If you've already enjoyed the pleasure of a boat excursion and would like to relive the experience in a different role, with the helm in your hands, then the time has come to obtain your official skipper licence. Sailing is one of the most rewarding water sports, allowing you to relax in a magnificent setting and connect directly with nature.
Sailing courses guarantee unforgettable adventures along the coasts of any holiday destination, as you'll be able to charter a boat and set sail to explore new waters carried by the wind. Forget boring beach holidays: it's time to become the protagonist!
To become a skipper, there are several licences available. Considering that each one includes the previous level, you can choose between:
Basic Navigation Skipper
With this licence, you can handle recreational vessels up to 7.5 metres in length (for motorboats) or 8 metres for sailboats. With this type of boating licence, you cannot venture more than 5 miles from shore, although you can operate jet skis.
The requirements for obtaining this licence are as follows: be at least 18 years old or 16 with parental consent; obtain a medical certificate proving good health and physical/mental fitness; attend theoretical and practical lessons, including radiocommunication training; apply for licence issuance.
Recreational Craft Skipper
As this type of skipper, you can operate vessels up to 12 metres in length, without exceeding 12 miles from the coast.
The minimum requirements in this case are: be at least 18 years old or 16 with parental authorisation; pass the medical examination certifying perfect fitness for this activity; attend theoretical and practical lessons; request licence issuance.
Yacht Skipper
This licence allows you to operate both motor and sailing vessels up to 20 metres in length. You'll navigate between the coast and the 60-mile parallel line.
Required qualifications: be at least 18 years old, hold the Recreational Craft Skipper licence, pass theoretical and practical exams, complete at least 4 hours of radiocommunication training, and pass the medical examination.
Yacht Captain
This licence opens doors to operating vessels of any type and size, both motor and sail-powered. It's the highest achievable rank, having passed all legally established tests.
The conditions for obtaining this licence are: hold the Yacht Skipper licence; be in full physical and mental capacity, certified through medical examination; be at least 18 years old; pass all theoretical and practical exams; and complete at least 8 hours of radiocommunication training.
As you can see, becoming a skipper or captain of a vessel is quite straightforward, provided you enrol with serious, professional schools that guarantee proper training for obtaining the boating licence you aspire to.
