Practical exam format
On board a pleasure boat, at an approved practical exam centre. A single practical exam covers both the restricted and the general licence.
| Part | Restricted | General | Yachtmaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | – | – | General licence |
| Duration | 1 to 2 hours per person on board | 10 hours of sailing, including 3 at night | |
| Tests | 7 tests | Helmsman · navigator · skipper | |
| Total | 200 points | 100 points | |
| Pass mark | 60% in each topic | 60% in each topic | |
Engine or sail? Since 1 July 2021, the licence shows the type of exam passed: M (engine), S (sail) or MS (engine and sail). Our courses prepare you for the engine and sail exam.
The syllabus by licence
Click on a licence to see the details.
Restricted & general licence – 7 tests200 pts
1. General safety (/40)
- Take account of other waterway users and signs
- Keep a safe speed, keep an effective lookout
- Follow the right-of-way rules and react correctly
- Communicate effectively
2. Briefing (/10)
- Safety briefing: equipment and emergency procedures
- Effect of the forecast weather on navigation (eddies, sea / land breeze…)
- Pre-departure checks, fuel, starting the engine, kill cord
3. Leaving a pontoon (/10)
- Mooring lines and springs on departure (windward, parallel wind, leeward)
- Get the boat out safely, use the fenders
4. Manoeuvring in a confined space (/10)
- Straight course, starboard and port turns, U-turn, reversing
- Forward / reverse with the right helm angle, emergency stop
- Outboard: trim correction
5. Man overboard (/20)
- Communicate with the crew and the person in the water, keep visual contact
- Approach at the right angle and speed, get the person back on board
- Care after a risk of drowning
6. Mooring: pontoon or lock (/10)
- Choose the berth (in a lock: the right side), prepare lines and fenders
- Arrive at the right angle and speed, moor, final checks
7. Sailing manoeuvres (/100)
- Rig, hoist and lower the sails safely
- Take in and shake out a reef, adapt the sail plan to the weather
- Triangular course with at least one upwind leg and well-trimmed sails
- Tack, gybe, emergency stop, heave to
⚠️ Eliminating errors: right of way not respected · kill cord forgotten (engine) · loss of control of the boat · poor contact with the person overboard · reefing or sail reduction not under control · triangular course failed (points of sail, tacking, gybing).
Yachtmaster licence – helmsman, navigator, skipper100 pts
Helmsman (/30)
- Sailing and manoeuvres: all the tests of the general licence (engine + sail)
- Important: the man-overboard manoeuvre
Navigator (/30)
- Plan and carry out a passage of several hours according to the wind and weather (/10)
- Plan and carry out an upwind leg (/5)
- Electronic navigation and communication aids (/5)
- Check the fuel quantity for the boat and the passage (/10)
Skipper (/40)
- Check documents (/3), safety (/3), equipment (/3), regulations (/3) and weather (/6)
- Consultative leadership (/6), clear communication with the crew (/6)
- Seamanship, in the practical sense of the word (/10)
⚠️ Eliminating faults: general safety / briefing · man overboard · right-of-way rules · night navigation · passage plan prepared before departure.
Administrative
When you need a licence, which one to choose and how to register for the exam.
Registering for and sitting the practical exam
- Registration through the sailing school
- Additional €120 for administrative handling
- Duration: at least 1 hour for the restricted and general licence, 10 hours (including 3 at night) for the yachtmaster licence
- Pass mark: at least 60% in each topic
When do you need a boating licence?
- To charter a boat anywhere in Europe: general licence
- If the boat is used for commercial or professional purposes: yachtmaster licence
Which licence for which area?
| Area | Restricted | General | Yachtmaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 · Enclosed waters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1 · Inland waters connected to the sea | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2 · Lower Sea Scheldt | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 3 · Coastal harbours | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 4 · Sea, up to 6 miles | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 5 · From 6 to 60 miles | ✓ | ||
| 6 · From 60 to 200 miles | ✓ |
Exception: for private use, the general licence is valid throughout the Belgian territorial sea and EEZ. Beyond 200 miles (area 7): yacht navigator licence.
Requirements to obtain the licence?
- Minimum age: 16 (you can register for the exam from 15)
- Medical certificate
- Theory and practical exams passed (within 3 years, in any order)
Documents to download
PDFPractical exam syllabus – Restricted & GeneralObjectives of the general licenceDownload ↓PDFPractical exam syllabus – YachtmasterObjectives of the yachtmaster licenceDownload ↓
Prepare for the practical exam with us
4 days at sea in Nieuwpoort, on board a JPK 110, in small groups of 3 to 5 people. Practical lessons are given in English.