Peter Hendra wrote:

Cruising by small vessel is already getting more and more difficult
and regulated - most regulations being set in place are because of
someone's stupidity or misfortune. I once had a hard time being given
port clearance to leave Turkey as I did,t have any certificate of
competency to show the harbourmaster's assistant - my passport and log
showing where I had sailed from were of no avail. Many ports and
marinas in Europe require both a certificate of competency as well as
third party insurance - what next.

I can see that. You wouldn't believe the number of adventurers/wackos
who want to leave this area to paddle/row/sail the smallest vessels
across the Atlantic. Our coast guard usually has to go and rescue them
before they get out of our jurisdiction.