Sailing & Boating Along the Costa Brava

Information on the rules on boat licences and sailing permits, the sea safety recommendations, maritime weather and more, with details of the ports and harbours and links to local sailing associations.

There are more than a dozen marinas along the Costa Brava, many fully equipped to offer sailing and water sports facilities to visitors along the coast.

Safety Information

Service	Telephone
Police	Tel: 112
Sea Rescue Service (Salvamento Maritimo)	Tel: 900 202 202 Website
Spanish National Meteorological Office	Website
Weather in Catalonia	Website

Permits Required

A sailing permit or licence (título de recreo) is not needed to sail the following vessels during daylight hours in Spanish waters:

Motor boats up to 4 meters in length and with a maximum power of 10 Kw (13 CV)
Sailing boats up to 5 metres in length
Kayaks, canoes and pedal boats and boats with motors of under 3.5 Kw
For further information: Click here (in Spanish)

All other vessels may only be handled by a person holding an appropriate licence. Failure to have a licence may result in the vessel being confiscated or a hefty fine.

Although a Yacht Masters Certificate (and translation into Spanish) or an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) are considered sufficient proof of competence to skipper a UK (or some other) flagged vessel, the ICC is not a recognised qualification for Spanish flagged vessels. Anyone resident in Spain must have a Spanish recognised qualification, the título de recreo.

Note: this information applies to recreational (not professional skipper) licences only.

Licence categories

Licences fall into the following categories:

Patrón de Navegación Básica - PNB (Basic Navigation Skipper)
Licence to skipper a sailing yacht maximum 8 metres in length or a motor boat maximum 6 metres (with a motor appropriate to the size) provided the boats stay within 4 miles of the shore
Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo - PER (Recreational Vessel's Skipper)
Licence to skipper a motor boat up to 12 metres, within 12 miles of shore
Patrón de Yate (Yacht Master)
Licence to skipper a yacht up to 20 metres within 60 miles of land
Capitán de Yate (Yacht Captain)
No limitations
Patrón de Moto Náutica (Motor Boat Skipper)

Patrón de Moto Náutica C (licence C to skipper boats under 55 CV)
Patrón de Moto Náutica B (licence B to skipper boats between 55 CV and 110 CV)
Patrón de Moto Náutica A (licence A to skipper boats from 110 CV

Getting a Licence

The título de recreo is applied for and issued either by a school recognised by the Spanish Dirección General de la Marina Mercante or one of the Autonomous Communities. A medical certificate (certificado médico) is needed and the exam includes a series of safety, navigability and boat basic principles tests. The título de recreo is issued once the applicant has passed a theory and practical exam (it varies in length and difficulty depending on the size of vessel). A good level of Spanish is required to take this exam.

Some foreign boating permits are recognised in Spain including the US Coast Guard Licence and the RYA Yacht Master Certification and the International Certificate of Competence and exemption can be acquired. Consult the local marina for details as rules vary by region.

Yacht training schools

There are training schools throughout the country. Most offer the basic security and navigation procedures course, practical courses and preparation for the título de recreo. Some can also convert and validate foreign licences.

To find locations in Spain offering courses: Click here and select the appropriate region

Complementary courses include:

International Regulations to Prevent Collisions at Sea (Reglamento Internacional para la Prevención de Abordajes en la Mar)
Mediterranean Sea: Winds Journal (Mediterráneo. Cuaderno de Vientos)

Practical lessons:

Basic Security and Navigation Procedures - Navigation area: Minor and Mediterranean seas (Prácticas Básicas de Seguridad y Navegación – Zona de Navegación Mar Menor y Mediterráneo)
Basic Security and Navigation Procedures - other navigation areas (Prácticas Básicas de Seguridad y Navegación – otras zonas de Navegación)
Practical Navigation Courses (Cursos de Navegación Práctica)

Foreign Boats & Spanish Customs

Boat owners should clear customs if entering Spain for the first time. The following documents are required:

registration papers
crew passports
certificate of competence
evidence of the boat's VAT status
crew list with passport details
radio licence
certificate of insurance
A VAT-paid or exempt yacht can apply for a permiso aduanero.

A VAT-paid or exempt yacht can apply for a permiso aduanero. With this document, the boat owner can remain in Spain indefinitely. Boats registered outside the EU on which VAT has not been paid may be imported into the EU and remain for no more than six months in any twelve, after that VAT becomes due. This period can be extended by prior arrangement with the local custom authorities. Foreign vessels must fly their own national maritime flag together with the courtesy flag of Spain.

Registering a boat or yacht

Registration (Matriculación) under the Spanish flag is required for boats spending over 182 days a year in Spanish waters. The majority of Capitania Maritima (Maritime Authorities) are able to register/re-register vessels. The Commandancia de Marina Mercante can also carry out this procedure. The cost of registration includes a matriculation tax of 12 percent of the vessel's value.

There are also rules concerning the vessel's inventory. Local capitania can provide a list of equipment boats should carry.

Insurance

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for all motor yachts, jet skis and jet bikes and all sailing yachts over six metres in length. Insurance documents must be kept on board. If the competent authorities board a vessel and do not find this paperwork, the owner will have five days in which to prove the vessel is insured.

Shipping dispatch

This formality required by the Capitanía Maritima ensures all civil vessels meet with necessary administrative requirements.

Sailing boats and small motor boats under six metres in length are exempt from the Shipping Dispatch. Consult the local Capitanía or marina for details.

Ports in Catalonia

The Catalan Association of Sports and Tourist Ports has information on ports throughout Catalonia.

For a list of all the ports in Catalonia and information and contact details of each port: Click here

Catalonia Yacht Clubs and Associations

The Catalan Federation of Sailing (Federació Catalana de Vela) has information on sailing schools, competitions and a list of sailing clubs in Catalonia.

Catalan Federation of Sailing
At: Escullera del Poble Nou s/n, Port Olímpic, 08005 Barcelona
Tel: 932 243 900
Fax: 932 243 905
e-mail
Website (in Catalan)
Estartit Sailing Club (Club Nàutic Estartit)
At: Passeig Marítim, s/n, 17258 L’Estartit (Girona)
Tel: 972 751 402
Fax: 972 751 717
Website (in Catalan)

Related Information

Catalan Association of Sports and Tourist Ports
Spanish Motor Boat Federation (Federación Espanola de Motonautica)
At: Avenida de America 33-41B, 28002 Madrid
Tel: 914 153 769 / 519 0469
Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (Real Federación Española de Vela)
At: Calle Luis de Salazar 9, Madrid
Tel: 915 195 008
For information on recreational watersports from the Spanish Ministerio de Fomento: Click here