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K_V_B · 13-09-2016, 09:32

They don't need to. Swiss respect the rules without the need of policing. :-)

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SpinDreams · 20-09-2016, 10:39

Interesting thread, I am just starting out and want to buy my own cruising sail boat next year I have been looking at what I need to be able to sail it. I have some in-shore experience from when I was a nipper but nothing off-shore (Unless the dover ferry counts?) and I plan to take a course in Oct so I at least know what I am letting myself in for.

Anyway a number of years ago I moved from the UK to Sardinia so I was wondering if I have to get an Italian sailing licence or I can opt for an ICC from the UK or do I even need to get a licence at all? Problem is my Italian is not good at all and so too have to do the Italian licence would be almost impossible for me unless I can find it in English.

Any Ideas / suggestions?

Thanks

**boatman61** · 20-09-2016, 11:00

Get an RYA sailing qualification.. you'll get a lot of folk here say you don't need it.. but wait till you land up in a port where the Harbour Masters wife has bitched him out the night before and he decides to go by the book..
You'll need some guy like me to come along and sail you outa the port.. coz he damn sure won't let you go without a skipper..

kas_1611 · 20-09-2016, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpinDreams

Interesting thread, I am just starting out and want to buy my own cruising sail boat next year I have been looking at what I need to be able to sail it. I have some in-shore experience from when I was a nipper but nothing off-shore (Unless the dover ferry counts?) and I plan to take a course in Oct so I at least know what I am letting myself in for.

Anyway a number of years ago I moved from the UK to Sardinia so I was wondering if I have to get an Italian sailing licence or I can opt for an ICC from the UK or do I even need to get a licence at all? Problem is my Italian is not good at all and so too have to do the Italian licence would be almost impossible for me unless I can find it in English.

Any Ideas / suggestions?

Thanks

Anyone can do an RYA course from anywhere. As the theory part is generally online at your own time study at home this can be done over winter at your leisure. There's a couple of good training schools out in Gibraltar that you can use for the practical part or look for any RYA accredited sailing school in Italy or hop across to Croatia where there are a couple of schools. Get your Day Skipper and you can get the ICC free if you become an RYA Member.

I did my theory on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and my practical in the Grenadines so I know it can be done anywhere, anytime, anyplace

Keiron

K_V_B · 27-09-2016, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Get an RYA sailing qualification.. you'll get a lot of folk here say you don't need it.. but wait till you land up in a port where the Harbour Masters wife has bitched him out the night before and he decides to go by the book..
You'll need some guy like me to come along and sail you outa the port.. coz he damn sure won't let you go without a skipper..

What country would that be? And what would the harbormaster do with a guy who hails from a country that does not issue sailing licenses?

chuckr · 27-09-2016, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Thomsen

We are a USA flagged boat and last year returned to Europe (about 10 years since we sailed west) and I have now been asked for my skipper's license in 4 countries (Turkey, in the Black Sea; Greece; Montenegro and last week in Italy.) Over the past 10 years we have sailed to 50 countries and it's only now that anyone wants to see a license. No one seemed to care who issued the license or what qualifications it required as long as it had an official number they could write down. Mine is the ASA "international skipper license" that I think cost $10.

Like Jim above - we are a USA boat and only asked for our license in Montenegro, Croatia skipped us as they knew we had been checked in Montenegro but they were checking others, Russia, and Romania multiple times and we have sailed the Med from Portugal to Turkey and of course Black Sea. I have my ASA booklet with the stamps that they accepted each time - Montenegro gave me a bit of a hassle over it until they found we did a 2 handed crossing of the Atlantic then no issues.

Kenomac · 27-09-2016, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_V_B

What country would that be? And what would the harbormaster do with a guy who hails from a country that does not issue sailing licenses?

That country would be Montenegro for one, it's the very first question asked when one enters the country. Even before they asked for my passport, just one month ago.

I'm glad I had the ICC certificate. Our boat is a US documented vessel that most likely wouldn't have gone much further until I returned with someone with a certificate.

admiralslater · 28-09-2016, 00:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by kas_1611

Anyone can do an RYA course from anywhere. As the theory part is generally online at your own time study at home this can be done over winter at your leisure. There's a couple of good training schools out in Gibraltar that you can use for the practical part or look for any RYA accredited sailing school in Italy or hop across to Croatia where there are a couple of schools. Get your Day Skipper and you can get the ICC free if you become an RYA Member.

I did my theory on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and my practical in the Grenadines so I know it can be done anywhere, anytime, anyplace

Keiron

I agree. I had. 50 years of experience (mostly lakes) and did the yachtmaster qualification with my exam in Grenada. I learned a lot.
In Canada the generic boating license came in after the introduction on jetskis they were and are cheap ,fast and dangerous. The test is simple, but is a start and at least let's people know that there are rules.
Keiron are you from Grenada Kenzo's friend.

**boatman61** · 28-09-2016, 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_V_B

What country would that be? And what would the harbormaster do with a guy who hails from a country that does not issue sailing licenses?

That country would be Portugal and the Harbourmaster in Portimao.. the boat and skipper were Irish, a fellow Schengen country.
The skipper had no qualifications and despite the fact they'd spent a year slowly making their way S harbour hopping he would not permit them to sail without a qualified skipper aboard.
Portugal is also one of the countries with a restrictive and convoluted licence system with multiple categories starting with a 3 mile limit from home port and several more grades before unlimited.
Their country.. their rules.. if they decide to push them.

Kenomac · 28-09-2016, 03:45

Boatman,

'Just curious, what was the follow up on that situation? Was the boat placed in impound until the owner returned with a certificate, or was it skippered by someone else and basically escorted outside the country.

We run into fellow boaters quite often who don't think the host country's rules apply to them, then we get to listen to same people complain when their situation turns to poop.

K_V_B · 28-09-2016, 03:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Their country.. their rules.. if they decide to push them.

But one cannot reasonable be expected to obtain a Portuguese licence if you are only there as a visitor?

Since I now have an ICC (which technically is not a license) this is mostly academic. But for most of my live this was not the case, and I used to carry a letter from my government with me outlining the situation in my home country, and why therefore I could not comply with the requirement of having a boating license.
I must ask my dad how it was driving abroad before Belgium issues driving licenses...

**boatman61** · 28-09-2016, 03:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Boatman,

'Just curious, what was the follow up on that situation? Was the boat placed in impound until the owner returned with a certificate, or was it skippered by someone else and basically escorted outside the country.

It was held on the fuel/visitors pontoon and the harbourmaster held the documents.. if he'd tried to run he'd not have got far as the Algarve coast is well patrolled by the Navy and Policia Maritimo.
I sailed in on an owner assist from the UK with a Portuguese/UK couple..
The Irish guy asked if I could sail it out for him but I got the Portuguese owner to do it as my responsibility was his boat and he'd not convinced me of his ability to do a transfer at sea safely.
We cleared things with the harbour master then sailed East till past Albufiera then I picked up the owner 3 miles offshore.. advised the Irish owner not to stop before reaching Spain 35 odd miles further East.. as chances were he be tugged again in the next marina Vilamoura..

**boatman61** · 28-09-2016, 04:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_V_B

But one cannot reasonable be expected to obtain a Portuguese licence if you are only there as a visitor?

Since I now have an ICC (which technically is not a license) this is mostly academic. But for most of my live this was not the case, and I used to carry a letter from my government with me outlining the situation in my home country, and why therefore I could not comply with the requirement of having a boating license.
I must ask my dad how it was driving abroad before Belgium issues driving licenses...

I have the equivalent to RYA Coastal Skipper.. this is where the confusion lies.. these are QUALIFICATIONS not licences..
Licences are held by commercial skippers.. us leisure n pleasure sailors hold qualifications.. big difference.
As far as the authorities are concerned.. if your country cannot/does not have the schools/abilities to instruct/issue qualifications go somewhere that does..
Its YOUR PROBLEM.. not theirs.. deal with it.

Kenomac · 28-09-2016, 05:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by K_V_B

But one cannot reasonable be expected to obtain a Portuguese licence if you are only there as a visitor?

Since I now have an ICC (which technically is not a license) this is mostly academic. But for most of my live this was not the case, and I used to carry a letter from my government with me outlining the situation in my home country, and why therefore I could not comply with the requirement of having a boating license.
I must ask my dad how it was driving abroad before Belgium issues driving licenses...

I got my ICC in Rome two weeks prior to entering Montenegro. It's their country and their rules.