If you are passionate about the sea, want to sail independently, and are considering obtaining a boating license, you have probably come across acronyms like PNB (Patrón de Navegación Básica) and PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo). Both licenses allow you to sail and enjoy the sea, but they present important differences that you should understand before deciding which one to pursue. At the CNE Nautical School, we help you choose the one that suits you best.
Both licenses, PNB and PER, are excellent options for enjoying the sea, each with its own characteristics. Whichever one you choose, the most important thing is that the license matches your sailing aspirations and that you enjoy every outing safely and with respect for the sea.
Basic Navigation Skipper (PNB)
The PNB license allows you to operate boats up to 8 meters in length, whether motor or sail. Navigation can be both daytime and nighttime, but you may not sail more than 5 miles from a port or shelter. It is internationally valid and can be complemented by the PER license. The training includes 21 hours and requires an exam:
- Theory course: 9 hours
- Engine practice: 2 sessions of 4 hours each
- Radio communication practice: 4 hours
The price of the license is 650€. Club members benefit from a 20% discount, with a final cost of 520€. Optionally, you can add sailing practice for 380€.
Recreational Boat Skipper (PER)
The PER license allows operating vessels up to 15 meters, both motor and sail. Navigation is permitted by day and night, at a maximum distance of 12 miles from the coast. It has international navigation scope and can be extended up to 24 meters and to navigation between the peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The training includes 48 hours and also requires an exam.
- Theory course: 20 hours
- Engine practice: 4 sessions of 4 hours each
- Radio communication practice: 12 hours
The price of the qualification is 995€. Members of the Club Nàutic Estartit enjoy a 20% discount, with a final cost of 796€. Optional extensions include sailing practice (380€), which is the necessary requirement to be able to navigate with sailing vessels, and the specific practice for the Balearic Islands (24 hours, 495€).
Learn to sail with a trusted center: Baix Empordà Nautical School
These courses are delivered in collaboration with the Baix Empordà Nautical School, a benchmark center in our region with extensive experience in nautical training. The school specializes in the education of skippers and sailors, offering official accredited courses as well as programs tailored to different levels and needs, from first steps in sailing to professional certifications.
However, the PNB and PER are not the gateway to sailing. The true key to getting started is the navigation license, a simple, quick, and affordable qualification that allows you to take the helm from day one and begin enjoying the sea safely. From there, the PNB and PER are the next steps, more complete and specialized. The PNB gives you more autonomy and the possibility to command larger boats and venture a little further from the coast. The PER, on the other hand, is the ideal qualification for those who want more hours of practice, greater knowledge, and a much wider navigation range, with the option of commanding larger vessels. The essential thing is to choose the qualification that best fits your pace, budget, and goals. Whether it’s the navigation license, the PNB, or the PER, what truly matters is always the same: experiencing the sea with passion and respect.