Do you know the differences between yacht skipper and yacht captain in Spain?

October 26, 2022

Nautical training

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The titles of yacht skipper and yacht captain in Spain usually go hand in hand and also have a similar name, that is why there are aspiring skippers who ask themselves are they not the same? what makes the difference? The truth is, although they have many attributes in common, they are different qualifications. and below we explain the differences between yacht skipper and yacht captain.

What powers do these titles grant?

Both qualifications allow to steer boats for day and night navigation up to 24 meters in length and all types of jet skis. In addition, with the title of yacht skipper and yacht captain can be validated as PRO yacht skipper and PRO yacht captain, you can provide certain professional and transport services such as:

Charter skipper (maximum 6 persons on board) and up to 5 miles from home port.
Transfer of vessels between ports up to 5 miles from the coast.

However, the title of yacht captain is above the yacht skipper within the scheme of Spanish qualifications for yachting, and is in fact the highest ranking qualification of all. It therefore presents some additional advantages, and also greater difficulty in passing the exam.

Distance from coast

One of the main differences is that the yachtmaster license entitles the holder to navigate up to a maximum distance of 150 miles. nautical distance from the coast. Whereas with the yacht captain qualification, there are no distance limitations or geographical restrictions.

Access to the title of Professional Yacht Patron (PPER)

Only skippers who already have the yacht captain’s course can access this title, which has very complete professional attributions:

Skipper in recreational boats, developing professional functions. Navigation is permitted between the coast and a line parallel to the coast that is parallel to the coast. e not more than 60 /150 (depending on the credited sea days) nautical miles. In no case in the boat may sail more than 12 passengers, excluding crew members.
Instructor in schools and recreational nautical academies for obtaining nautical qualifications.

Mandatory internships

On the other hand, there are also differences in the way of performing the compulsory practices to obtain each qualification. Both qualifications require 48 hours of compulsory practical training, including 8 hours of night navigation, and an authorized rest of 6 hours per day whenever the vessel is anchored.

However, However, yacht captain practices include stargazing, astronomical to obtain the positioning through the use of the sextant. Knowledge that is not required of an aspiring yacht skipper.

Prerequisites

In addition to being of legal age, passing the corresponding theoretical exam and completing the compulsory practices, the regime of Spanish recreational boating qualifications establishes as an essential requirement to hold another nautical qualification. In this sense, to obtain the title of yacht skipper, you need to be a recreational boat skipper (PER).. And in the case of the yacht captain, you must have previously obtained the title of yacht skipper. .

Now that you know the relationship and differences between these two qualifications, are you interested in doing your internship in the Rías Baixas, considered the best sailing area in the Iberian Peninsula? Rías Baixas, considered as the best sailing area in the Iberian Peninsula.? In Julio Verne Náutica we have professional sailing instructors, great experience in pleasure boats and vocation for teaching, contactus to pass your yacht skipper or yacht captain exam successfully!

Iván Pérez-Gándaras

CEO Julio Verne Naútica | + posts

Iván Pérez-Gándaras es CEO de Julio Verne Náutica y el principal Director del Centro de Formación RYA de la compañía. Su vasta trayectoria está cimentada en las máximas cualificaciones náuticas como Capitán de Yate sin límites, Patrón de Altura STCW95 y RYA Yachtmaster Offshore con endorsement commercial. Acumula más de 20.000 millas oceánicas en deliveries y travesías transatlánticas, además de 30.000 millas en expediciones científicas, incluyendo la Antártida y Terranova.

Formador desde 1993 e instructor de titulaciones náuticas desde 2009, su trayectoria combina una sólida base técnica con una experiencia práctica excepcional. Licenciado en Biología marina por la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela y Campeón del Mundo de Vela Ligera (1989), su perspectiva única garantiza que los artículos, la formación y los servicios de chárter de Julio Verne Náutica se impartan con el mayor nivel de rigor técnico y pasión por el mar.

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