Sailing License

It is an official permit regulated by Royal Decree 875/2014, which regulates nautical qualifications for the government of pleasure boats. Enables to handle small vessels and allows sailing near the coast between sunrise and sunset.

The holders of the old federation authorizations, popularly known as "Titulín", can obtain the Navigation License with the realization of 4 hours of practices in a school approved to issue licenses. If you want more information in our blog you can find a post in which we tell you ten things you should know before obtaining your navigation license.

The price range on the Navigation License varies depending on the location of the port, the school's vessel, the season of the year and especially the maximum number of students per instructor that will be on board. Based on these factors the price range goes from approximately 100 to 200 euros.

In addition, the necessary psychotechnical medical certificate (similar to the drivers one), travel to school and the ship and the issuance of the license must be considered as additional costs.

In Sailwiz you will have the advantage of obtaining a 50% refund of the amount of the Navigation License course in hundreds of plans and experiences to navigate around different parts of the world.

In Sailwiz we have selected the best nautical schools in Spain to obtain the Navigation License in different areas of the country. All the nautical schools that publish their courses in Sailwiz are homologated and have the necessary permits and professional instructors. Sailwiz guarantees the minimum price of the Navigation License courses, since all the nautical schools that publish on our website are obliged to match the minimum price that they publish in any sales channel.

The essential requirements to obtain the Navigation License are:

- Be at least 18 years old. Or 16 years and provide parental or guardian authorization to the nautical school.

- Take a theoretical course of 2 hours in a certified nautical school (All those published in Sailwiz are) .

- Carry out safety and navigation practices of 4 hours in a boat of an approved nautical school.

Do I have to pass an exam to obtain the Navigation License?

No, it is not necessary to take any exam, it is enough to attend the hours of the theoretical course and the regulatory practices of navigation in a school approved by the administration corresponding to each autonomous community.

What ships can I take with the Navigation License?

The Navigation License enables to govern small pleasure boats, of 6 meters of maximum length , only during the day and at a maximum distance of the coast of 2 miles . It is also valid for the handling of jet skis without maximum power.

What recommendations must be taken into account to obtain the Navigation License?

At the time of obtaining the Navigation License, it must be taken into account that it is a permit regulated by Royal Decree 875/2014, of October 10, referring to the valid qualifications to govern pleasure boats. The regulations specify the requirements that must be met by the nautical schools that teach courses and the knowledge that students must acquire in order to obtain a license. Sailwiz seeks, with the means at its disposal, to confirm that the nautical schools that publish their courses scrupulously comply with the regulations.

What will I learn in the Navigation License course?

In summary, in the Navigation License course you will learn the basics to start sailing in a small pleasure boat .

In the course, theoretical notions on maritime traffic regulations, inland port navigation, navigation limitations on marked and unmarked beaches, limitations on the access channels of the beaches, lateral marks of region A, international regulations to prevent boarding will be taught , way of governing the boat, etc.

Basic knowledge of portable VHF radio stations and channel 16, use for emergency occasions, routine communications and how to contact Maritime Rescue will also be taught.

The practical part of the course is carried out in a school boat with an instructor and the syllabus regulated by the Royal Decree will be learned, which is the following:

1.- Safety and checks before going out to sea : Related to items such as the on-board medicine cabinet, bilge pump, fog horn and heliograph, hand flares and lifejacket. It also deals with the validation of the maximum number of people on board, review of the boat's critical safety points, fuel level, battery status, drinking water level and checking of empty spaces.

2.- Engines : Outboard engines are studied, pre-start checks are made, you learn to look at the oil level, the heating alarm, the cooling pump, the color of the exhaust smoke and the sound and man systems the water. In addition, the characteristics of jet propulsion are seen.

3.- Cabuwelry : The basic knots are practiced, and it is explained how to make firm with bitas and cleats.

4.- Maneuvers: Emphasis is placed on the precautions that must be taken into account when releasing a mooring, unlocking maneuvers, the effects of the rotation of the propeller, the evolution going forward and backward; The concepts of ciaboga, evolution curve, viewing angles and speed are studied. As well as the recognition of mooring points on land and all docking and mooring maneuvers.

5.- Funding : The factors that must be taken into account to choose a good anchorage, the correct way of anchoring and the safety instructions for bathers and divers are studied.

6.- Safety maneuvers : The different risks of falling to the sea and the correct action in case they occur are studied.

If once you have obtained the navigation license you want to learn more things and want to navigate larger vessels you can expand your attributions with the PNB (Basic Navigation Pattern) or PER (Recreational Boat Pattern).