ICC for sailing in Spain

W

wn6789

New Member
Joined
9 Feb 2008
Messages
6
Visit site
I would like to sail a 45 footer in spain, having used a 29 foot powerboat in the past, using an ICC, for powerboats.
Is it correct that if i sail under a british flag, the ICC obtained will be sufficient?

Many thanks
 
Possibly not, your ICC might be endorsed for Power only. If so you would need to do at least the Day Skipper Practical to have your ICC endorsed for sail. (I think that's the minimum?)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would like to sail a 45 footer in spain, having used a 29 foot powerboat in the past, using an ICC, for powerboats.
Is it correct that if i sail under a british flag, the ICC obtained will be sufficient?

[/ QUOTE ]Strictly speaking, you are not obliged to have any qualifications if you are a British citizen and resident sailing a British flagged vessel - sail or power - unless you are working for hire or reward. I doubt whether charter companies will worry too much about the quals per se but they will want to be satisfied that you can handle the sailing yacht. Presumably you can sail or you wouldn't be thinking of doing that? 45' is too big to learn completely ab-initio, with no instruction or help, as the forces are too great; you would probably do some damage.

If you want to get an ICC for a sailing boat you need to re-take the ICC exam on a sailing boat. You don't need to take any kind of training though obviously if you can't sail it would be daft to take the test which is a practical test on the water, on a sailing yacht!

While you are not strictly required to have an ICC or other quals, the French are renowned for fining people who haven't got quals (see recent threads here) though I have never heard of it happening in Spain. So don't go to France unless you have one. I have a suspicion that charterers will seldom be asked for quals as the authorities will assume that the charterer has checked and in any case you have a very good case for restitution if you get into trouble having chartered the boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Possibly not, your ICC might be endorsed for Power only. If so you would need to do at least the Day Skipper Practical to have your ICC endorsed for sail. (I think that's the minimum?)

[/ QUOTE ]

Not so! You just need to take an ICC exam on a sail boat. See Lemain's reply.

Portugal sometimes ask for proof of qualification.
 
Living and working in the marine industry in Spain I can assure you that having an ICC is important. On occassions you WILL be stopped by the Guardia and they want paperwork the more the better.

I have also ben asked for my licence when checking into harbours as well!

Yachtmaster no use as it is not in Spanish, ICC is in multiple languages.

Training is a good idea, we can all learn something new even after years of experience.

So ICC is a must..

Good luck
 
It doesn't surprise me though I have never met anyone who has been stopped or who has been asked to show quals in a marina or harbour.

If you have an RYA Yachtmaste's you should be able to get an ICC from the RYA for the asking.
 
Yes a simple letter to the RYA with a copy of YM cert and there you have it.

A conversation with a friend who runs charters highlighted that the authorities down here are also questioning the vailidity of the Commercial endorsement and are wanting more quals!

I also nkow from first hand experience that the autorities are trying to get revenue out of UK regisitered boats if the owners have a residence in Spain.

The Spanish will do anything to generate some revenue. BUT I do love living here.
 
Two people have been nabbed for having British yachts here in Almerimar in the last few weeks. One of those is a long-term resident with a home (to which the boat is registered at the marina office) and is working here in Spain. I don't have details on the other case. Certainly if you are overstaying the 183 days in one calendar year and have a yacht here you must not appear to be a Spanish resident even if you have, technically, become de facto resident by being here for longer than 183 days.
 
Out of interest, has any British residents been fined for not having an ICC whilst sailing in the Med. in a British yacht? Ive never been asked for one except for obtaining a permit to visit Cabrera and it did not matter if i had one or not anyway. Has the rules changed recently? I did not think it was required by law.
 
I was once declaring in at the harbour master's office in a Croatian port (where a certificate of competence is definitely required) when another skipper could not furnish such a document, nor proof of third party insurance (also mandatory).

He was informed that he must be given a practical examination for a temporary licence by the harbour master for which he must pay - in addition he would have to pay for an interpreter as the harbour master had only German and Italian in addition to his native Serbo-Croat - the skipper had only English.

I don't know what happened about the insurance but probably he would have had to take a temporary policy locally.
 
Re last two posts. I think we all know the law says a Brit sailor on a Brit registered vessel should not be required to show an ICC or any other form of qualification.
Sadly, that will not stop someone oveseas one day asking for it - and if they believe they need it that will overide any argument you might present to the contrary.
I was denied formal exit from Turkey last year as I did not have an ICC and the local harbourmaster wanted one. Did not matter we'd covered over 30,000 sea miles - or we'd been in and out of Turkey a few times either.
His desire meant I had to go on to a second Turkish port to clear out formally - a pain in the butt.
But unlike the other chap above - I've never been asked for one in Croatia.
So it all goes to show how variable the official can be when policing such things - so IMHO for the low time / cost - get one before you go.
JOHN
 
John, (and Happydaze) I agree totally. We are not supposed to need one but there will probably come a time when you are very glad you've got one. I have never needed to show mine (yet) but it sits with the ship's papers.

When you think of all the things you do before going foreign for a long time, getting an examiner on board for a few hours at a cost of £50 or whatever, is nothing, really. Furthermore, he will probably be a helpful sort, even though he is examining you will learn something, and you might pick up some useful tips.

They are easy to get, you don't need to go on a course, just pay an examiner for a few hours and pay the RYA (who get nearly as much for a piece of paper as the examiner gets for carrying out the test on your boat).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

ari
How accurate is this advice?
Replies
19
Views
970
jbweston
jbweston
P
Buying in UK for use in Spain
Replies
6
Views
301
st599
S

Share this page

Top