There's nothing quite like heading out to sea to explore this mysterious realm. Sailing offers the chance to cruise across seas, oceans, rivers and waterways, filling us with an intense sense of freedom.
Far from overcrowded cities, daily routines, noise and crowds, a boat trip is escapism in every sense of the word.
But nothing compares to taking the helm and manoeuvring the boat yourself.
Below you'll find a summary of the different boat licences available.
A boat licence is essential to operate any motorised vessel over six horsepower, including jet skis. You can obtain one from age 16. Sailing boats without engines or vessels under six horsepower don't require a licence.
However, if you want to hire a sailboat for your holidays, some sailing schools may require you to have a licence, even when it's not mandatory.
In France, you'll find:
The Sea Licence
The sea licence comprises two types:
- The Coastal Licence:
The coastal licence allows you to operate a boat within limited areas. Specifically, the coastal licence permits navigation within 11km of shelter. It also allows night sailing if desired and suffices for sailors practising coastal navigation.
To obtain it, you'll need to pass a theory exam (20 multiple-choice questions with four errors permitted) and a practical test. Costs are around £270-£300 (€320-350), plus fiscal stamps for registration fees (£75-£85 or €90-100).
- The Offshore Licence:
The offshore licence only requires a theory exam (no practical test), as you must already hold a coastal licence to qualify. It allows unlimited navigation in terms of distance, vessel size or power.
The 1.5-hour theory exam is relatively demanding. You'll need to read nautical charts, calculate positions, understand tides etc. Costs are about £355 (€420) plus fiscal stamps for registration (around £35 or €40).
The Inland Waterways Licence
The inland waterways licence permits navigation on rivers and canals. It allows you to operate vessels up to 20 metres long. It can be obtained as an extension to your coastal licence, or separately via theory (30 multiple-choice questions, five errors allowed) and practical (harbour manoeuvres) exams. It costs approximately £380 (€450), plus about £75 (€90) in fiscal stamps. Note these prices are indicative and not exact references.
As Renaud said, "It's not man who takes to the sea, but the sea that takes man." Using summer holidays, fine weather and free time to get your boat licence is time well spent if you have an adventurer's soul!
This summer, set sail!
