Sailing Blog

The Foix Canyon drops from 72 to 2,180 m off Port Garraf. How it formed, Garraf geology, its underground rivers and why it draws fin whales.

From 1 October 2026 renting a 5 m, 15 hp boat requires a licence. What changes and how to get the Navigation Licence in time.

Poland is preparing a compulsory survey for foreign-owned boats. What changes, what about San Marino, and why no flag exempts Spanish residents from a Spanish licence.

Expired flares, missing life jackets, overloading or alcohol: what gets fined in Spain and how much.

Outdoor parking, the May–September blue zone, the marina car park and the R2 Sud train.

Berth, insurance, antifouling and repairs: the real yearly cost of a boat in Barcelona, by length.

Antifouling and topsides prices by length in Barcelona, and what drives the cost.

Live NAVTEX near you, COLREGs with diagrams, buoyage, anchoring, a pre-departure checklist and the MAYDAY script. In Spanish, no account needed.

518 and 490 kHz, the Spanish stations and how to read “ZCZC XA12”, with a live viewer of the Salvamento Marítimo warnings in force right now in Catalonia.

Yes: colour blindness does not stop you getting the PER, PNB or Navigation Licence. What RD 875/2014 says, the night-sailing restriction and why buoys have shapes.

Masthead, sidelights and sternlight, sailing boats and small craft, how to tell where another vessel is heading at night and who gives way, with an interactive simulator.

When to book depending on what you’re after: anchored under the stars, or moored in Port Garraf. What changes with the season.

Fixing a specific breakdown isn’t the same as a full refit. The signs that tell you which one your boat needs.

Dead batteries, a seized engine, damp, loose lines after a storm: what really happens to a boat left unchecked for months.

Getting a boat licence and then never using it is more common than you’d think. Why it happens and how to get your confidence back.

The three real steps of the PER process, how long each takes, and official fees paid separately.

Discover why sailing reduces stress and improves your mental wellbeing.

Visual guide to dolphin and whale species off the Garraf coast, with the best seasons for MITECO-authorised whale watching.

Step-by-step guide to a sea ashes ceremony: Maritime Authority permit, coordinates and what the day looks like aboard our sailboat.

Yes — with a permit. Legal requirements, Maritime Authority authorisation and how we organise it from Barcelona.

Critical rescue protocols every sailor must know.

Understanding buoys, beacons, and maritime signals.

Interpret weather forecasts and meteorological symbols for safe sailing.

What happens each day, the Balearic crossing, what is included, price and why the licence does not come in a week (though the practical training does).

Step-by-step guide to renewing an expired Navigation Licence, PNB or PER.

Buying or chartering: what to start with, length, budget, and why a pre-purchase inspection matters.

North, East, South and West: which side to pass each one, their topmarks, colours and the clock trick for their lights, with an interactive simulator.

Emergency medical skills for sailors.

Essential inspections before every sailing trip.

The full ICS alphabet, flag meanings and numbers, with a memory trick for the PER exam.

How to self-manage your exam registration and licence processing with the Generalitat, and save on fees.

What documents your boat must always carry in Catalan and Spanish waters, to avoid fines.

Who gives way when crossing, head-on or overtaking, the vessel hierarchy and navigation lights, with an interactive encounter simulator.

How to anchor without damaging Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean, and the fines for doing it.

Emergency signaling and distress protocols at sea.

How to use prop walk to your advantage when docking with an inboard diesel engine.

Are sailing hours mandatory for the PER or PNB? Why you should do them anyway, even though optional.

The departure spring-line technique, step by step, to leave the berth without damaging fenders.

Professional tricks for docking with a crosswind, using it to your advantage instead of fighting it.

Age requirements for each nautical title in Spain, from 16 for the Navigation Licence to 18 for the PER.

Official ORC speed polar data for s/y BELA, our own Finnsailer 34, and how to read them.

Answers to the most frequent questions about the PER exam.

Intensive study plan with week-by-week strategy.

How to extend your PER for 24 metres and the Balearic crossing.

Which boating licence lets you ride a jet ski, its limits and the key rules in Catalonia.

The exact legal limits for sailing uncertified, and why the Navigation Licence is worth getting anyway.

Mediterranean conservation zone importance.

Seasonal winds and weather patterns.

Avoid costly errors when purchasing a sailboat.

Honor your companion with a peaceful sea ceremony.

Health requirements for sailing certifications.