If there is a country worth discovering from the sea, it is Italy; since it has hundreds of kilometers of coastline, with beaches and coves that are wonderful to see and where you can discover hidden corners that you can only reach by boat. To do this, if you want to enjoy recreational sailing in Italy on your own yacht, you will need to have the appropriate license for it . In this place you will be able to find schools that will provide you with the necessary training to learn to steer a boat and obtain the appropriate permit so that it can be legally navigated.
The steps you must follow to get your license and be able to navigate in Italy are:
First you should know that in Italy there are different navigation licenses depending on the size of the boat and the distances it can travel. It is not necessary to be in possession of any license if you are going to navigate less than 6 miles from the coast in a boat of less than 24 meters in length and have an engine with a power of less than 30 Kw or 40.8 Cv. In the event that any of the above conditions are exceeded or if it is a jet ski or perhaps, if you are going to practice water skiing or you are going to take more powerful boats and/or you are going to move away from the coast, you will need a license .
License categories in Italy:
Category A: valid for boats up to 24 meters in length and has two types:
Nautical license to navigate up to 12 miles from the coast: this license will enable you to take a pleasure boat that does not exceed 24 meters in length, of any motor power, at a maximum distance of 12 miles from the coast. To obtain it, you must pass a theoretical exam and a practical one. The theory test is the same for this license as it is for the license to drive more than 12 miles. What makes these two licenses different are the specific questions that must be answered correctly to qualify for one license or the other. Generally speaking, the theoretical test consists of a test of 20 questions where only one answer is correct. To obtain a license up to 12 miles from the coast, it will be necessary to answer 5 specific questions and a minimum of 4 must be passed. The questions can refer to topics such as anchoring maneuvers and other topics related to the components of the boats. For both licenses (with and without limit of distance from the coast), the maximum number of errors allowed to pass the exam is 4; that is, you have to get a minimum of 16 questions out of 20 right. Subsequently, you must take a practical test in which you must demonstrate that you know how to drive a boat, practice mooring maneuvers, recover a man overboard and other emergency situations that arise. may present when browsing.
Nautical license to navigate without limit of distance from the coast: with this unlimited permit you can take the same boats as with the previous license, but in this case it is without the distance limitation. As in the previous case, the exam for these two licenses is unique; however, what makes this part different from the previous one is that it is necessary to correctly answer 4 questions related to topics that correspond to this license. If you pass the theoretical part, you will have to take the practical test in a motor boat or in a sailing and motor boat. The same as for the license of up to 12 miles, you must demonstrate how prepared you are to steer the boat and do almost the same tests as in the previous case; In addition, you must know how to tie sailor's knots and know the theory of navigation and its maneuvers. If the practice is suspended, it is not necessary to repeat the written exam, it will only be necessary to take the practical test again within a month from the first time it was done; while people who do not answer the questions correctly will be able to continue to take the license within 12 miles.
The category B nautical license is used to carry recreational boats of more than 24 meters in length and allows you to move away at any distance from the coast: with this permit you can take recreational boats of more than 24 meters and drive either motorized or sailing and engine. To obtain it, it is necessary that you have an unlimited nautical license for motor boats and sailing for more than 3 years. To do this, you will have to take a 100-hour theory course and a theoretical-practical exam, which you can only attend at least one month after requesting said exam. The written test includes the resolution of an anti-collision naval kinematics problem in about 90 minutes and an oral test. Later, you will do the practical test with a boat of more than 24 meters in the sea in which you will have to demonstrate your ability to maneuver this type of boat.
The category C nautical license is authorized for disabled people to navigate with certain conditions, such as adapting the boat or accompanying another person: this license is reserved for people with certain pathologies that limit the correct execution of handling a boat of recreation with a length that does not exceed 24 meters. This license can be obtained by those affected by anatomical alterations. With this license you will be able to decide what operations to carry out to correctly manage the boat; however, another person must always be present to perform the required manual functions, and this other person does not need to be licensed to operate a vessel. Additionally, the boat must be equipped with an electronic device capable of detecting if a man falls overboard, disabling the autopilot and stopping the engines. People who are disabled can obtain a type A and B nautical license, but the validity of this license will only be 2 years. This can be established with or without limits from the coast. In the same way, they must pass an exam, like those of category A, in which there is a theoretical part and a practical part that will depend on whether there are limits from the coast or not and whether it will be for motorcycles or motor and sailing.
Other types of license:
Sail extension: if you already have both a 12-mile and unlimited motor license and want to get a sailing boat license, this is the license you need to get. In this way you will be able to take a recreational boat with a length of no more than 24 meters with or without limits from the coast, depending on your choice. This course includes a theoretical class and several hours of practice, depending on whether or not there are limits on the coast, and can only be obtained by people over 18 years of age. The exam will be completely practical on a sailing boat and you will have to be able to demonstrate your ability to maneuver.
Boat license: if you have a speedboat you should know that the license is mandatory in case you practice water skiing, go more than 6 miles from the coast or the motor of the boat is greater than 40.8 CV or 30 kW. With this license you can also establish limits from the coast, the same as category A, without limit or up to 12 miles.
On the other hand, you should know that in Italy you can rent yachts and enjoy a day at sea with its dreamy coasts and crystal clear waters . Italy is an ideal destination for people who love to have this type of nautical experience. There are several companies in Italy that offer this service, whether for luxury or simple boats, which fits various budgets. From Italy it is possible to sail to other cities such as Cannes and Monte Carlo , or simply spend the day at sea. These yachts include the crew, so all you have to worry about is having a good time and having fun. You should also take into account that in Italy it is mandatory to wear life jackets on board the yacht and they must be available to all passengers. Taking the above into account, you now know what you should do if you want to maneuver a boat by yourself, taking into account that you will also find options for rent.