Which sailing licence do I need?

It is difficult for a layperson to navigate the jungle of possible sailing licences and boat driving licences. We have therefore compiled an overview of the smallest and most important sailing licences for everyday use as a private individual. There are also some boats for which no licence is required. A so-called "basic sailing licence", which you can obtain from many sailing schools, is only voluntary and is offered by many sailing schools to earn money - but it is not official proof of knowledge. It is therefore better to invest the money in a legally recognised sailing licence. Sailing licences are divided into inland and sea: Put simply, "inland waters" are all waters lying within a land area (= rivers and lakes), while "sea" refers to coastal waters (= oceans).

It is important to know in advance that an additional small pyro licence is mandatory on all sea-going, larger boats, as these boats are equipped with pyrotechnic distress signals. A radio licence (the coastal radio licence SRC) is also usually required. These two additional licences are normally completed together with the recreational boating licence for the sea (= SBF See) or the recreational coaster licence (= SKS-Schein).

No licence required (also no pyro licence / radio licence required):

• Boats with less than 15 hp (e.g. inflatable boats, very small motorboats)
• When sailing a dinghy / sailing yacht without a motor on sea areas (= at sea)

Tip: There are now a large number of boats on Mallorca that can be rented without a licence and without prior knowledge.

Inland boating licence (SBF Binnen):

• This licence is valid for sailing boats and motorboats (including jet skis) under 15 metres in length and with more than 15 hp that are used on inland waters
• There are two SBF Binnen licences (which can of course also be combined):
• SBF Binnen for motorboats
• SBF Binnen for sailing boats with more than 15 hp auxiliary engine (sailing licence for dinghy sailing)
• I need the SBF Binnen for this, for example:
• When sailing a motorboat or inflatable boat on inland lakes (e.g. for fishing)
• When sailing on inland waters
• When ferrying a yacht on inland waterways

Pleasure craft licence sea (SBF See):

• This boating licence is internationally recognised and a mandatory licence for motorboats and jet skis with more than 15 hp that are driven at sea; however, sailors with auxiliary engines on sailing boats with more than 15 hp also require the SBF See
• The SBF See allows sailing up to 3 nm (5.5 km) from the coast (it is not valid on inland waters, for which the SBF Binnen is required)
• I need the SBF See for this, for example:
• When sailing a motorboat on sea waters
• When sailing with auxiliary engines with more than 15 hp on the coast
• When chartering a sailing yacht on sea waters
• Note: when chartering a sailing yacht on sea waters, charter companies normally only require the SBF See, but charter companies and their insurance companies are increasingly asking for the SKS licence, as the SBF See does not test sailing experience (it is purely a motorboat licence) and therefore does not provide sufficient cover in the event of an accident
• In the event of an inspection by the police, you should also have the small pyro licence and the radio licence, as all charter boats on the coast usually have parachute rockets on board and a radio - there can be severe penalties if the required evidence cannot be provided.
  
  

Sport coastal skipper licence (SKS licence):

• This boating licence is an internationally recognised, voluntary licence that builds on the SBF See and provides evidence of sound, practical training - it applies to the same boat types as the SBF See
• This is why charterers and their insurers are increasingly asking for the SKS licence as proof of sufficient knowledge when hiring a yacht
• The SKS licence allows you to sail up to 12 nm (22.2 km) from the coast
• There are two versions of the SKS licence:
• SKS licence for motorboats
• SKS licence for motorboats and sailing yachts (sailing licence for sea waters)
• To obtain the SKS licence, you must first obtain the SBF See licence
• Here, too, the radio licence and the small pyro licence should be available when chartering
  
  

Radio licence:

• This licence must always be presented if a radio is installed in the boat (even if it is not used at all!), which is now the case with almost all modern charter boats
• There are two variants:
• Coastal radio licence SRC: is sufficient if you are only sailing near the coast and in "smaller" seas (Mediterranean)
• Marine radio licence LRC: for sailing trips over long distances (e.g. across the Atlantic or around the world)

Pyro licence:

• Whenever signal rockets are on board (which is the case for almost all charter boats at sea), the small pyro licence must be presented
• If there is a signal gun on board:
• For your own boat: a firearms licence (certificate of competence) should be available
• When chartering: the charter company will instruct you in the use of the signal pistol

Our experience in the Mediterranean / Spain so far has been that the SBF See is sufficient for chartering a boat that requires a licence. However, if you want to obtain a well-founded sailing licence that provides you with in-depth sailing knowledge and complete insurance cover, you should also complete the SKS licence. There are other, more advanced sailing licences that can be obtained for commercial sailing or as a professional sailor, such as the Sportseeschiffer-Schein (SSS) and the Sporthochseeschiffer-Schein (SHS).