What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Yacht Captain (RD 875/2014): prior Yacht Skipper + official theory exam (celestial, ocean meteorology, nautical English) + 48 hours of safety-and-navigation practice.
- Sail endorsement through specific practice if not held from earlier titles.
- Age 18 and a valid psycho-physical medical.
Basic STCW
- Not required for the recreational licence. The professional PPER route requires full STCW basic safety training A-VI/1.
Specific courses
- Celestial navigation: sextant, sight reduction and ocean planning
- Ocean meteorology: frontal systems, routeing and heavy-weather rig
- Long-range radio: recreational GMDSS/LRC per fit (recommended)
Indicative experience
The filter is the exam and the 48 offshore practice hours (verify the call); trade custom adds one's own ocean miles before serious crossings.
Observations
The top title of RD 875/2014, with no professional validity by itself: it is also the PPER's entry requirement. Full ladder: LN → PNB → PER → PY → CY; for >24 m superyachts the market demands the MCA/professional route (see the explorer's frameworks).
What this role does
The summit of the Spanish recreational ladder: licenses recreational craft under power —and sail with the endorsement— up to 24 metres **with no geographic limit**. Its syllabus adds what defines ocean passage-making: celestial navigation, ocean meteorology and long-passage planning. Beyond 24 metres or for professional work, the road continues through the PPER or the professional titles.
Typical watches
- International navigation without time restrictions
Key responsibilities
- Government of motor and sailing vessels up to 24 m in length.
- International navigation without distance limit.
- Total responsibility of the vessel and crew on the high seas.
Operational scope
- Boat ≤ 24 m
- Unlimited international navigation
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.