INQUIRY But how much does a skipper really earn?
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It’s real boom skippers. It’s the charter market, which has been booming in recent years, that increasingly demands more and more recreational skippers, qualified people to whom they can entrust their boats and crews. Even in this difficult 2020 plagued by health emergencies and social distancing rules, this trend has not been belied at all; on the contrary.
Boat cruising has been prized by thousands of people, often newbies, as the safest and most fulfilling vacation. So after the winter lockdown in Italy, bookings flourished with numbers that were in some ways unexpected, a phenomenon that sent quite a few charter companies into a tailspin as they had to bottom out their fleets and commit every available skipper. In short, never before has the figure of the skipper been in high demand, and for those who want to devote themselves to this profession, there is no shortage of opportunities to fulfill their dream.
There are few schools in Italy, to become real skippers, able to know how to best manage a boat, crew and above all put their hands anywhere if needed. At the bottom we give some good examples. Be aware, however, that for those who want to become skippers, passion alone is not enough. It takes dedication, some sacrifice and a high level of technical preparation.
HOW MUCH DOES A SKIPPER MAKE?
But against these requirements, how much do you earn? According to our survey, a competent skipper in Italy aboard a monohull up to 50-52 feet gets 180 euros per day, while on a catamaran the compensation is 200 euros per day. On larger boats and luxury yachts you can earn 250-300 euros per day.
TYPE OF BOAT | DAY | WEEK | MONTH | SEASON |
Up to 50 feet |
180/200 euro |
1,200/1,500 euros |
5,000/6,000 |
13,000/15,000 |
Over 50 feet |
Over 50 feet 250/300 euros |
1,700/2,100 euros |
7,000/9,000 |
22,000/25,000 |
So in one season you can earn 12-15,000 euros, which on yachts becomes 20-25,000. The international job market then is even more rewarding: a “Deckhand,” i.e., a deckhand, according to the International Salary Standard in a six-month embarkation gets 2,500 euros per month, while a first officer on a 40-meter yacht with annual boarding gets 6,000 to 8,000 euros a month. Abroad, moreover, there are gratuities of up to 1,500-2,000 euros per week on certain boats.
To work as a skipper there are in any case additional benefits that go far beyond the purely economic aspect: you travel a lot, you have intense experiences, you meet a lot of people, but above all there is the priceless satisfaction of living off your passion for the sea. Do you think you can be a good skipper? There is a world out there just waiting for you!
IN THE NEXT ISSUE (NOVEMBER) OF THE SAILING JOURNAL YOU WILL FIND THE FULL SURVEY
THREE “RIGHT” SCHOOLS TO BECOME A SKIPPER
Established in 2008, the MadMax Skippers School is a higher education school aimed at those who want to pursue a career as a skipper. Running it is Lucas Lucarelli, founder and creator of the MadMax method and a catamaran skipper for more than 20 years. The program consists of 21 full immersion days experienced aboard a catamaran. MadMax is the only school that guarantees engagement to all those promoted. Info HERE
Managed by Cmdr. Ugo Carsana and Sabina Pagliei, Captains & Crew is a sea school that was founded in 2014 and offers a “craft” approach based on articulate and rigorous teaching. Individuals deemed suitable are given the Anglo-Saxon training pathway (Rya Mca) to obtain the professional qualifications necessary for practice. Info HERE
Water Tribe is a sailing school established in 2001 that specializes in offshore cabin cruiser courses that are conducted in Sardinia. Be Skilled is Water Tribe’s professional sailing training center focused on learning the craft of skippering with high technical content and aimed at issuing RYA certifications GMDSS SRC, Diesel Engine, PPR and Shorebased RYA Yachtmaster. Info HERE
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