Why the theory cannot be done online
It is the Generalitat that says so, not us. And it is the reason why any offer of a “boating licence online” you come across does not stand up.
The course · · 3 min read
The sentence, word for word
The Generalitat de Catalunya's FAQ on recreational qualifications is explicit about the theory training for the Licencia de Navegación, Spain's entry-level boating licence: it has to be taught in person, «sense que aquest format presencial pugui ser substituït per qualsevol altra modalitat a distància» — without that in-person format being replaceable by any distance format whatsoever.
It leaves no room. It is not “preferably in person”, nor “in person unless there is good reason”: it is in person, and no distance format replaces it.
What counts as in person
Being physically with the instructor. What does not count is a video call, however live it is and however many cameras are switched on: it is still a distance format.
What is allowed, and is how it is arranged here, is giving those two hours on board. They do not have to be split off into a classroom: the theory behind a licence that entitles you to take a boat 2 nautical miles out is better explained with the boat in front of you, and the rules do not require a classroom, they require presence.
Why it matters that you know before you pay
Because the online format is exactly what makes a cheap offer attractive, and it is also what invalidates it. If a course offers to get the licence theory out of the way from home, either it is talking about a different qualification or it is doing something the rules do not allow.
And if you are comparing schools, it is a short and very revealing question: “is the theory in person?”. There is only one correct answer.
The course, in case you got this far
All of this is the small print of a six-hour course in a single day, in the Port of Blanes: two hours of in-person theory and four of practical on board. The school is awaiting authorisation, so today there are no course dates and no published price.
Questions about this
Can I do the theory by video call if I live far away?
No. The Generalitat requires an in-person format and expressly rules out any distance format, so a video call does not count however live it is.
Is the theory taught in a classroom?
It does not have to be. The rules require presence, not a classroom: the two hours can be given on board the training boat, which is how they are arranged here.
How long does the theory part last?
Two hours, on the same day as the four hours of practical work. The whole course is six hours in a single day.
We open soon. We'll tell you as soon as there's a date
The school is awaiting authorisation: today there are no places, no course dates and no final price. Leave us your email and you'll be among the first to know. If you'd rather ask, a real person answers on WhatsApp.