boating in Spain (Dorada)aurada)

[Guest]

We leave Blighty to live full time in Spain during March. I intend buying a new boat in UK, having it fitted out in UK and trucked to my nearest marina (l'Amtlla de Mar). I've been told by the RYA I'll need to register the boat in Spain (no great prob except the paperwork) BUT I'll need to take a competency exam, the ICC apparently is not sufficient. My problem is lack of Spanish language for any form of test, especially for the VFH if that should be required. Can anyone shed any factual light on my predicament as at the moment I'm thoroughly depressed at the thought of not having a boat to escape to. I guess the alternative is to buy in Spain but they don't seem to have the dealer networks we have here or have I missed something. ? Any help appreciated.

 

[lezgar]

www.mform.es/marinamercante/subdireccion_inspeccion/titulaciones.htm
Part C1 and C2 have information about competency exams in Spain . there are the posibility of recognize UE title but I don't know if the ICC is enough title for to be recognize.

 

[Guest]

Spain is ten times cheaper than the Uk, even if you have to order some parts in the UK and have it shipped to Spain then it will still be cheaper.
Try to learn Spanish when you're there, I lived for a year in the South and learned it In three months time on my own, if you would take some classes...

Good luck, you've choosen a good country and it's still not the end of the world.

regular

 

[cynthia]

Not 100% certain, but whilst you cannot have a SSR unless you live in the UK for a minimum of six months, I think that you can be on the shipping register as long as you have an address in the UK to which mail can be forewarded.

We bought our boat in Spain. Very efficient dealers, but had it delivered to UK.

If you want more details e-mail me. Enjoy the sunshine, sailing and new lifestyle!

 

[Guest]

met a paddy living in france who had come across the same problem. he had got round it by buying the boat in the uk , keeping it under the uk flag, and this circumvented the requirement for him to have the french competency papers. whether this was the police turning a blind eye, or not, I do not know. suspect it wouldnt work anyway if you take out your residencia.

Incidentally, it is twaddle to say eveything is cheaper in Spain. It isnt. Its the usual mixture - some things cheaper, some the same, some more expensive. Buy your boat electronics before leaving the UK, and bear in mind that sailing is much less developed over there so there are far fewer chandlers.