The PER aboard is the full PER, with sailing and Balearic endorsements, where you do all the practical training in one week living on the yacht. You study the theory beforehand in the online classroom and the theory exam is separate, at an official sitting. At Altair it costs €1150 and runs once a year, in July. The course is taught in Spanish.
What is the PER aboard?
It is a way of doing the full PER, with the sailing and Balearic endorsements, in which all the practical training is done back to back during a week living on the boat. The theory is studied beforehand in the online classroom and the Generalitat theory exam is taken at one of its sittings, before or after.
It is not a crash course, even if it is sometimes sold that way. The difference from the usual PER is not that you learn less but how: instead of separate day trips, you live a real passage, with night watches, cooking on board and a boat you all have to run together.
PER aboard or flexible PER: the differences
| Flexible PER | PER aboard | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Whenever you like, at weekends | One week in July, once a year |
| Practical training | Spread over several days | All in one go, living aboard |
| Sailing and Balearics | Optional, extra | Included |
| Price | €490 (sailing and Balearics extra: €1215 in total) | 1150 € |
| Best if… | You go at your own pace and live nearby | You want the full PER in one go |
What the week is like
During the week you do everything the law requires, spread out and mixed according to the weather, with no fixed order:
- Safety and a thorough look at the boat.
- Manoeuvres: berthing, anchoring and man overboard.
- Navigation and chart work on board.
- Radio training.
- Sailing training.
- The 24-hour passage to Menorca or Mallorca, with day and night watches and an abandon-ship drill.
Every day there is training, but also swimming and rest: it is not a marathon. What really counts is the passage: the first night watch, with the boat in your hands and the coast a line of lights, is when the PER stops being an exam.
Do you leave with the licence after a week?
No, and be wary of anyone who promises it. During the week you do all the compulsory practical training. The licence comes when you also pass the theory exam, which has official dates. The practical training is valid for 24 months, so you choose the order.
Do you really cross to the Balearics?
If the weather allows, yes: the 24-hour passage is to Menorca or Mallorca. If not, it is done along the coast and the endorsement is just as valid, because the law requires 24 hours of continuous passage with at least 4 at night, not a destination (RD 875/2014, Annex VI).
How much does the PER aboard cost?
At Altair, €1150, including the online theory, all the practical training, sailing, the Balearic endorsement and six nights aboard. Food (shared shopping on board), Generalitat fees and the medical certificate are extra. It is in line with what Barcelona schools charge for a week like this.
Who is it for?
- For those who want the full PER, with sailing and Balearics, and cannot find free weekends.
- For those who live far from Barcelona and prefer to come just once.
- For those who want to know what several days at sea are really like before chartering a boat.
If you prefer your own pace, the flexible PER is just as complete. And if you have made up your mind, here is everything about the July PER aboard (in Spanish).
Next edition: 19–24 July 2027
PER aboard
1150 €
Theory + practical training + sailing + Balearics + 6 nights aboard
See the course →Food, Generalitat fees and medical certificate not included.