How many miles are required for the Swiss high seas licence?

For the sailing category: 1000 nautical miles and at least 18 days at sea, with a minimum of 700 miles after passing the theory exam. A sea day counts from 30 minutes of sailing outside the port or off the anchor, and a single non-stop passage is credited 500 miles at most.

Who can sign off my miles for the Swiss licence?

A certified skipper, keeping a logbook compliant with the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office prescriptions. Aboard Little Cloud, Sam is an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t and holds the Swiss high seas licence himself.

Should I pass the theory exam before building miles?

Not necessarily, but it's smart: only 300 miles sailed before the theory exam count (within 4 years), and at least 700 must come after. If you're aiming for a big leg or an Atlantic crossing, pass your theory first.

Do catamaran miles count for the Swiss high seas licence?

Yes, exactly like monohull miles: same requirements, same logbook, same skipper's signature. And you learn the type of boat most people end up chartering on holiday.

Can my family come along while I build miles?

Yes, that's exactly the Little Cloud format: you learn and log your miles while your family or friends enjoy the boat, the anchorages, the paddleboards and the diving.

field notes

Catamaran Mile Building for the Swiss Licence, on Holiday

By Sam & Oriane · Updated July 2026 · 6 min read

The Swiss high seas licence (permis mer / Hochseeschein) requires 1000 nautical miles of practice. The classic route is an intensive mile-building course or a delivery: efficient, but away from everyone, stacking watches on a boat you'll never see again. There's another way: come aboard with your family or friends, and turn your holiday into miles that count. Literally.

What the Swiss licence requires

Sailing category, in short

1000 nmat sea, with a certified skipper and a logbook compliant with the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office prescriptions
18 daysat sea minimum: a day counts from 30 minutes of sailing outside the port or off the anchor
700 nmat least after passing the theory exam
300 nmmaximum countable from before the theory exam, if sailed within the last 4 years
500 nmmaximum credited for any single non-stop passage, however long it actually is

Reference: the detailed requirements are on the Cruising Club of Switzerland (CCS) website.

Two details that change everything if you're eyeing a big passage. One: pass your theory first, because only 300 pre-theory miles count. Two: the 500-mile cap. An Atlantic crossing logs about 2,100 miles, but a single non-stop passage is only credited 500. That's still half the requirement in one go, plus nearly all of your 18 sea days. Add a coastal week or two, or a route with stopovers like ours, and you're there.

The problem with express miles

Classic mile-building courses do the job, but they carry a hidden cost: one or two weeks of holiday that aren't one. You leave alone, your family stays ashore, and you come home tired from a watch marathon with a stamped logbook and zero shared memories.

We're sailing anyway: from Brittany to the Bahamas, one leg at a time, taking our time. Our legs cover real distances, but they stop in real places.

Holidays that count

You come accompanied. Family, friends, your partner: the boat is made for it. Three double cabins, a trampoline, freediving kit, paddleboards.
Only those who want to learn, learn. You take the helm, plot the course, stand watches. The others read, swim, dive. Nobody suffers anybody's programme, and everyone tells the same story of the week afterwards.
Lessons in bite-sized doses. A few 10 to 15 minute sessions spread through the day: weather, trim, manoeuvres, navigation, sextant if it amuses you. Short enough to stay a holiday, spaced enough to let things sink in. The rest is learned for real, by sailing.
A skipper who knows the Swiss system. Sam is an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t with over a decade of sailing instruction, and holds the Swiss high seas licence himself: he went exactly where you're going, theory included. He can help you revise aboard.
A logbook done right. We keep the log compliant with the Swiss prescriptions and sign off your miles and sea days at the end of the leg.

the maths is simple A week of coastal sailing = sea days and hundreds of miles. A crossing = the 500-mile cap in one go, and nearly all your sea days. And either way, everyone aboard had an actual holiday.

Why build your miles on a catamaran?

Catamaran miles count exactly like monohull miles for the Swiss licence. But there are good reasons to do them on two hulls. The boat stays flat: your family lives normally while you helm, and seasickness mostly stays ashore. The platform is stable for learning manoeuvres without stress. And the catamaran has become the boat most people charter on holiday afterwards: you might as well learn directly on one, with the daggerboards, rig and spinnakers of a real cruising cat.

How it works in practice

Look at the route, pick a leg that speaks to you, and write to us mentioning you're aiming for the Swiss licence. We'll sort the details by email: your current miles, your theory (done or not), who's coming with you, and we'll suggest the leg that fits. Before you board, you'll get our packing list.

Frequently asked questions

How many miles are required for the Swiss high seas licence?: For sailing: 1000 nautical miles and at least 18 days at sea, with a minimum of 700 miles after the theory exam. A sea day counts from 30 minutes of sailing outside the port or off the anchor, and a single non-stop passage is credited 500 miles at most.
Who can sign off my miles?: A certified skipper, keeping a logbook compliant with the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office prescriptions. Aboard, that's Sam: RYA Yachtmaster Offshore 200t, and a Swiss licence holder himself.
Should I pass the theory first?: Not necessarily, but it's smart: only 300 pre-theory miles count (within 4 years), and at least 700 must come after. If you're aiming for a big leg or the transat, pass your theory first.
Do catamaran miles count for the Swiss licence?: Yes, exactly like monohull miles: same requirements, same logbook, same skipper's signature. And you learn the type of boat most people end up chartering.
Can my family really come?: Yes, that's the whole idea. You learn, they enjoy, and you all come home with the same memories.

your miles are waiting somewhere between Brittany and the Bahamas

Tell us where you stand (theory, miles already logged, who's coming along) and we'll find the leg that fits.

Write to us →