, constructed and certified in accordance with the rules of another society and installed and tested under the survey of RINA.
• Construction mark ● is assigned in all cases other than those listed above.

Navigation and Operating Notations

The navigation notation UNRESTRICTED NAVIGATION is assigned to a ship intended to operate in any area and any period of the year.

Restricted operating area notations are optional and will be marked accordingly like, for example, on a specified operating area or operation service within “x” miles from shore.

Additional Class Notations

An additional Class Notation expresses the classification of additional equipment or specific arrangement, which has been requested by the Interested Party. The assignment of such an additional Class Notation is subject to the compliance with additional rule requirements.

Some additional Class Notations, due to the importance of relevant equipment or arrangements, are assigned a construction mark. This is indicated in the definition of the relevant additional Class Notations. Class Notations which may be assigned to a ship are listed according to the category to which they belong:

Automated Machinery Systems (AUT)

AUT notations are relevant to automated machinery systems installed onboard ships.

Automated machinery systems (AUT – UMS (Y))

The additional Class Notation AUT-UMS (Y) may be assigned to yachts that are fitted with automated installations enabling machinery spaces to remain periodically unattended in all sailing conditions including manoeuvring.

Integrated Ship Systems (SYS)

SYS notations are relevant to the operation of integrated systems regarding navigation, machinery, communication and specific cargo, as applicable.

Centralised Navigation Equipment (SYS-NEQ)

The additional Class Notation SYS-NEQ is assigned to yachts which are fitted with a centralized navigation control system so laid out and arranged that it enables normal navigation and manoeuvring operation of the ship by two persons in cooperation.

Centralised Navigation Equipment (SYS-NEQ-1)

The additional Class Notation SYS-NEQ-1 is assigned when, in addition to the above, the installation is so arranged that the navigation and manoeuvring of the yacht can be operated under normal conditions by one person, for a periodical one-man watch. This notation includes specific requirements for the prevention of accidents caused by the operator’s unfitness.

Integrated Bridge System (SYS-IBS)

The additional Class Notation SYS-IBS is assigned to yachts which are fitted with an integrated bridge system which allows simplified and centralized bridge operation of all main functions of navigation manoeuvring and communication, as well as monitoring from the bridge of other functions related to specific cargoes and pollution; for passenger ships, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are also included in the monitored functions

Communication System (SYS-COM)

The additional Class Notation SYS-COM is assigned to yachts which are fitted with a local area network including the alarm, monitoring and control systems and computers used for management operations and external communication devices for reporting ashore navigation, maintenance and operational information.

Damage Stability (DMS)

The additional Class Notation DMS may be assigned to yachts complying with the damage stability requirements.

STAR Notation

General STAR is a System of Trace and Analysis of Records integrating rational analysis with data and records from ship-in-service concerning planned inspection and ship maintenance.

The additional Class Notation STAR-HULL is assigned to ships on which an Inspection and Maintenance Plan (IMP) for the hull is implemented.

The notation may be completed by the suffix NB when a structural tridimensional analysis has been performed for the hull structures, at the new building stage. The suffix NB is removed when the ship enters the STAR-HULL survey program through the implementation of the Inspection and Maintenance Plan (IMP).

The additional Class Notation STAR-MACH is assigned to yachts on which an Inspection and Maintenance Plan (IMP) for the machinery is implemented. This plan is based on a risk analysis review of the installation.

STAR Notation (STAR)

When yachts are granted both STAR-HULL and STAR-MACH, the two separate notations are superseded by the cumulative additional Class Notation STAR.

Crew Accommodation and Recreational Facilities (MLCDESIGN)

According to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Notation:

The additional Class Notation MLCDESIGN is assigned to yachts having crew accommodation and recreational facilities complying with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC).

GREEN PLUS Notation (Eco-Friendly Yachts)

Issued in 2008 and updated yearly, the GREEN PLUS additional Class Notation has been revised in 2012 to cover new issues for seagoing ships and ships operated at a fixed location. The additional Class Notation GREEN PLUS is assigned to Eco-Friendly yachts compliant with the Society’s environmental protection framework of airborne gases, spillage/leakage of substances, oil, sewage, greywater, garbage disposal and noise mitigation systems to prevent pollution.

Safety Class Notation EFP (Bureau Veritas)

The following additional Class Notations are assigned to yachts complying with the requirements of this Section:

• EFP-A : for yachts having Enhanced Fire Safety Protection in accommodation spaces,
• EFP-M : for yachts having Enhanced Fire Safety Protection in machinery spaces,
• EFP-C : for yachts having Enhanced Fire Safety Protection in cargo areas,
• EFP-AMC : for yachts complying with all the requirements of this Section.

For more information on Class Notations on Yachts – Classification of Yachts , please feel free to contact Allied Yachting .

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What are the Different Classes of Boats?

Classes of boats and types of boats are two different things. Every type of boat fits into one of four classes of boats. While a type of boat can vary significantly in appearance and function, class is easy to understand. Boat classes are all determined by the overall length of the vessel.

The class of a boat is significant for you as a boat owner. Boats classes are required to meet certain safety guidelines based on those classes. The size of your boat determines what you need to keep on board. Let’s take a look at the different classes of boats. We’ll also get into different types of boats and see where they fit in terms of class.

Class A Boats

Any boat that clocks in at under 16 feet in length. That means it could be:

• a fishing boat
• A personal watercraft
• An inflatable boat

Recreational boats that are less than 16 feet in length are not required to carry any day signals on board. That said, there are safety requirements. These are regulated by the US Coast Guard. It’s also worth noting that these regulations are slightly different for canoes and kayaks.

Canoes/Kayaks Under 16 Feet

For these vessels, a Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device must be available for every person on board. These need to be US Coast Guard approved flotation devices. They need to be the right size and wearable by the person who plans to wear them as well. If the person is not wearing it, it needs to be someplace they can reach it easily. We recommend anyone on a boat of this size keep their flotation device on at all times. The minimum requirement is that one be available and easy to reach. In an emergency, you can save yourself precious time by having it on already. This is especially true for children on boats.

Visual distress signals are required on the vessel if it’s being operated at night. Your night signal has to be made within the last 42 months as well.

Sound devices are required as well. A whistle is recommended but a horn will work also.

Other Boats Under 16 Feet

All boats under 16 feet require the same personal flotation devices. The rules for a kayak or canoe apply here as well. One for everyone on board that is accessible and wearable. A distress signal is also required for these boats. Sound signals are the same as for kayaks and canoes as well.

There are additional requirements for these kinds of boats if they meet certain conditions.

A B-1 fire extinguisher of any type must be on board any vessel under 16 feet besides a canoe or kayak. That is, if it has an enclosed engine, enclosed living space, or a permanent fuel tank.

A type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation device is required if the vessel has an installed toilet.

A backfire flame arrestor is required if the vessel has a gasoline-powered engine. The exception is if it is an outboard motor.

Enclosed engines must also have ventilation that meets Coast Guard standards.

Class I Boats

Boats that are between 16 feet and 26 feet fall under this classification. Any number of boats could fall into this class.

• Smaller deck boats
• Cuddy cabin boats
• Pontoon boats
• Aluminum fishing boats
• Wakeboard boats

All Class I boats must have one personal flotation device of Type I, I, III or V per person on board. In addition, one throwable Type IV device is required to be on board. Often people overlook these on tow sports boats. They will only think of the person looking for a thrilling ride water skiing as the one who needs a PFD. The Coast Guard requires them for everyone, however.

A B-1 fire extinguisher of any type is also required to be on board. This is true, again, if the engine is enclosed. It’s not required for outboard motor boats. However, as before, if there is an enclosed living space or permanent fuel tank, then you do need a fire extinguisher.

This size of boat requires specific distress signals. You need a minimum of three day use and night use flares. You can also have a non-flare substitute for day use in the form of an orange distress flag. A Non-pyrotechnic substitute for night use is an electric SOS light. Flares must have been made within the last 42 months.

A horn or whistle is needed as a sound signal.

Class II Boats

Class II boats are any vessel that span 26 feet to 40 feet. This can include

• Cabin cruisers
• Bowrider boats
• Trawler boats
• Runabout boats

These boats meet the same requirements for PFDs as Class I boats. That means every single passenger on board needs to have access to their own life jacket or other PFD. The acceptable types are Type I, II, III and V. And again a throwable Type IV is also required. These recreational boats can easily hold over one dozen people. Even if you’re freshwater fishing in shallow waters, these requirements must be met.

At this size, either one B-II fire extinguisher or two B-Is are needed. Remember, marine plywood isn’t able to stand up to fire well at all. The extra extinguishers could be a lifesaver at this size of a boat. Nothing ruins some relaxed cruising faster than a boat fire.

Visual distress signals on this kind of boat are the same as those for Class I boats. That means three day use and three night use. Three combination day and night use signals are also acceptable. These are essential for any overnight trips on the boat. Even high performance boats can run into troubles in the dark. Make sure any signal flares have been manufactured within the last 42 months.

Sound devices must be present as with lower boat classes.

Enclosed engines must also have ventilation that meets Coast Guard standards

This class of boat is also required to have pollution regulation placards. Your boat will need a 5″ x 8″ Oil Discharge placard and 4″ x 9″ Waste Discharge placard.

Class III Boats

These boats range from 40 feet to no more than 65 feet in length. This can include

• Cigarette boats
• Sport fishers

These are the largest class of boat available to typical boat owners. For these, the same flotation device standards apply as they did for Class II. That means one PFD of Class I, II, III or V is required for every passenger on board. Since different types of boats can carry passengers in greater numbers, this needs to be respected. Make sure every single person knows where the PFD is and how to wear it. Each person must have one that fits properly.

In terms of fire extinguishers, the rules change again with Class III boats. You will need one B-II extinguisher and one B-I extinguisher on board. Alternatively, you could have three B-I extinguishers handy.

Visual distress signals and sound signals are the same as the requirements for smaller class boats. That means three day use and three night use signals. An orange signal flag may substitute one of the day use flares, and an electric SOS light can substitute for one of the night use. A horn or whistle is also required.

This class of boat is also required to have pollution regulation placards. Your boat will need a 5″ x 8″ Oil Discharge placard and 4″ x 9″ Waste Discharge placard. If the vessel has a galley then it must also have a waste management plan.

At this length, the boat must also have the Inland Navigation Rules on board. This is the “Rules of the Road” that govern boating.

Boats Over 65 Feet

Some yachts and things like a ferry boat can easily be over 65 feet. These no longer qualify as subject to small boat regulations. Typically no one is going to own a personal watercraft of this size. The Coast Guard does have regulations in place if you are on a large vessel such as this, however. These apply to vessels from 65 feet up to 165 feet. After that, vessels are typically considered research, commercial, or military.

The rules regarding flotation devices remain static here. One Type I, II, III or V PFD for every passenger on board. In addition, one Type IV throwable device. It’s worth noting there that the “Type” system will not be around forever. The Newton system is slowly being phased on. Newtons measure pounds of force and help indicate how much a PFD can keep afloat. This buoyancy rating in Newtons has been in place since 2019. The transfer is going slowly to allow people time to adjust. Most PFDs you purchase now will explain buoyancy in Newtons.

For instance, a Type II flotation device is equivalent to a current PFD that is rated for 70 Newtons. This device should be able to keep most people floating face up in the water. Type III devices will be replaced with 70 Newton rated PFDs that do not turn you face up. Each device has a Newton rating plus icons. These explain how much weight the PFD is meant to keep you afloat and how it floats you. In several years time, all PFDs will follow these guidelines. That said, old PFDs are still perfectly legal and usable.

For fire extinguishers, weight becomes a factor at this size. Vessels that weigh up to 50 gross tons need one B-II extinguisher. Over 50 gross tons requires two B-II extinguishers on board.

Visual and sound signals are the same for the previous class of vessels. This class does have a variation in sanitation requirements, however. A Type II or Type III marine sanitation device is required for this size of a vessel.

Additional requirements are the same as for the previous class. This includes sanitation and ventilation. The backfire flame arrestor must meet the same requirements as well. A copy of the inland navigation rules must also be on board the boat at all times, also.

What Class are Fishing Boats?

There are dozens and dozens of kinds of boats in the world. You have banana boats, log boats, bass boats and so many more. That’s why the class system is broken down by length. It makes it much easier to categorize a boat in these simple terms rather than trying to manage each type individually.

As a result, something like a fishing boat does not necessarily fit into one class. Your fishing boat could easily fit into literally any one of these classes. Remember, a fishing boat is not even technically a specific kind of boat. A fishing boat is just a boat from which you go fishing. A pontoon boat or some high performance boat could be a fishing boat. An inflatable dinghy could be a fishing boat. There is no standard for that particular description of a boat.

Does a Fishing Boat Need All The Same Safety Gear?

Some people question the application of safety standards. A Class I boat that only has one person on board seems different than one with ten people on board. But the rules are adaptable. If you are the only passenger on the boat then you only need one flotation device. You only need the fire extinguisher if your boat meets the requirements for it. That means something other than an outboard motor.

Man powered boats do not require the same level of safety and concern that power boats do. That’s why canoes and kayaks are exempt from requiring a fire extinguisher. After all, what would be the point? But just because your boat doesn’t have a swim platform or whatever doesn’t matter. Smaller boats or bigger boats all have the same potential to get into trouble. These rules are meant to help prevent that as much as possible. What About Pontoon Boats and Deck Boats?

No matter what kind of boat you’re on, the Coast Guard requirements apply evenly. Again, this can sometimes seem unnecessary. Something like a ski boat may seem more dangerous than cruising around on a deck boat. If you’re just relaxing on inland waters trying to catch largemouth bass, it can seem like overkill. But these measures are designed to ensure safety. In fact, these are the minimum requirements that the Coast Guard has implemented.

Some boaters prefer to have additional measures in place. For instance, as we said above, we recommend wearing a PFD at all times. This is not specifically required, only that the PFD be wearable and accessible. We feel that, the more people on board a boat, the more important it is to make sure everyone is wearing a PFD. This can cut down on wasted time and confusion if an accident happens later. If everyone scrambles for a PFD at the same time, a bad situation could easily become worse.

The Bottom Line

Boat classification has no effect on how you enjoy your boat. It also doesn’t change what you are allowed to do on your boat. The only purpose of classifications is to account for safety on board. Larger boats need to take more care in keeping the boat and passengers safe. Understanding the requirement is key to ensuring the safety of everyone on the water. Make sure you know the full dimensions of any boat you plan to take out onto the water. Once you are aware, you should always do a pre-departure check of the boat.

It’s important to know if you have all the safety gear every time you head out. Make sure the personal flotation devices are all in good working order. Check the date on all flares or visual signals to make sure they meet requirements. Also, check the date on your fire extinguishers before heading out as well. Old gear should be replaced immediately. It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Keep yourself and your passengers safe and you’ll be having a great time on the water.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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Azimut's New 72-Foot Yacht Has One of the Largest Flybridges in Its Class. We Hopped Onboard.

Azimut's Fly range , which spans from 50 to 78 feet, has long been the go-to style for yacht owners who are particular about sleek Italian aesthetics but want plenty of onboard space. Its new Fly 72 fits both of those requirements, combining a quality build with the style and panache Azimut owners have come to expect.

As I boarded the boat at the Miami show, the 72 was immediately recognizable for its Alberto Mancini-penned exterior. Mancini, a longtime Azimut collaborator, imbued this vessel with lines that are at once low-profile and slick, but also masculine, thanks to a lightly squared off bow, reverse shearline, and a steeply raked windshield, punctuated with a dark visor. It is dramatically different than the last-generation Fly 72 , showing Azimut's ability to dramatically refresh its line without losing the essential DNA.

Mancini's counterpart on the 72 is the Turin-based interior designer Fabio Fantolino, who has inherited the Fly interiors away from noted architect Achille Salvagni. What Fantolino created in the yacht's salon feels very much like an apartment in Rome, both elegant and functional. Details like leather satchel straps on the sofa set the boat apart, but in a functional way. The cushions slide to make the seating larger or more intimate. A portside galley amidships probably doesn't have the food stowage you'd want for longer trips, but its central location makes it the hub of a chic onboard cocktail party.

One of my favorite features of this yacht's design was a detail on the outer edge of the galley bar where lacquered, aquamarine slats call to mind the louvers common on La Dolce Vita –era runabouts. They share the same veneer as the alfresco dining table supports in the cockpit. That material, in fact, shows up across the boat, helping Fantolino create a vibe that is equal parts fun and sumptuous.

As one might expect for a yacht with Fly in its name, the 72's flybridge is a major focal point. Though its primary use is for entertaining, an upper helm there offers a chance for the captain to enjoy fresh breezes as well as excellent lines of sight. The flybridge stretches aft to cover the entire cockpit, with a rear glass bulwark that makes the deck feel even more spacious than it is.

The U-shaped dining settee with a teak table to port is positioned opposite an amply sized wetbar, while other lounge seating options are both forward and aft. The hardtop overhead has glass sections to let in sunlight as well as electrically actuated shades for when the rays becomes too strong.

A plush flybridge might be something you've come to expect from Azimut, but a pleasant surprise on these boats is the improved work space. Historically, Azimut has not been known for functional details, but the 72 has a third steering station with joystick controls in the cockpit for easier docking, as well as a work area at the bow for crew members working the anchor. That foredeck, by the way, has a large social area with lounges and sunbeds.

Under the cockpit, the twin 1,400 hp MAN V12s were housed in an engine room that offered good access to all work points. Reported speed numbers are 31 knots at the top end, with a 26-knot cruise. Range at 26 knots is 310 nautical miles, enough to make it from New York City to Nantucket, or Miami to Nassau without refueling.

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