Sailing & Boating in the Balearics

Safety Information

Service	Telephone
Police	Tel: 112
Sea Rescue Service (Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima) Palma de Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza	Tel: 900 202 202 Website
Regional Rescue  Coordination Centre (Centro de Coordinación de Salvamento Palma) At: Muelle Viejo 1 (Edificio CMM.), 07012 Palma de Mallorca	Tel: 971 724 562  Fax: 971 728 352 e-mail
Spanish National Meteorological Office	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.

Licences 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.

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. 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 Capitania 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 Capitania or marina for details.

Ports in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera

The main ports are as follows:

• Puerto de Cala Figuera and Santanyí 
  Services available include harbour master's office, fuel pump, drinking water, electricity, VHF maritime channel, toilets, showers, supermarket, bar/restaurant, car rental, laundry, first aid, bank and ramp
  At: Muelle 9, 07659 Cala Figuera-Santanyí (Mallorca)
  Tel: 971 645 242
  Fax: 971 645 242
  e-mail 
  Website 
• Puerto de Fornells 
  Services available include drinking water, electricity, VHF maritime channel, showers, weather information, engine mechanic, toilets, supermarket, bar/restaurant, car rental, laundry, bank and ramp
  At: 07748 Fornells (Menorca)
  Tel: 971 376 604
  Fax: 971 376 604
  e-mail 
  Website
• Puerto Deportivo Ibiza Nueva
  The port has a fuel pump, drinking water, electricity. VHF maritime channel, 24-hour surveillance, showers, toilets, weather information, engine mechanic, supermarket, bar/restaurant, car rental, laundry, first aid, bank and crane
  At: Paseo Juan Carlos I 20 Apto. 346, 07800 Ibiza
  Tel: 971 312 001
  Fax: 971 313 523
  e-mail
• Marina de Formentera
  The many services available include fuel pump, drinking water, electricity. VHF maritime channel, showers, weather information, engine mechanic, toilets, supermarket, bar/restaurant, car rental, laundry and first aid. The marina has moorings for boats measuring 8 to 38 metres
  At: Darsena Deportiva la Savina, 07860 Formentera
  Tel: 971 322 346 / 971 323 132
  Fax: 971 321 033
  e-mail 
  Website 
• For a full list of ports in the Balearics: Click here
• A full list of ports and marinas can also be found on the official Balearic Islands website: Click here 

Sailing & Water Sports in the Balearics

Many sailing regattas take place in the waters of the Balearic Islands, including the Princess Sofia Trophy, the King's Cup and the Almirante Conde de Barcelona Trophy in Mallorca, the National Almirante Ferragut de Snipes Trophy in Minorca and Ruta de la Sal and International Sailing Week for Cruise Ships in Ibiza. 

• The nautical website of the Balearics has comprehensive information on nautical sports, services for navigators and tourists, ship sales, rentals and repairs, competitions and nautical installations: Click here

The Balearics Sailing Federation has information on sailing sports in the Balearics:

• Federació Balear de Vela
  At: Avda Joan Miró 327, 07015 Palma de Mallorca
  Tel: 971 402 412
  Fax: 971 402 451
  e-mail 
  Website (in Spanish)

The Balearics Motor Boat Federation provides information about competitions, events and nautical exams:

• Federació Balear Motonàutica 
  At: Pza. Abü Yahÿa 3 1°D, 07010 Palma de Mallorca
  Tel: 971 206 114
  Fax: 971 758 343
  e-mail
  Website (in Spanish)

For information on rescue courses, contact the Balearic Islands' Rescue Federation:

• Federació de Salvamento y Socorrismo de las Illes Balears
  At: Camí de Sa Vileta 40 (Poliesportiu Son Moix), 07011 Palma de Mallorca
  Tel: 971 545 263
  Fax: 971 455 595
  e-mail
  Website (in Spanish) 

Further Information

• Spanish Motor Boat Federation (Federación Espanola de Motonautica)
  At: Avenida de America 33-41B, 28002 Madrid
  Tel: (91) 415 3769 / 519 0469
• Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (Real Federación Española de Vela)
  At: Calle Luis de Salazar 9, Madrid
  Website 
• Spanish Ministry of Public Works