Dear Martin,

I have been reading your articles in the Resident with interest. And I wonder if you could help me with information regarding, boat handling licences in Portugal. As I am sure you know, no licence is required for skippering a boat in the U.K. I have some experience of boating, having owned 2 boats, kept on the south coast of England. Also I was the coxswain of the Heathrow rescue boat ( a Zodiac inflatable and a Boston Whaler) I was trained by H.M. Coastguard at there training school at Brixham Devon on inshore boat handling. I also hold the maritime radio Licence. I would like to buy a small Runabout about a 17 footer for exploring inshore. Could you advise me what requirements I must fill for this.

Regards, Tony Hoyte.

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your email - On the surface your question would seem to be a very simple one, however to make certain that my answer is correct, I telephoned the RYA this morning to discuss your case with someone there. If you have any of the following certificates you qualify to receive an International Certificate of Competence from the RYA. All you have to do is fill in an application form, enclose a photocopy of your certificate, attach a cheque for £40 and a passport size photograph. I can post you one of these application forms.

The certificates are: National Power Boat Certificate (Non tidal or tidal) Level 2 or above - Helmsman's Course Completion Certificate Inland - Helmsman's Certificate - Day Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate (Power) - Day Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate (Sail) - Coastal Skipper (or higher) - RYA/DoT Certificate of Competence (Power) - Coastal Skipper (or higher) RYA/DoT Certificate of Competence (Sail) - DoT Deck Officer Certificate of Competence (any grade) RN, Army or RAF Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate - DoT or Local Authority Boatman's Licence - DoT Boatmaster Certificate.

If you do not have one of the above then it will be necessary for me to give you a practical test, in a boat supplied by yourself, which will take approximately four hours. My fee for conducting this test is 200 euros for one person or 300 euros for 2 people. Whilst speaking to a representative of the RYA over the telephone this morning, I listed your impressive qualifications and suggested that they should be able to issue you with an ICC on the basis of one or all of them, but was told firmly that they could not bend the rules.

Alternatively, if you can speak reasonably good Portuguese you could get a Portuguese licence which would involve doing a course with C I M A V at Vilamoura Marina (Tel 289 302536) They run several courses as follows:

• Marinheiro - This is a course lasting four weeks; you have to attend two evenings per week on Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 9pm. The first session is on September 22nd. The licence that you will get at the end of this course allows you to skipper a boat up to seven meters in length and with an engine of no more than 60 hp during daylight. You must remain within three miles of the coast and travel no further than 6 miles from a port. This I have been given to understand in practice means that in the summer, when Armacao de Pera is classified by the maritime police as a port, it is possible to travel the length of the Algarve from Vila Real St Antonio to Lagos and remain within the law.

• Patrao Local - This one lasts two months, is twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 11 pm. There is no limit of size of boat or engine. But you must not go more than 5 miles from the coast and no further than 10 miles from a port.

• Patrao de Costa - This course lasts for four months for two evenings per week, there are no dates set for this course for this year yet. You can only take this course if you have been a Patroa Local for one year. There is no limit on size of engine or boat, you must however not go further than 25 miles from the coast but you may go as far from a port as you wish along the coast.

• Patrao de Alto Mar - This course is over four months for two evenings per week and allows you to go anywhere without any limit of size of engine or boat.
  
  

I hope the above has answered your question, if you have any more please email me or telephone me on 00351 965 800702.

Martin Northey.