Get ready to take on responsibility as a future skipper with the SKS.
Spain, Croatia
7, 10, or 14 days
German coastal license (“Sportküstenschifferschein”)
Fancy skippering?
Skipper Pro is aimed at advanced sailors:
You want to be a confident skipper, not just get another license.
You want to master maneuvers safely, even in challenging situations, instead of just checking them off once.
You want to gain real sailing experience, instead of trying to accumulate minimum miles in the shortest possible time.
You prefer “learning by doing" rather than through traditional classroom teaching.
You don't want to feel stressed.
Then Skipper Pro is the right choice for you.
Buoy overboard!
There will be plenty of opportunities to practise all the manoeuvres. You will have lots of fun and laughter, and you will be well prepared for the exam.
Close hauled
Join us and experience the power of the wind filling your sails.
Navigation
We navigate together, cover chart work, courses and coordinates in a real-life setting – coaching included.
Ready to cast off?
As a team, we refine the itinerary, prepare alternatives, and travel together every day.
Mile after mile…
You spend a lot of time at the helm and get a feel for the dynamics of the wind, the waves, and the boat.
Focus!
Practice docking until the boat is moored up at the buoy perfectly.
From sailing to skippering
To become a confident skipper, you need three things: knowledge, skill, and experience. With Skipper Pro, you can develop all three of these areas.
Fundamentals you will learn during the course:
Navigation
Tides
Weather
Techniques you will practice aboard the sailing yacht:
Maneuver training
Yacht handling
Repetition under different wind and weather conditions
Experience that grows through real time at sea:
Seamanship in action
Sailing together as a team
Make decisions
Accept responsibility
Cover distance
Practical experience always comes first at Manatee Academy. That's why training takes place on board a sailing yacht in various, sometimes advanced, sea areas:
Location
Teneriffa Palma de Mallorca Biograd na Moru
Tenerife: The area around Tenerife is characterized by volcanic landscapes, steep coastlines, and modern marinas. Steady trade winds provide reliable sailing conditions, and the mild climate throughout the year allows for relaxed sailing.
Palma de Mallorca: The area around Palma is ideal for those new to sailing. There are numerous harbors and bays, as well as short distances, ensuring varied practice opportunities. The mediterranean weather ensures plenty of sunshine and mostly moderate winds.
Biograd na Moru: With its countless islands, the Croatian coastline is perfect for your training trip. Sheltered bays and azure waters offer safety and variety. The weather is warm and sunny in the summer, with reliable thermal winds.
Three paths. One philosophy.
All Skipper Pro variants build on each other. Choose how much time and depth you want:
Duration 7 days We sail for 6 full days. Saturdays are half days for arrival and departure.
In one week, you will practice all content relevant to the exam:
Maneuver training intensively Docking and undocking, rescue maneuvers, sailing maneuvers, emergency roles, safety, and seamanship. Weather analysis daily Every day, we analyze weather reports and charts and observe and measure the weather on site. Navigation daily We continuously determine our position, plan the next stage, and navigate using a map, compass, and GPS. Practical knowledge on board Seamanship, meteorology, and equipment.
You will take on responsibility and be systematically guided towards exam readiness:
Practical exam on board The practical examination for the “Sportküstenschifferschein” (SKS) will be conducted on Friday by the DSV examination board directly on the boat.
The miles sailed are thus accumulated in a very relaxed manner. Core is ideal if you want to train for the practical exam and already have some miles under your belt.
Confirmation of nautical miles 150 nautical miles During the trip, we will cover at least 150 nautical miles. You can count these toward admission to the SKS exam, but they are not sufficient, as 300 nautical miles are required.
Theory and navigation are based on practical experience, ensuring that everything remains understandable later on. You can then prepare for the theory test at your own pace, without any time pressure:
Theory Webinar You will learn the basics of navigation, tides, and meteorology via webinar during the winter months. Navigation exercises Webinar Individual coaching on navigation and tide calculations is available during the winter months via webinar. Exam questions and answers App Access to the Manatee app with all official SKS questions in an interactive quiz format, perfect for structured learning and revision. Includes illustrated and annotated solutions to all navigation tasks. Theory exam near you You can take the theoretical exam at a time and place of your choice.
More: More time. More peace and quiet.
You extend your maneuver training with additional days at sea:
Duration 10 days We sail for a total of 9 full days. The first and last days are half days for arrival and departure.
Once you have mastered the maneuvers relevant to the exam, we will simply continue sailing:
Activities advanced insights You will experience trip planning, watch systems, longer legs, a night trip, and decisions in ongoing shipboard operations.
Incidentally, this allows us to cover more distance:
Confirmation of nautical miles 300 nautical miles During the trip, we will cover at least 300 nautical miles. This means you will fulfill the requirements for the SKS exam.
With More, you can comfortably sail the required miles in one trip.
Complete: Theory in context.
Duration 14 days We sail for 13 full days. Saturdays are half arrival or departure days.
During the first week, theory lessons take place on board for half a day, linked to what we experience at sea:
Theory on board You will learn the basics of meteorology, tidal science, seamanship, and maritime law—interactively, personally, and in a guaranteed small group. Navigational skills on board The most difficult part of the SKS certificate is navigating quickly and accurately on nautical charts. To make it easier for you to practice later, you will receive a detailed introduction including tips and tricks.
The theory exam itself does not take place on board, as it requires intensive preparation.
Complete is particularly suitable if you are looking for a compact training program or want to learn the theory in person and in a maritime context.
At a glance
core
more
complete
Duration
core
7 days
more
10 days
complete
14 days
Maneuver training
core
more
complete
Extra experience
core
more
complete
nautical miles
core
150 nm
more
300 nm
complete
300 nm
Theory
core
Webinar
more
Webinar
complete
On board + webinar
Navigation
core
Coaching
more
Coaching
complete
On board + coaching
Apply practice
During the trip, you will prepare for all exam-relevant maneuvers that are necessary for the safe operation of a sailing yacht in coastal waters:
Rescue maneuvers under sail and engine
Mooring and casting off at a buoy and in marinas
Sailing maneuvers: tacking, jibing, heaving to, as well as setting, lowering, and reefing sails
You will naturally learn the basics of seamanship, weather analysis, navigation, and equipment in all variants during everyday life on board.
Learn theory
Theory is not an end in itself at Skipper Pro. You will receive:
Access to the theory webinar
Access to navigation coaching
Access to learning content in the Manatee SKS app
The theory part takes about 20 hours and covers navigation, seamanship, maritime law, and meteorology.
You should plan for an additional 40 hours of self-study for the navigation tasks.
Approximately additional hours are required to study the exam questions.
You can take the theory exam without time pressure within two years of completing the practical training. You can attend our webinars as often as you like.
Sequence and prerequisites
We recommend that you first complete the practical training on the water and then deepen your theoretical knowledge in the winter. This sequence has proven to be effective, but it is not mandatory.
Prerequisite for the SKS and the basis for the practical part:
Sportbootführerschein See A SBF See license is required for admission to the SKS exam. German language skills at least B2 As both the theory and practical exams are conducted in German, we recommend that you have the appropriate level of German language skills. However, you do not need to provide proof of this. Our app will help you learn technical terms, and you will gain experience of using the German language on board during the training cruise.
Earn miles
The SKS is not an introduction to sailing, but rather a qualification step. Accordingly, it also requires sailing experience:
Certificate of nautical miles 300 nautical miles Proof of 300 nautical miles on sailing yachts in coastal waters is a prerequisite for admission to the SKS practical exam.
Regardless of this, we strongly recommend that you gain some practical sailing experience before taking the SKS. You can find out whether sailing and life on board really suit you on a beginner's cruise, for example:
You can also count the experience gained from our SBF training cruise towards the SKS—you will already have covered around 50 nautical miles there:
You can also gain targeted sailing experience, for example on our mileage or SRC cruises, which focus on sailing and everyday life on board:
This gives you two options: you can either start with Skipper Pro Core using your existing miles, or opt for More or Complete right away.
Why the SKS?
The “Sportküstenschifferschein” is the official sailing license for coastal waters.
License SKS On this trip, you will obtain your “Sportküstenschifferschein” (SKS) license. This is the advanced official license for sailing yachts in coastal waters (all seas up to 12 nautical miles from the mainland coast) at sea. Further information is available from the German Sailing Association (DSV)...
In contrast, the SBF See teaches the fundamental traffic rules and navigational basics and forms the basis for everything else.
The SKS goes much further:
It focuses on sailing yacht handling, navigation, and tides.
It shows experience at sea.
It therefore often serves as proof of qualification for charter companies and insurance companies.
In short: the SKS proves that you can not only steer a sailing yacht, but also skipper it responsibly.
Ready?
If you are unsure, talk to us. We are always happy to advise and work with you to find the right solution.
