Anyone who wants to be out at sea as a skipper of a yacht, regardless of whether as an owner or charter sailor, needs the radio operating certificate with a limited validity, provided the yacht has a VHF radio - so on larger yachts always. The radio license is commonly known under the international name "Short Range Certificate" (SRC).
The certificate is internationally valid and entitles the holder to participate in the global distress and safety radio system (GMDSS) and VHF radio at sea. It is therefore essential for communication between ships at sea and with points on land. Unlike in the past, it is no longer sufficient that only one crew member on board is in possession of the license.
Around 5,300 applicants take the short range certificate exam with an examination board of the German Sailing Association (DSV) every year. The failure rate shows that the crux lies in the practical part of the exam: in the theoretical part it is an average of 3.5 percent, in the practical part it is nine percent.
Acquiring the certificate is certainly not rocket science, just associated with a little time invested in learning theory and practice. The winter half of the year, when the ships are on land, is the ideal time for this. Ideally, you start with the drumbeat as early as autumn, so that the exam can be completed in spring at the latest and the theoretical knowledge can then be consolidated on the water.
We tried out which learning software and which apps are suitable for self-taught preparation for the radio test and which can be a good support for the classroom course in the sport boat school. In addition: which apps are available for cramming the questionnaires and which additional functions they offer.
