Short answer: to charter a sailboat or catamaran without a skipper (bareboat) in Spain, you need a valid recreational boating licence that covers the boat’s length and the area you will sail in. For the boats in our fleet, 34 to 52 ft, that means at least the Spanish PER with the sailing endorsement, or a recognised foreign licence with equivalent privileges. If you don’t have a licence, you can charter the boat with a skipper.
| Licence | What it allows under sail | Valid for our boats? |
|---|---|---|
| Licencia de navegación | Boats up to 6 m, daytime only, within 2 miles of a port or shelter | No |
| Patrón de Navegación Básica (PNB) | Sailboats up to 8 m, within 5 miles of a port or shelter | No |
| Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER) | Sailboats up to 15 m, up to 12 miles offshore (with the sailing endorsement). With the extension, up to 24 m and crossings to the Balearic Islands | Yes, up to 15 m length (more with the extension) |
| Patrón de Yate | Up to 24 m, up to 150 miles offshore | Yes |
| Capitán de Yate | Up to 24 m, no geographical limits | Yes |
A note on the PER: sailing privileges are not included by default. They require specific sail-training sessions, so check that your licence card shows them. Boats over 15 metres need the PER extension to 24 metres or the Patrón de Yate.
Spanish regulations (third and fourth additional provisions of Royal Decree 875/2014) allow you to charter a Spanish recreational boat with a valid recreational licence or certificate, provided that:
You will skipper the boat within the privileges of your own licence: if it limits boat length or distance from the coast, those limits also apply in Spain. For example, the regulation recognises the RYA Day Skipper for boats up to 24 m within 12 miles of the coast, and the RYA ICC according to what the certificate states.
You can also charter a boat without crew if you hold a valid professional certificate issued by a country that is party to the STCW Convention, within its privileges.
If your licence doesn’t fit any of these cases, or you’re not sure whether it covers a boat of our size, get in touch before booking and we’ll check it with you.
Before confirming a bareboat charter we ask for your licence and your sailing CV, that is, your previous sailing experience. We do not charter boats without a skipper to people without a licence.
Charter the boat with a skipper. A professional skipper who knows the Bay of Roses, Cap de Creus and the local anchorages handles the sailing while you enjoy the trip. Since 1 October 2026, even small motorboats that can be used without a licence can no longer be rented without one (Royal Decree 1188/2025), so if you don’t hold a licence, hiring a skipper is the only option.
Have a look at our sailboats and catamaran or at how boat rental in Roses works.
Only for sailboats up to 8 metres, within 5 miles of a port or shelter. Our boats are larger, so no.
A sailing catamaran requires the same licences as a monohull: what matters is the boat’s length and the sailing area. Our Lagoon 40 requires at least the PER with the sailing endorsement or an equivalent recognised licence.
Yes, if it was issued by your country of nationality or by the country where you lived when it was issued, and that country is in the European Economic Area or Annex IX. If it was issued by another country, contact us before booking.
Information checked in November 2026 against Royal Decree 875/2014 (consolidated text, BOE) and Royal Decree 1188/2025. This guide is for general information and is not legal advice: if you have doubts about your case, contact us or ask the Spanish Harbour Master’s Office (Capitanía Marítima).
