Podcast Maré Sonora ® video

How to be a skipper in Greece?

February 7, 2026 · 33 min · 136 views · Greece

Skipper steers catamaran through calm Greek waters

What this video covers

Vitor Oliveira, a former geology graduate and sales manager from Brazil, describes how he transitioned into professional charter skipperwork in Greece after completing a Yacht Master course in Gibraltar.3:50 He spent four months skippering one-week island-hopping charters in Greece, operating within a flotilla of three to five boats carrying 30–40 guests total per week.10:35 On the catamaran he commanded alone, he hosted eight passengers, handled all navigation, and prepared breakfast daily — with no crew assistance.17:06 He describes the skipper's accommodation as a cramped forward bow cabin with a hatch window, the toilet repurposed as a storage shelf, while guests occupy the main cabins.0:08 He outlines the certification path for Brazilians: Brazilian arrais and mestre licences build foundational skills but are not valid for paid work in Europe, where the Yacht Master is the recognized standard.20:58 English proficiency is essential; his first week in Gibraltar included a fire-fighting exercise conducted entirely in English inside a burning structure.8:34 He also discusses orca encounter risk while delivering along the Portuguese coast, and previews upcoming charter work in the Caribbean around St. Maarten, Antigua, and Belize.28:24

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