How to Write a Sailing Resume (With Example & Free Template)

A sailing resume (or sailing CV) is your proof of experience, training, and certifications in the boating world. Whether you're chartering a yacht, applying for a crew role, or planning to earn advanced qualifications like the Yachtmaster or USCG license, a solid sailing CV is essential.

TL;DR – What to Include in a Sailing Resume

Log every trip: duration, location, your role, and boat type
List all certifications: RYA, ASA, USCG, radio licenses, etc.
Include night passages, offshore trips, tidal vs non-tidal as well as qualifying passages
Get your log verified by skippers or instructors
Upload documents to a secure cloud storage (like SailTies)
Keep your resume updated and ready for charters, schools, insurance or crewing

Start building your sailing resume easily with SailTies – available on the App Store and Google Play. SailTies makes it fun and very easy with an automatic Sailor Resume.

Why You Need a Sailing Resume

Crew reviewing sailing resume before a charter trip

Chartering a Boat

Boat owners and charter companies need to see proof of competence. Without a resume, you may not get access to the boat — even if you’re qualified.

Earning Qualifications

If you're going for RYA Yachtmaster or USCG Captain’s License, you’ll need to show logged experience. A well-documented sailing resume ensures your miles, days, and passages count.

For some qualifications, you need to show qualifying passages. With paper records it is a very tedious task to work this out manually. With SailTies we do it for you automatically.

Insurance Purposes

Insurers often want evidence of experience to underwrite or lower premiums. A resume showing detailed logs can strengthen claims and reduce costs.

Buying a Boat

If you're working with a broker, your sailing resume helps them find the right vessel for your skill level and plans. This can avoid costly mismatches.

International Regulations

Some marinas, coast guards, and customs officials require documentation of your boating history. A structured CV keeps you prepared.

Crewing

Some crew positions require proof of your experience and certifications before onboarding.

What to Include in Your Sailing Resume

Sailing Experience

Each trip matters — even a weekend cruise or race. Log:

Your role (Skipper, Crew)
Start and end dates
Route or sailing area
Boat size and type
Total miles
Number of nights onboard
Type of sailing (inland, offshore, tidal, race, delivery)
Conditions (weather, tides)
Purpose (training, leisure, passage, charter)
Crew (Who you have sailed with)

Pro Tip: Use SailTies to log, store, and organize this data digitally and automatically.

Screenshot of SailTies trip log entry with GPS track, roles, and weather

Certifications and Training

Include official certifications with issuing body and date:

Certifications (e.g. NauticEd, IYT, RYA, ASA, USCG)
VHF or radio licenses
First aid and navigation courses
Engine maintenance or diesel training

Upload scanned copies using SailTies or connect your account to NauticEd / International Yacht Training (IYT) for automatic import.

Verification

Have skippers (instructors or co-crew) verify your trips. SailTies lets you invite others to confirm your log entries, making your resume more credible and trustworthy.

SailTies resume with with skipper signatures for log entries

Create Your Sailing Resume with SailTies

Start building a professional sailing CV in minutes. SailTies makes it simple to:

Log past and future trips
Upload certificates
Track mileage and offshore time
Share your resume with charter companies, schools, or insurers

Download SailTies for free:

Sample Sailing Resume Entry

A SailTies Resume, although mostly generated automtically, provides a comprehensive and detailed record of your sailing experience It includes information such as:

Name: Chris Jacobs
SailTies Profile: sailties.net/chris
Joined SailTies: 04 May 2020
Home Port: Abersoch, United Kingdom
Personal Bio: Day Skipper, graduate of Halcyon Yacht's delivery skipper development program. Favourite place to sail is Abersoch, North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Making the SailTies app when on land 📱
Total Experience
- Total Distance: 4,331 NM
- Days at Sea: 142 Days
- Tidal %: 67 %
- Skipper %: 33 %
- GPS Recorded %: 90 %
- Years Logged: 2013 to 2024
Qualifications Summary:
- International Sailing License
  - Issuer Verified
  - Issued on: 01 January 2024
  - Expires on: 08 August 2027
- Bareboat Charter Master Level III
  - Issuer Verified
  - Issued on: 01 January 2024
  - Expires on: No Expiry
- Marine Radio Short Range
  - SailTies Checked
  - Issued on: 19 June 2022
  - Expires on: No Expiry
- ICC 24m Power Coastal
  - Issuer Verified
  - Issued on: 01 January 2014
  - Expired on: 31 December 2018
- Dinghy Level 2 Basic Skills
  - SailTies Checked
  - Issued on: 06 October 2013
  - Expires on: No Expiry
- Competent Crew
  - SailTies Checked
  - Issued on: 19 September 2013
  - Expires on: No Expiry
- Level 2 Powerboat Handling
  - SailTies Checked
  - Issued on: 17 August 2007
  - Expires on: No Expiry
Key Statistics:
- Sail
  - All Time:
    - Distance: 4,176 NM
    - Tidal Miles: 2,856 NM
    - Days at Sea: 125 days
    - Duration: 46 days 22 hours
    - Night hours: 11 hrs
  - Last 10 Years:
    - Distance: 4,036 NM
    - Tidal Miles: 2,716 NM
    - Days at Sea: 131 days
    - Duration: 41 days 22 hours
    - Night hours: 9 hrs
Locations Sailed:
- Countries Sailed:
  - Turkey
  - United Kingdom
  - France
  - Greece
  - Croatia
  - Spain
  - Italy
  - New Zealand
  - Australia
  - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  - Ireland
  - Grenada
  - Barbados
  - Portugal
  - French Polynesia
- Oceans and Seas Sailed:
  - Tidal:
    - Irish Sea
    - North Atlantic Ocean
    - Celtic Sea
    - English Channel
    - Bay Of Biscay
    - Tasman Sea
    - South Pacific Ocean
  - Non-Tidal:
    - Eastern Mediterranean Sea
    - Ionian Sea
    - Adriatic Sea
    - Balear Sea
    - Western Mediterranean Sea
    - Tirreno Sea
    - Caribbean Sea
Sailing Vessels:
- Time Out
  - Manufacturer: Moody
  - Model: 38
  - LOA: 37ft (11.43m)
  - 808 NM Sailed
- Indra
  - Manufacturer: Bowman
  - Model: 42
  - LOA: 43ft (13.13m)
  - 484 NM Sailed
- Jambo
  - Manufacturer: Lagoon
  - Model: 42
  - LOA: 42ft (12.8m)
  - 416 NM Sailed
- Batsheva
  - Manufacturer: Beneteau
  - Model: 523
  - LOA: 53ft (16.25m)
  - 354 NM Sailed
Latest Voyages:
- Not as farda as we thought! 🇮🇹
  - 28 September 2024
  - 8 NM • 1h 49m
  - Riva del Garda, Italy
- Back to base in record time! 🚀
  - 25 March 2024
  - 9 NM • 1h 40m
  - Port Elizabeth to Calliaqua, St Vincent and
  - Grenadines
Longest Voyages:
- Biscay crossing to A Coruna
  - 28 July 2020
  - 357 NM • 2 days 16 hours
  - Les Liniou, France to A Coruña, Spain
- Hamble to Kinsale
  - 30 June 2020
  - 354 NM • 2 days 18 hours
  - Hamble, UK to Kinsale, Ireland
Qualifying Sailing Passages:
- Passages must meet the following criteria. Your five longest are selected.
  - Distance of 60 NM or more
  - Occurred within the last 10 years
  - Vessel added to the voyage, with length (LOA) between 7m and 24m
  - You were skipper on at least two
  - At least two were overnight
- Passages:
  - 31 July to 4 August 2019
    - The Solent, UK (Tidal)
    - Nomad 1
      - Jeanneau Sun Fast 37 - 37ft (Sail)
    - 4 days 9 hours (4 night hours)
    - 127 NM
Full Voyage History:
- 28 September 2024
  - Riva del Garda, Italy
  - Topcat k2x
  - 17ft
  - 1h 49m 8 NM
  - Skipper Chris Jacobs

Sample of a printed sailing resume with details

Sailing Resume FAQs

What is a sailing resume?

A sailing resume (or CV) is a record of your boating experience, certifications, and skills. It proves your qualifications to charter companies, sailing schools, insurers, and officials.

What should I include in a boating resume?

Include your logged trips, certifications, licenses, and verified experience. You should also mention the types of boats sailed, your role, and any notable sailing conditions.

How do I format a sailing log?

Use a structured format: date, route, boat type, miles, role, night sails, and conditions. A digital app like SailTies makes this easy, verifiable and automatic.

Is a sailing CV required to rent a yacht?

You can normaly get by with a qualification, alhtough some operators do also like to know your general sailing experience. SailTies does both automatically.

What's the difference between a sailing resume and yachting CV?

They're interchangeable terms. "Yachting CV" is more common in professional crew contexts; "sailing resume" is used more for amateur sailors and recreational use.

Create your sailing resume with SailTies today – free on the App Store and Google Play.