Anyone know much about boat "flags" and registration?

[Steviesam]

Moving to Spain, will be full time resident.

Buying a motor boat, something about 30 feet and around 50k eur.

Now, If Ii buy a Spnaish registered flagged boat, I have to obey Spanish boating laws, which means getting a licence. While I am already learning Spanish pre-move, there is no way I will be able to take exams in Spanish. I am not a natural linguist, as I have discovered while living in France!

I understand that as a captain, you have to abide by the rules of whever the boat is registered, so for example a UK reg boast captain needs no licence at all to use it in Spain! But if I import a boat from outside the EU its going to cripple me in taxes.

SO, any of you clever boaters know the best work around?

Thanks you!

[OldGermanHeaps]

Do the uk course applicable to the type of boat you fancy, then apply for an international certificate of competence, ICC
The vhf course is a good idea as well. The content of the courese is excellent, covers all the flags, and I thought very reasonably priced for what you get.
I dont know the ins and outs but a friend took his boat to spain before brexit and registered it there and he is allowed to use it on his ICC.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Saturday 1st March 15:14

[OutInTheShed]

I would look at the RYA website, you might even consider joining.
There are various forums where people have lots of knowledge and opinions on this kind of thing, YBW.com is one.
A chat with a broker or two might also be useful.

I personally am not up to date on this, I think stuff has changed in the last year or three.
It used to be expedient to register with a different EU flag, you could look into that but DYOR!

[Steviesam]

Thanks both. Its quite a minefield but will do as you suggest I think re talking to brokers.

Initially i thought just buy a Spanish boat and that would be the easiet way, but thats not the case for sure!

Thank you again.

[Popeyed]

Regardless of where a boat is registered, you will need to comply with the applicable legislation when within a State’s territorial waters or contiguous zone, (the former is 12 nautical miles from the base line, the latter is 24 nautical miles from the base line.) if you are bored, feel free to peruse the legislation in the UNCLOS.

[gusko]

Hi I am in kind of similar postition to you. I have minor sailing experience from my childhood but only on the Norfolk Broads.
I live in Bulgaria , access to the Black sea from my house is roughly 6 hrs drive , but to the Aegean is only 2hrs.

My ideal purchase would be a cruiser powerboat up to 60ft that can be used single handed . My plan is to cruise around the Greek Islands , through the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea. This is a vague retirement Idea so presently I am costing it up . Options are Bulgarian , Turkish or Greek registered , and moored in Greece.

So far I have found a course in Bulgaria that would train me to skipper up to 40tons . This is around 300euros and I can take the course in English.

https://bmtc.bg/bg/vodach-na-plavatelen-sad-do-40-...

I am sure you could find similar training In Spain... lots of English speakers there.

[Boatbuoy]

As others have said, do the RYA Day Skipper course, then get the RYA to issue you your ICC, it's very simple. There's a admin small fee, or it's free if you're an RYA member.

You'll need to conduct the shore based theory (either in a classroom, or remote online learning) before you do the practical course.

My understanding is that the RYA course content far exceeds that covered by the Spanish equivalent, so do it in English and be sure that you'll receive some good quality training and acquire the correct knowledge.

There's plenty of RYA accredited schools, both here (UK) and in Spain (that teach in English), so it shouldn't be a problem.