Licences, Onboard Training and Guided Rides
A jet ski aboard your charter yacht adds another way to enjoy the coastline, whether you want regular rides throughout your holiday or a single afternoon exploring with a guide. Before taking the controls, however, you need to establish which arrangement applies to you. Depending on your qualifications and destination, you may be able to ride with an existing licence, complete training aboard or join an authorised guided excursion.
1. I Already Have a Licence. Can I Use It?
You may already hold a qualification suitable for driving the yacht’s jet ski. Documents worth submitting to the charter team include:
- A French coastal boating licence, known as the permis plaisance option côtière.
- A national boating or PWC licence covering the intended jet-ski use.
- An International Certificate of Competence (ICC) with the appropriate PWC scope, where accepted.
- An RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency certificate, where accepted for the proposed operation.
Acceptance depends on the destination, the jet ski’s registration, the qualification’s privileges and, in some cases, your nationality. Send the complete document before departure so the yacht’s team can confirm its suitability. A certificate accepted during a previous holiday is not automatically sufficient for every charter.
Why doesn’t a car-driving licence count? It qualifies you to drive road vehicles, not powered watercraft. Jet-ski operation involves different rules, including marine navigation, collision avoidance and coastal restrictions. Similarly, a powerboat qualification should not automatically be assumed to cover PWCs.
Once your qualification is accepted, the crew will explain the equipment, permitted riding area and safety procedures before you set off.
2. I Have No Licence, but Want to Ride Throughout My Charter
If you would like to take the controls regularly during your holiday, ask about a yacht offering recognised onboard PWC training.
Some yachts operate as RYA recognised training centres and carry qualified PWC instructors. They can deliver the Introduction to Personal Watercraft Safety course, which usually takes around one hour, with a minimum of a successful assessment required.
You learn the controls, practical handling, collision avoidance, reboarding and the operating arrangements around the yacht. For ordinary charter guests, the resulting introductory certificate is valid for the duration of the charter.
Can I then ride by myself? Yes, provided the onboard training arrangement is accepted at your destination. You can take the controls yourself, while remaining under supervision and within the riding area set by the crew. The certificate covers the agreed use during your charter; it is not permission to explore independently or rent another jet ski ashore.
The onboard certificate is not automatically a French boating licence.
Is training included? Policies vary. Some charters include the onboard course, while others may charge for training, certification or an external instructor. Confirm the arrangements before booking, particularly if several guests wish to participate.
3. I Only Want a Short Ride, Without Completing an Onboard Course
If you would prefer a single outing rather than certification for the remainder of your charter, an authorised guided jet-ski excursion may be a better fit.
In France, approved operators can offer eligible unlicensed guests supervised introductions and excursions under regulated conditions. This allows you to enjoy an organised ride without first completing the yacht’s RYA introductory course.
You still receive essential safety instructions and a practical introduction before departure. The guide leads the session along an agreed route, subject to local restrictions and conditions. It is an accompanied activity, rather than permission to ride independently afterwards.
Ask about a shorter excursion if you only want around an hour on the water. Confirm whether the advertised duration includes the briefing, which locations the route covers and whether the operator supplies its own jet skis. Using those aboard your charter yacht should not be assumed.
Your charter team can help establish available providers, age requirements, transfer arrangements and additional costs.
Share your plans with The Yacht Collection before booking, and let us help you find the right yacht and jet-ski arrangements for your holiday.
