One of the fundamental requirements for people who want to operate a boat, in addition to having the corresponding boat insurance, is to have a certificate that certifies that they have completed the yacht master course and successfully passed exams or tests. A new Royal Decree (875/2014) is in force that regulates the nautical qualifications of pleasure craft. This new text supposes some changes with respect to the previous legislation of 2007 to realize the course of boat pattern and to obtain the title.
On the one hand, the most basic authorization is now known as a Navigation License. The Navigation License is required to operate sailing or motor boats up to 6 meters in length, provided you do not go further than 2 miles from a port. The power limit in the case of motor boats is 55 horses. Basically, this navigation license consists of theoretical training of two hours and the practice of four hours. To obtain this degree it is not necessary to pass any exam, but simply to attend the course.
Until reaching the title of captain
From here there are three boat pattern courses, depending on the length and the characteristics of the ship. On the one hand, there is the title of Basic Navigation Pattern (PNB), the Pattern of Recreational Boats (PER), the Pattern of Yacht, and the Captain of Yacht.
The Basic Navigation Pattern course (PNB) includes theoretical knowledge such as nautical nomenclature, safety, navigation, boarding regulations, beaconing and legislation. The exam consists of a test of 27 questions, and once the theoretical test is passed, basic safety and navigation practices of 8 hours must be carried out.
The PNB allows to manage recreational or motor boats of up to 8 meters in length, provided that the ship does not move more than 5 miles from the port. In order to obtain it, you must be 18 years of age or over 16 and have the consent of the parent or guardian, in addition to having passed the corresponding tests.
The Recreation Boat Pattern course (PER) includes theoretical knowledge such as naval technology, maneuvers, safety, navigation, meteorology, legislation, tides and calculation. The exam consists of a 45-question test and when the theoretical test is passed, a 16-hour internship is carried out.
The PER allows the operation of motor or recreational vessels of up to 15 meters in length, and authorizes sailing up to 12 miles from the coast. To be able to take this master course and obtain the title, in addition to having passed the corresponding theoretical exam, you must have reached 18 years of age.
The length of the boat and the distance of navigation differentiate the titles
In the Yate Pattern (PY) course, contents such as safety, navigation, meteorology and oceanography are addressed. The exam consists of a 40-question test. The exam can be divided into two tests of two modules. The basic practices of security and navigation are 48 hours in cruise regime.
The title of Skipper allows you to operate motor or recreational vessels up to 24 meters in length, and allows you to navigate up to 150 nautical miles from the seafront. To be able to have the title of Skipper you must be 18 years old and have the title of Skipper of Pleasure Boats, in addition to passing the theoretical exam and carrying out safety and navigation practices.
In the course of the Captain of the Yacht, topics of astronomy, navigation, meteorology, oceanography and English are taught. The theoretical exam consists of 40 questions that can be divided into two modules. The basic safety and navigation practices consist of 48 hours in cruise regime.
The title of Captain of Yacht allows to manage ships to sail or to motor also of up to 24 meters of length, but unlike the title of Pattern of Yacht, it does not put geographic limits as far as the distance of navigation with respect to the marine front. In order to obtain the title of Captain of a Yacht, you must first have the title of Skipper, pass the theoretical exam and carry out the corresponding practices.
To be able to carry out the boat skipper courses it is convenient that you inform yourself through the nautical sailing and sailing federation that corresponds to you. Recreational sailing schools also offer valuable information about how to obtain the titles you need to be able to operate a sailing or power boat.
But before your courses, take a second to read the story of CharterAlia, our captains and how it became a remarkable boat hire in Ibiza.