The Licenses
Coastal and offshore licenses
Licenses
In France as in England, it is possible to practice sailing without holding a license.
If one considers the power-to-weight ratio of an ultra-light hull fitted with an outboard engine, it is possible to reach speeds that are dangerous for oneself and for others in the event of a collision.
This is not really the case for cruising sailboats, which are generally equipped with inboard diesel engines that are not very fast, as they are designed as auxiliaries to the main mode of propulsion: the sails. In addition, a sailboat is naturally limited by its hull speed due to its keel or centerboard. The use of an engine on a sailboat is therefore not considered an obstacle to navigation.
The paradox is that the knowledge required to maneuver a sailboat is greater than that needed to operate an outboard motorboat... Fortunately, people do not set out to sea on a sailboat in just any way. Nevertheless, the debate on the need to hold a license to operate a sailboat regularly resurfaces among recreational sailors.
That said, sailing schools do their job rather well and prepare future boaters to master a sailboat. Those who wish to train in sailboat handling can very well combine the coastal and offshore licenses with sailing courses. A formula that offers a more comprehensive approach to navigation and avoids skipping steps through the validation of levels approved by the French Sailing Federation.
In practice, a cruising sailboat charter company will in the vast majority of cases ask the prospective renter for a nautical résumé.
In this regard, it is dangerous to underestimate the risks involved in chartering a sailboat without mastering the basics of sailing and engine maneuvering. While charter companies naturally want to operate, accidents resulting from a lack of navigational knowledge are attributable to the charterer, something insurers never fail to point out... Hence the interest in taking out excess waiver insurance!
Coastal license
In France, operators of boats equipped with an outboard engine with a power greater than 6 horsepower must hold a coastal license.
This certificate authorizes navigation up to 6 nautical miles from a shelter (approximately 10 kilometers), by day or night, with no power limit. It is possible to obtain the coastal license in coastal areas as well as on inland waterways.
Offshore license
Beyond 6 nautical miles from a shelter, legislation requires obtaining the offshore license. This license allows navigation without distance or power limits, by day or night. Essential for powerboating enthusiasts, the training program is naturally more demanding than its smaller counterpart.
It notably includes more advanced chartwork exercises to be able to plot a course, calculate leeway due to wind or current, perform dead reckoning, or fix a position manually or electronically.
The techniques studied for the offshore license are just as valid for sailing navigation, hence the interest in taking these exams for those who wish to quickly acquire solid theoretical foundations in chartwork.
Short Range Certificate
Finally, the Short Range Certificate (SRC) is mandatory for the use of a VHF (Very High Frequency) radio.
These devices allow communication with other boats, recreational craft or commercial vessels, as well as sending and receiving important messages for navigation. The SRC is therefore essential to understand the various safety and distress calling procedures, as well as the international phonetic alphabet.