Topsail Insurance: Official Noonsite Insurance PartnerDetails
Discover Yacht & Travel Insurance with Topsail Insurance
For many sailing enthusiasts, it is the dream of the long days away on the peaceful seas that they look forward to, out on the water and sail with just the elements and the company of trusted family and friends.
Let us help with giving you peace of mind either with either cover for your boat or a bespoke travel policies for medical emergencies if you’re long distance sailing or crewing.
Don’t take out word for it – see what our customers think of Topsail.
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Available in two power classes with 450 and 600 watts.
Global door-to-door delivery is available and a 10% discount when ordering for members of national blue water sailing associations!
Check out further details on our website www.sprecowindgenerators.com
Spanish Maritime & Navigation rates affecting cruisers in the Canaries – revised for 2015 – updated
Our thanks to Puerto Calero marinas Lanzarote for bringing these new rates to Noonsite’s attention. This report was updated 22 January with revised information (in italics).
Published 10 years ago, updated 6 years ago
Tasa de Ayuda a la navegación (Navigational assistance rates or the “lighthouse tax”)
Very briefly, the majority of costs incurred by the Spanish Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency (Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR)) were being found to be covered by the General State Budget rather than maritime entities – i.e. those enjoying the very services provided. Redressing the balance then, those sailing in Spanish waters are then requested to make a contribution to these services.
There is a little inconsistency in where the law is applied, but all ports and marinas under the control of the Port Authorities (essentially those in basins shared by commercial ports: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Arrecife, San Sebastian (La Gomera), Santa Cruz de La Palma, etc.) are strictly obliged to charge these additional rates. Non-port authority-run marinas (i.e. private marinas) are still a grey area.
Visiting yachts
It’s not all bad news however; Calero Marinas has worked hard to help with a sector-driven lobby to prevent transient visitors from suffering what is universally considered to be an unfair application of the Navigational Assistance rates, where in previous years, an entire year’s worth of rates could be charged for what amounted to only a few days’ visits.
As a consequence, visiting yachts from abroad (without a home port in Spain) are now charged a daily rate for their time in port. The calculation is pretty convoluted, but at the time of writing, the daily rate for the sailing (or motor) yacht with 13m LOA and 4m beam is about 1.30€. Importantly, sailing boats of 12m LOA or less are exempt.
Homeport
If a yacht is based in a Spanish port (also considered to be the case after 6 months’ occupancy), things are a little different and the yacht will be expected to demonstrate payment of the full year’s rates.
Tasa de Embarcaciones deportivas y de recreo (Recreational vessel rates)
This is also charged by day (i.e. a single night’s berthing corresponds to two days’-worth of rates) and calculated according to a yacht’s m² – or LOA x Beam (m).
As a guideline, for a yacht of 13m LOA x 4m beam, this corresponds to a daily rate of 2.52€
Sailing boats <12m LOA and motor boats <9m LOA are favoured, paying a lesser rate.
After 6 months, “home port” status is achieved, affording a lower daily rate.