Fastrack sailing in the med

[Skywatch99]

I would appreciate any advice from those familiar with EU sailing. I am looking to sail in the med this summer and as an American expatriate returning home to France. It would be easier for me to acquire training and certifications here in English.

What do I need in order to be legal my own boat while sailing out of France waters and around the med as a foreigner?

What certifications?

[psk125]

A lot depends upon where the boat is flagged. If US flagged, US rules. If French flagged, French rules. It gets exciting if you want to keep a foreign (non EU-flagged) vessel in the EU longer than the permitted period. Things like VAT raise their heads. Words like Schengen come up. If you get training or certifications here, are they admissible or recognized in France? A radio license is required in France to operate a VHF, and a US license should be acceptable for that. Besides that, a USCG license would probably be worth something. Others may know more about equivalencies, but French websites are full of people concerned about getting fined for being on a boat more than 6 miles from a port if they haven't gotten their "high seas" (hauturier) certificate.
This might be a good place to start: https://www.mer.gouv.fr/le-permis-pl...ance-moteur#e5

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Skywatch.

[jeanathon]

As a foreigner in France your best bet is to BE foreign. I got out of many tickets by showing only my American drivers license, and not speaking French. Only one cop every realized I had a French license as well, but that time no ticket-able offense had been committed.
The rules and laws are so complex and numerous you are guaranteed to be breaking one or more no matter what you are doing, but not being EU throws a monkey wrench in the whole process.
Get insurance, be polite to authorities if stopped, and go sailing.

This is if you own your boat. I do not know what the Charter companies require.

[goboatingnow]

The issue boils down to residency. If you are a French resident you will require French competency certification. If you are a tourist generally you will not need it

The rules are not complex and are lightly enforced unlike the US , but the major issue is whether you’re a tourist or a resident