Do you want to embark on the pursuit of a degree in order to sailing boats, sailboats, yachts or jet skis? In this post we explain everything you need to know about these nautical qualifications, what you need to pilot a jet ski, what the new regulations are and some approximate prices for the sailing licence.

What does a nautical qualification consist of?

Recreational boating licences entitle the holder to steer vessels that are not intended for commercial purposes, i.e, without carrying out a professional activity. As in the car licence exam, to obtain the title you must pass a theoretical part and a practical part and you must be of legal age.

Once you have passed the tests, you must apply for an accreditation card from the body responsible in your region: Dirección General de la Marina Mercante or the Autonomous Community itself. These cards have a period of generally valid for 10 years and 5 for those over 70 years of age. After this time, it can be renewed with a new medical certificate.

What are the regulations governing nautical qualifications?

The regulation governing recreational boating qualifications is the Royal Decree 875/2014of 10 October. This relatively new regulation of 2014 lays the foundations for sailing pleasure boats and jet skis, the requirements for obtaining them and the regulation for schools.

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Types of nautical qualifications and sailing licences

Below, we list the types of qualifications and licences for sailing, from small boats such as dinghies and jet skis to qualifications for charter yachts as a recreational activity. Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Public Works on Recreational Licensing.

- Federal authorisations

For sailing pleasure craft, by day and in areas delimited by the Capitanía Marítima. Up to 6 metres in length and a maximum engine power of 40 kW (54 hp).

- Navigation licence

Sailing and yachting federations and recreational boating schools may issue licences for driving class C watercraft and recreational craft up to 6 metres in length, under limited conditions.

- Jet ski skipper

The licence to drive a jet ski depends on its horsepower. To drive a jet ski with a power of less than 55 hp, you must have the C jet ski skipper's licence, for power equal to or greater than 55 hp and less than 110 hp, the B licence and for power equal to or greater than 110 hp, the A licence.

- Skipper for basic navigation (PNB)

You may sail recreational motor boats up to 8 metres in length, with restrictions on movement, and jet skis. The price for this navigation licence is broadly in the range of 250-350 euros.

- Recreational Craft Skipper (PER)

It allows the navigation of recreational motor boats of up to 15 metres in length and authorises navigation up to 12 miles from the coast and between islands within the Balearic and Canary Islands archipelago. Also jet skis. The price of the title of Patrón de embarcaciones de recreo (PER) can be around 500-700 euros.

- Yacht skipper

The yacht skipper will be able to sail boats up to 24 metres in length at a distance of 150 nautical miles from the coast. It costs between 600 and 700 euros approximately and, as a requirement, you must have the PER.

- Yacht captain

The yacht captain has no geographical navigation limits and, like the yacht skipper, can steer recreational motor boats up to 24 metres in length. Both are authorised to pilot jet skis. You also have to have passed the PER and the price of the yacht captain's certificate is around 1,000 euros.

Can I sail without a boat licence?

According to current regulations, no nautical qualifications are required to carry a boat:

Motor vessels with a maximum power of 11.26 kilowatts and up to 5 metres in length.
Sailing boats up to 6 metres in length.
Floating or beach craft, with the exception of jet skis, provided that they are not more than 2 nautical miles from a harbour, marina or place of refuge and the activity is carried out during daylight hours.

In A30Nudos, boat rental company in Ibiza and Formentera, we will inform you of the possibilities of renting boats depending on your nautical qualification. We have a wide range of catamarans and sailing boats, y boatsas well as jet skisFor these you will need the aforementioned nautical motorbike licence A or B.

In any case, not having a nautical qualification is not a problem, as you can rent your boat with skipper or captain and not miss the opportunity to sail the waters of Ibiza and discover its landscape from the sea.