Frequently asked questions

Professional trainers
Challenging cruising area
Tropical climate
Broad range of yachts
Affordable prices

What sort of qualification will I be awarded

A: IYT Passport and Certificate

International Yacht Training Inc. is an internationally recognized training organization that instructs both recreational and professional sailors. The Professional qualification is recognized by 29 countries worldwide including the UK, USA and Australia. Gulf Charters Thailand is an approved sailing school licensed by IYT to teach its recreational sailing courses. All Gulf Charters IYT students are issued with and IYT International passport which is a lifetime record of the courses they have undertaken and a log of their sailing experience. As each course is completed the school stamps and seals the appropriate IYT modules so the record can be examined by any skipper or sailing school to testify to your training.

In addition successful candidates will be awarded an IYT numbered Certificate with is a document produced by IYT in the USA which proves the student has successfully completed the course. IYT passports and certificates are accepted by all major charter companies world wide as proof of your competence in the subjects covered.

B: Registration with IYT

On completion of the course all essential information contained in the passport and certificate is sent to IYT headquarters in Florida so that the information can be verified in the future by any responsible school or skipper who wished to confirm the information presented.

What Boats will I learn on?

Gulf Charters has at its disposal a fleet of 10 sailing boats any of which will be used by the instructors depending on the student numbers and the type of training to be undertaken. You will certainly be sailing on both keelboats and catamarans that can vary in size from 32ft to 52ft.

Who will be my fellow students?

Gulf Charters students come from all over the world but they are all speak the English language and are of all ages and backgrounds, but are typically between 30 and 60 years old with little or no prior sailing experience.

How many students are there on my course?

Gulf Charters restricts each course to a maximum of 6 students but it is not at all unusual to be in a group of 3 or 4 students.

Will all my fellow students be studying the same course?

Yes - it is the policy of Gulf Charters to run separate courses for Crew, Watchkeeper and Skipper so you will not find yourself mixed up with students of a different level of study.

And the dining experience?

Thailand is justly famous for its wonderful cuisine and we ensure that all students are able to take full advantage of that fact at the restaurants in both Ocean Marina and Ko Chang. In both locations European menus are available for those with a less adventurous palette. The Zero to Hero course fee covers two on shore dinner parties while out on anchor. Otherwise, you are on your own when you are on shore to explore the local restaurants in both Pattaya and Koh Chang. On board the cuisine is easy to prepare, delicious and nutritious. If you have specific Dietary needs please let us know in advance.

What to bring with me?

Shorts and tee shirt are the order of the day, but a hat and sunscreen are essential as we are only 12 degrees North of the equator. A long sleeve shirt for sun protection is a good idea as well as a rain jacket that can be very useful in the event that you are caught out in a tropical squall which come through from time to time and can be windy and full of cold rain that usually lasts about 20 minutes.

What if I fail the course?

If you read the manual and follow the class instruction there is no reason why you should fail. but, if you do come to the end of the course and have not met the required IYT standard then you will not be awarded a certificate. We will be happy to offer you another place on the next suitable school course free of tuition charges with only the 5,000 baht provisioning fee.

How will I pay?

Your place is confirmed on receipt of a 25% deposit which guarantees your place on the course. We then email you a student manual for pre-enrolment study. The balance is paid on arrival for the course. We gladly accept cash (Euros and US dollars are fine) and we can accept Visa and MasterCard in the Pattaya office for a 3% surcharge.

How will I get there?

If you are flying into Bangkok and the course is at Pattaya then we will normally arrange for a transfer from the arrival gate to Ocean Marina for a total cost of 2,500 baht one way for the 1.5 hour journey by motorway. Alternatively, you can take the airport VIP bus to Pattaya bus station and take a taxi to Ocean marina which is about 10 kms south of Pattaya and a 400 Baht taxi fare.

Will I be able to get a job with this qualification?

No, the IYT courses run by Gulf charters are recreational courses designed for those that will sail for pleasure on their own boat or one chartered from a charter company. Your training will help you to get some of the prerequisites necessary to being the training for the first professional certificate level and IYT does have professional Yacht Master courses for those wishing to earn a living on a yacht. To find out more, you will have to go to the IYT World website to find out more regarding professional certifications.

We are a couple - can we study together?

We have had excellent experience with couples on our courses and find that they come away with a good team sprit.

In addition, we offer couples get a package discount of 6,000 Baht to reflect the fact that they sharing accommodations on board the yacht while sailing offshore.

Can I bring my 12 year old son?

Yes, we are keen that parents share the learning experience with their children. We offer private courses for families with children under 18. The IYT Bareboat Captains Certificate requires that all graduates are 18 years of age. However, 16-17 year olds gain get their Crew and Watchkeeper certificates while sailng with Mom and Dad! Please contact us for more information on our private classes.