Yacht Skipper Licence (PY)
Everything you need to know about the PY licence and how to prepare for the official exam with the SailVoyager nautical chart simulator.
Practice exams
Practise with real official Yacht Skipper exam papers. Automatic grading with the exact pass criteria: overall, sea safety, meteorology, navigation theory and chart navigation.
PY · Comunidad de Madrid · Noviembre 2025
2 tests (Test 01 and Test 02) · 40 questions each · 2 modules (Generic + Navigation).
What is the PY?
The Patrón de Yate (PY) is the intermediate recreational boating licence in Spain for non-professional vessels. Issued by Spain's Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, it represents a significant step up from the PER in terms of authorisations granted.
The PY authorises skippering recreational motor and sailing craft up to 24 metres in length, navigating up to 150 miles from the coast. With the Yacht Skipper licence it is possible to sail up to 150 miles offshore (unlimited oceanic navigation is the domain of the Ocean Skipper).
Larger vessels
Allows skippering vessels up to 24 metres in length, double that of the PER.
Advanced coastal navigation
Up to 150 miles from the coast. Covers the entire Mediterranean and major coastal routes, but not ocean crossings (Ocean Skipper required for those).
International recognition
The PY has greater international recognition than the PER, facilitating navigation in foreign waters.
Motor and sail
Authorises both motor and sailing craft with the corresponding practice.
Differences between PER and PY
If you already hold the PER and are thinking about upgrading your licence, here are the main differences:
| Feature | PER | PY |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | 15 metres | 24 metres |
| Distance from shore | 12 nautical miles | 150 nm from shore |
| Ocean crossings | No | No (requires CY) |
| Prior requirement | None | Hold the PER |
| Navigation practice | 16 hours motor + ROCA (12h radio) | 48 hours |
| Exam difficulty | Medium | High |
Requirements to obtain the PY
To sit the official PY exam you must meet these requirements:
- ✓Minimum age: 18 years old at the time of the exam.
- ✓Hold the PER: It is mandatory to hold the Recreational Craft Skipper licence before sitting the PY exam.
- ✓Nautical medical certificate: Issued by an authorised doctor, certifying physical and mental fitness to navigate.
- ✓Pass the official theory exam: Organised by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine.
- ✓Navigation practice must total 48 hours — carried out in a single session with a minimum of 36 hours underway (continuous).
- ✓Administrative fees: Payment of the fees required to issue the licence.
Syllabus for the PY exam
The PY theory exam is divided into 4 official modules under RD 875/2014. Astronomical navigation is not included (exclusive to the Ocean Skipper):
Sea safety — Stability (ship theory), safety equipment, abandonment procedures and survival.
Meteorology — Air masses, fronts, depressions and anticyclones. Synoptic chart analysis and marine forecasting.
Navigation theory — Terrestrial sphere, total correction of courses and bearings, compasses, variation, deviation and nautical publications.
Chart navigation — The practical block: courses, bearings, dead reckoning, leeway, currents and coastal passage planning. The heart of SailVoyager.
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The Nautical Chart in the PY exam
As in the PER, the nautical chart is a central element of the PY exam. However, the exercises are more complex and require greater precision and knowledge.
What is required in the PY exam?
The chart exercises in the PY are more advanced than in the PER and include:
- ✓ All PER exercises with greater complexity
- ✓ Dead reckoning with multiple simultaneous variables
- ✓ Compass calculation and total correction (variation + deviation)
- ✓ Long-range coastal passage planning
- ✓ Combined use of nautical charts of different scales
⚠ The chart used in the PY exam is the official chart of the Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute. Not valid for real navigation.
Why use SailVoyager to prepare for the PY
SailVoyager is the most complete online nautical chart simulator for preparing both the PER and PY. Intensive practice with the simulator is especially important for the PY given the high level of demand in the exam.
Identical chart to the exam
Practise with the same chart you will use in the official PY exam, in interactive digital format.
Advanced-level exercises
The simulator includes PY-level specific exercises with greater complexity than those of the PER.
Practise at your own pace
Access 24 hours a day from your computer or tablet. No schedules or travel.
Recommended by academies
Nautical academies across Spain use SailVoyager as a support tool for their PY students.
Frequently asked questions about the PY
Prepara el PY desde tu ciudad
SailVoyager funciona desde cualquier lugar de España. Elige tu ciudad para ver información específica sobre convocatorias, capitanías y consejos locales.
PY en Madrid
Capitanía Marítima de Madrid · Convocatorias frecuentes para el Patrón de Yate.
PY en Barcelona
Puerto de Barcelona · Base ideal para rutas al Mediterráneo y Baleares.
PY en Valencia
Marina Real Juan Carlos I · Flota deportiva muy activa en el Mediterráneo.
PY en Málaga
Costa del Sol · Puerta de salida hacia el Estrecho y el Atlántico.
PY en Sevilla
Capitanía Marítima de Sevilla · Tradición náutica del Guadalquivir.
PY en Bilbao
País Vasco · Cantábrico, una de las costas más exigentes de España.
PY en Alicante
Costa Blanca · Travesías al Mediterráneo occidental, Ibiza y Mallorca.
PY en Palma de Mallorca
Archipiélago Balear · El PY cubre todo el archipiélago y la costa peninsular.
PY en Tenerife
Canarias · Navega entre islas con autonomía y afronta rutas oceánicas.
PY en Gran Canaria
Puerto de Las Palmas · Punto de partida de travesías atlánticas y al Caribe.
PY en Santander
Cantabria · Navega el Cantábrico y el Golfo de Vizcaya con el PY.
PY en A Coruña
Galicia · Costa da Morte y ruta atlántica hacia Portugal y las islas.
PY en Vigo
Rías Baixas · Portugal, Cíes y el Atlántico desde las rías gallegas.
PY en Cádiz
Estrecho de Gibraltar · Cruce entre el Mediterráneo y el Atlántico.
PY en Cartagena
Murcia · Mediterráneo sur hacia Baleares y las costas de Argelia.
PY en Gijón
Asturias · Cantábrico y Golfo de Vizcaya con el PY.
PY en Ibiza
Pitiusas · Desde Ibiza hacia Mallorca, Menorca y el sur de Francia.
PY en Menorca
Baleares · 150 millas de alcance desde Maó y Ciutadella.
PY en Mallorca
Baleares · Travesías a Menorca, Ibiza, Córcega y la costa francesa.
PY en Murcia
Mar Menor · Mediterráneo sur hacia las Baleares y Argelia.
PY en Irún
Gipuzkoa · Golfo de Bizkaia, costa francesa y Bretaña.
PY en Asturias
Cantábrico · Norte de Portugal y las Islas Británicas en el horizonte.
PY Online
Prepara el Patrón de Yate desde casa · Sin desplazamientos, a tu ritmo.
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