Capitán de Yate: what it allows and how to get it
The Capitán de Yate, Spain’s yacht captain licence, is the highest recreational licence: it covers boats up to 24 m with no geographical limit. To sit it you need the Patrón de Yate; the exam adds celestial navigation and English.
What the Capitán de Yate allows
- Motor boats up to 24 m, with no geographical limit.
- Jet skis, within their own limits.
- With the sailing practical training: sailing boats up to 24 m, also with no geographical limit.
Who can sit it
- You need the Patrón de Yate. The PER is not enough: the licence immediately below is required.
- You must be 18 on the day of the exam.
- A medical check at a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores (CRC); the report is valid for 2 years.
- The short-range radio course (12 hours) taken for the PER also counts for this licence.
The exam
40 multiple-choice questions, four answers each, in 150 minutes at most. You pass with 28 correct answers and within the mistake limit for the topics that have one: navigation theory (at most 5 mistakes) and navigation calculations (at most 4).
| Topic | Questions | Max. mistakes | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation theory (Teoría de navegación) | 10 | 5 | The celestial sphere, coordinates of the heavenly bodies, the position triangle, the ecliptic, apparent motion, constellations, time, nautical publications and the sextant. |
| Navigation calculations (Cálculo de navegación) | 10 | 4 | The position triangle, the nautical almanac, altitude lines, compass error and great-circle sailing. |
| Meteorology (Meteorología) | 10 | — | The atmosphere, storm phenomena, the general wind systems, tropical cyclones, ocean currents and floating ice. |
| English (Inglés) | 10 | — | Nautical publications in English and messages using the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases. |
You can pass by module (one general, one navigation): a module you have passed is kept for the next two exam sessions.
Practical training and radio
Practical training is 48 hours at sea with a boating school, at least 36 of them on passage, with one full day watch and one full night watch for each student. Adding the sailing training brings the total to 72 hours (60 on passage) with 2 day watches and 2 night watches. The radio course lasts 12 hours and is taken once.
What it costs
Official exam fee in the regions that have their own article on this site:
| Region | Capitán de Yate exam |
|---|---|
| Murcia | €86.78 |
| Valencian Community | €104.96 |
On top of the exam fee come the issue of the licence and card, the medical check, the practical training and the radio course. The issue fee depends on the administration: check its official website. Other regions set their own exam fee.
Where this course fits
This course prepares you for the PER theory exam, the first step towards the Capitán de Yate. The Patrón de Yate and Capitán de Yate syllabuses are not part of the course. For the PER, Topic 1 is free with an account and the full course starts at €7 per seat per month, billed annually.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Patrón de Yate and the Capitán de Yate?
Both cover motor boats up to 24 m. The Patrón de Yate goes up to 150 nautical miles from the coast; the Capitán de Yate has no geographical limit. The Capitán de Yate exam adds celestial navigation and English, and lasts 150 minutes.
Can I get the Capitán de Yate without the Patrón de Yate?
No. You need the licence immediately below it, the Patrón de Yate, and the PER before that.
What is the Capitán de Yate exam like?
40 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes. You pass with 28 correct answers and within the mistake limit for navigation theory (at most 5 mistakes) and navigation calculations (at most 4). The other topics are meteorology and English.
How many hours of practical training are required?
48 hours at sea, at least 36 of them on passage, with one full day watch and one full night watch for each student; 72 hours if you add the sailing training.
How much does the Capitán de Yate cost?
The official exam fee is €86.78 in Murcia and €104.96 in the Valencian Community. On top come the issue of the licence, the medical check, the practical training and the radio course, which each centre or administration charges for.
Official sources (in Spanish)
- BOE: Real Decreto 875/2014, titulaciones náuticas de recreo (texto consolidado)
- Ministerio de Transportes: Capitán de Yate
- Región de Murcia: tasas de los exámenes náuticos (procedimiento 525)
- Generalitat Valenciana: calculadora de tasas de exámenes náuticos
Data checked against the official sources in October 2026.