Does anyone know what the laws are concerning life on a sailboat around the world in various countries?

Question

I was considering sailing from place to place for a few years and living aboard my boat but do not know the legalities internationally and would like to hear from someone with some experience in this area.

Answer 1

In international waters, as Captain of your vessel, you are "Master after God" subject to the Law of the Sea and the regulations of your country of registry. When you sail into the national waters of a country, you become a foreign national visiting that country, the minute you step off your boat. Even on your boat, in the territorial waters of a country, you are subject to that countries laws, except in certain areas or channels of navigation, where "innocent passage" is the rule for private vessels, and naval vessels of other countries can maintain postures that would be unacceptable in areas of less hazardous navigation.

Courses for the International Master of Yachts certificate usually devote some study to these topics. If you are going sailing around the world, you'd do well to take such a course, in preparation: http://www.iytworld.com/recreational.asp...