Responsibilities of the Skipper / Captain
Everything else in the course is technique; this module is the job. IYT Module 25 at Working depth — and assessed continuously through the practical course whenever a student takes command: what the law expects of a skipper, the pre-departure briefing, common courtesy afloat, duty of care to crew and guests, delegation and watches, actions after a collision — plus a searchable glossary of the nautical terms used throughout the whole course.
Skipper vs CaptainLegal responsibilityDuty to render assistance
Pre-departure briefingCommon courtesyDuty of care
Watch systemsAfter a collisionGlossary
Why it matters afloat: from the moment the lines are slipped, one person is answerable for everyone aboard — awake or asleep, on deck or below. Students need to understand that responsibility before they take out a charter.
Skipper or Captain — What's the Difference?
Skipper
In command of a recreational vessel ("pleasure craft"), and not paid for it. May or may not hold a formal qualification.
In command of a recreational vessel ("pleasure craft"), and not paid for it. May or may not hold a formal qualification.
Captain
In charge of a commercial vessel — superyachts included — and paid for their services. In the USA, "Captain" specifically implies a US Coast Guard qualification.
In charge of a commercial vessel — superyachts included — and paid for their services. In the USA, "Captain" specifically implies a US Coast Guard qualification.
The label changes with the country and the pay cheque — the responsibility doesn't. Everything in Lesson 2 applies equally to both.
The Skipper's Legal Responsibilities
The non-negotiables
- Legally responsible at all times for vessel, crew and guests — even asleep or below decks, and above all in bad weather or when the boat is in jeopardy
- Obliged by law to render assistance to any vessel or mariner in distress — capsize, fire, swamping, grounding, sinking — so long as it doesn't endanger your own people. Stay with them until no longer needed; take on survivors, provide warm clothing or a tow; alert the shore authorities
- Cooperate with police on the water, and assist if asked
- Seaworthy before departure — vessel, safety kit and navigation equipment fit for the intended voyage
- Qualified for the vessel you command — and your crew should know your qualifications and experience
The daily discipline
- Operate safely and courteously, for everyone aboard and every other water user
- Brief each crew member on their duties; hold a plan for every likely eventuality, delivered with confidence — crew, in turn, must respond to commands quickly and efficiently
- Know local restrictions (motorboat/PWC zones, towing areas) before operating
- Care for the environment: garbage ashore, no anchoring in sensitive areas, zero tolerance for oil, fuel, black-water and toxic-cleaner pollution — and mind invasive-species cross-contamination and hull scrapings
- Caution around tugs and tows (never between them), clear of shipping lanes, ferries and vessels restricted in ability to manoeuvre
- Adapt to changing wind, weather, visibility and tide; respect prohibited waters; travel as a group when small craft head the same way; know every fuel-burning device aboard and what to do if one catches fire
The Pre-Departure Safety Briefing
Before the lines come off, every person aboard hears the same short briefing. Run it as a drill — tick each point as you'd deliver it:
Teaching tip: make students deliver this briefing to you on day one of the practical. Saying it aloud once beats hearing it ten times — and it's exactly what their first charter company will expect of them.
Common Courtesy & the Duty of Care
Common courtesy — the marina test
- Stereo volume and guest noise governed by common sense — especially evenings and overnight
- Engine noise down where it matters; well clear of divers, swimmers, kayaks, windsurfers, paddle craft and wildlife
- Slow down — kill the wake passing boats, in waterways, near shore property; know your own boat's wake at every speed
- Posted speed limits, local hazards, wind and tide — always in mind; slower still in poor visibility
Duty of care — what "reasonable" means
The skipper owes the crew:
The skipper owes the crew:
- Competent crew to operate the vessel
- The safety equipment — life raft, flares, extinguishers and the rest
- A safe vessel — safe access, lighting, guarded openings, attention to slippery surfaces, ventilation, proper warnings
- A safe system of work — supervision and enforcement scaled to the job and the circumstances
Three scenarios to run at the whiteboard: ① a guest wants to swim off the transom in a busy anchorage — what does duty of care require before you say yes? ② your least experienced crew member is on the foredeck in rising wind — safe system of work? ③ a neighbouring boat's stereo is shaking the anchorage at 23:00 — what does courtesy (and seamanship) look like from your cockpit?
Delegation, Watches & After a Collision
Delegation & watches
- Day trip: no formal watch system needed — but someone on the helm and someone on lookout, always
- Longer passages: a watch system that guarantees real rest for crew and skipper, with duties allocated to the crew's size and experience
- Log progress in the navigational logbook and on the chart at regular intervals
- Meals, housekeeping, maintenance and repairs are watch duties too — passage-making is a household underway
After a collision
- Identify what's needed to assist the vessel in distress — yours or theirs; the render-assistance duty from Lesson 2 applies
- Recognise distress signals as defined in the collision regulations (Module 22)
- Assess mechanical breakdowns before they compound — and call early: PAN-PAN (Module 24) beats MAYDAY-later
Course Glossary
The working vocabulary of the whole Flotilla/Bareboat course, searchable. Type to filter — try "reef", "tack" or "light":
Responsibilities of the Skipper — Knowledge Check
10 questions at IYT exam standard (75% to pass), drawn from the IYT Module 25 knowledge review.