RYA Training

If you have no previous boating experience, training can increase your enjoyment and, of course, reduce the risk of things going wrong. At present, there is no compulsory training or equivalent of the driving test, so the choice is yours. Please find below what the course involves.

the basics of navigation and handling at close quarters right through to those that have boated for a while and want to develop and hone their skills. Pleasingly we find that whatever level of experience a student starts out with they all feel that they have been able to really develop their skills during the two days that the course lasts.

Many of those attending the course do so to be able to apply for their International Certificate of Competence - 'ICC'. The ICC is an essential requirement if you intend boating in many overseas locations - particularly France & Spain.

Fundamentally, the aim of the course is to help you to become a safe and competent powerboater with a good grounding in boat handling and navigation coupled to the knowledge of how to further develop the skills you have acquired during the course. Our Instructors' aim when working with you is to help you develop at a pace that suits you having fun in a safe and professional environment.

Some of the topics that your instructor will cover with you during your course include:

• Launching & recovery
• Boat Handling
• Securing to a buoy
• Anchoring
• Leaving and coming alongside
• High speed handling
• Man overboard
• Navigation - charts, tides etc
• Passage planning
• Types of craft and their respective advantages/disadvantages
• Engines & drives, use of power tilt & trim tabs.
• Safety checks & personal buoyancy
• Awareness of other water users & application of the collision regulations
• Emergency action, distress signals; fire precautions and fire fighting and rope work.

Benefits of training on your own boat

Without question where it is possible to train on your own boat this is the preferred option, the benefits can be summarized as:

1) Whilst the skills needed to handle any boat are broadly consistent there are of course some differences between each craft. Undertaking the training on your craft allows us to tailor the training to address these particular differences. Equally the way the boat is set up in terms of where the cleats are, what the length of the lines you have are etc will vary boat to boat. The training whilst addressing a specific syllabus becomes bespoke to your craft.
2) Every boat has a slightly different set up in respect of instruments, the positions of breakers and fuses and even how toilet systems work. Being on your boat allows us to look at these issues with you so that you are happy with how everything works. This extends to the other areas of electronics such as VHF radios and Chartplotter systems and whilst it may be that specific extra time may be needed longer term on such areas we can certainly get you up and running with them.
3) We are also able to invest a bit of time familiarizing you with the local area. If time allows we'll take you out and show you the best beaches, where to anchor and navigate the rear of Brownsea Island allowing you to replicate the passages we have made in your own time.
4) On your boat the time spent with you is very much yours and we are not beholden to others on a course who may wish to address and other subjects or have differing areas of interest.