If boating appeals to you and you have the appropriate budget, perhaps you should act to fulfill your aspiration and make the purchase you’ve dreamed of – buying a yacht. Whether you opt for a brand-new yacht or prefer to purchase a second-hand one, the main thing you should know is that without the appropriate license, you won’t be able to enjoy your new purchase as a skipper without breaking the law.
Why is it critical to operate according to the law when it comes to yacht sailing?
Just like driving a car, operating a vessel requires a lot of skill and a high level of control, attention division, and even leadership ability, hence the person operating the vessel bears great responsibility. Those who decide to do so without the appropriate license actually take a real risk of causing harm to human life and also bear criminal responsibility since they are breaking the law. It’s important to know that only a criminal lawyer can “save” you from what might seem like a fun activity but is actually a criminal offense – sailing a yacht without a license. For this reason, it is important to invest the time, effort, and money needed to obtain a legal license issued by the Ministry of Transportation, a license called Skipper, or alternatively an appropriate certificate from the American Sailing Association.
Skipper licenses are divided into several types, generally categorized by the size of the yacht you wish to operate. You can choose where to take the courses to learn the subject, possibly choosing a course that meets the minimum requirements that will provide you with a license that meets the conditions for operating your future yacht. However, you might choose to undergo a variety of different courses that will enrich your knowledge in the field of sailing and enable you, in the future, to operate larger and more complex yachts.
How do you obtain a yacht license?
The situation in Israel is quite different from other countries in terms of the legal complexity of operating yachts without a license or with a license. If in Britain, for example, a Skipper certificate given by a private school is sufficient, and in America, licenses are given by a sailing organization, here in Israel, skippers must hold a license from the Israeli Ministry of Transportation. Even someone coming from a foreign country where their Skipper license is completely valid will have to ensure that it is equivalent to at least a Skipper 30 certificate – in order to be allowed to operate any yacht while docked in Israel.
There is an opportunity to study sailing in Israel at several schools designed for this, some of which even offer the possibility to take some of the lessons in Greece, for example, and experience a slightly different atmosphere than that in Israel. Whether your goal is to learn sailing for future employment purposes or if it is just a hobby or a “craze” of yours and you are only interested in renting yachts occasionally and not really to own one, it is advisable to deeply understand all the legal matters involved in the subject and to sail only with the appropriate license.
