RYA PRACTICAL COURSES

OUR practical COURSES INCLUDE

RYA Powerboat Level I, II, Intermediate, Advanced, Instructors and RYA Motorboat, RYA Motor Cruiser, Helmsman, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper Courses and Yachtmaster preparation.

We run the RYA practical courses all year round either own boat tuition or on charter vessels to suit your needs. If you have specific dates, or a group booking, contact us with details and we will accommodate your training where possible around other course dates.

Please Note: Life jackets are provided if required and foul weather clothing is available on request with a small additional charge.

Please scroll down to your course!

RYA Powerboat Level 1 Course
Course Aim	The RYA Powerboat Level 1 course is a 1 day course designed as a practical introduction to Powerboat handling, safety and to increase confidence in your own skills. The course is taught onboard a powerboat (less than 7 metres in length) or our school Rib with additional charter fees.
Course Content	Launching and recovery Preparation of boat and crew Boat handling – manoeuvring Securing to a buoy Leaving and coming alongside Being towed
Previous Experience	No previous experience required. Minimum required age 8 years.
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA powerboat practical course notes and logbook when your booking is confirmed. You should have navigation and safety equipment on board (can be provided if necessary).
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 2 day course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training.
Additional Information	Other RYA courses to consider alongside RYA Powerboat Level 1 practical are: RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Theory, 1 day sea survival and VHF radio course. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course or safety equipment.
RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course
Course Aim	The RYA Powerboat Level 2 course is taught onboard a powerboat (less than 7 metres in length) or our school Rib. The Course aims to teach self sufficient power boating at a basic level and is ideal for those new to boats or wishing to increase basic competence in safety, launching, mooring, anchoring and recovery, chart work plus basic boat driving skills. After the Course you should be self-sufficient in the right conditions and aware of your own limitations and other craft. Your increased confidence will mean greater enjoyment for the family and friends at sea, as they will feel confident in you The course includes the ICC if required. (International Certificate of Competence) for boats under 10m, with an additional fee to the RYA.
Course Content	Launching and recovery Preparation for sea Boat handling – manoeuvring The basics of navigation Rules of the Road Man overboard drills Securing to a buoy Anchoring Mooring Pontoon work
Previous Experience	No previous experience required. Minimum required age 12 years.
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA powerboat practical course notes and logbook when your booking is confirmed. You should have navigation and safety equipment on board your own boat (can be provided if necessary).
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 2 day course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training. Eligible for the ICC.
Additional Information	Other RYA courses to consider alongside RYA Powerboat Level 2 practical are: RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Theory, 1 day sea survival and VHF radio course and First aid. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course or safety equipment. Level 2 certificate can be commercially endorsed.
RYA Powerboat Intermediate Course
Course Aim	This course is taught onboard a powerboat of less than 7 metres or our Rib. It aims to teach powerboating to a standard to complete short coastal passages by day. It covers basic navigation, plotting courses and putting this in to practice.
Course Content	Preparation for sea Boat handling – manoeuvring Mooring The use of wind and tides The art of navigation Pilotage Passage making Rules of the road Man overboard
Previous Experience	Progression from RYA Level 2 or equivalent. Some shorebased experience is desirable and some practical experience useful but is not essential. Minimum age 16. Parents or guardians must accompany participants under the age of 18.
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA Powerboating practical course notes & logbook (if required) when your booking is confirmed. You should have navigation and safety equipment on board (can be provided if necessary).
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 2 day course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training. Eligible for the ICC.
Additional Information	Other RYA courses to consider alongside RYA Powerboat Level 2 practical are: RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Theory, 1 day sea survival and VHF radio course and First aid. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course or safety equipment.
RYA Powerboat Advanced Course
Course Aim	To teach advanced boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation up to the standards required to skipper a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters in more demanding conditions which the candidate may know or be unfamiliar with.
Course Content	Passage Planning Preparation for sea Pilotage Passage making & ability as skipper Meteorology Rules of the road Use of engines Boat handling Adverse weather conditions Emergency situations Night pilotage
Previous Experience	Competent to standard of RYA Level 2 with experience or Intermediate, along with knowledge of navigation and chart work to level of Day Skipper Shorebased certificate. You must hold a current SRC/VHF operators certificate and First Aid certificate before you can book this course. Minimum age 17
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA powerboating practical course notes & logbook (if required) when your booking is confirmed. You should have navigation and safety equipment on board (can be provided if necessary).
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 2 day course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training.
Additional Information	Please contact us if you have any question about equipment or the course. RYA Advanced Powerboat Commercial Endorsement detail below.
RYA Advanced Powerboat Commercial Endorsement
No Advanced Powerboat Course completion certificates issued after 1st January 2005 will be commercially endorsed. Candidates from that date onward will require an exam. However, course completion certificates issued prior to 1st January 2005 may be still be endorsed. The exam system follows the same system that has been operated for commercial Yachtmasters and Coastal Skippers since the Codes of Practice were first introduced. The pre-requisite experience and qualifications for Advanced exam candidates will be as follows: Minimum 2 years relevant experience including night pilotage (as a guide: 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours). For holders of the RYA Advanced powerboat course completion certificate this seatime is reduced to: 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). VHF/SRC operator’s licence Valid first aid certificate On successful completion of the exam if you want to use your qualification commercially you will require a commercial endorsement. Further details are available from page: www.ryatraining.org, professional qualification section, commercial endorsement. How do I arrange my advanced exam? Via the RYA website. You can book and pay for the exam. A RYA Powerboat Examiner will contact you to arrange a time and location. A Powerboat school (PHSS) can arrange it for you directly with the RYA. You will need to provide the craft for the examination. This will either be your own craft or will (by arrangement) be a school craft. Either way it will need to be totally seaworthy for night navigation very well spec’d with (as a guide) electronic navigation, depth sounder and the relevant safety kit for night passages. A detailed specification sheet will be available in due course.
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE RYA POWERBOAT INSTRUCTOR COURSE
The Powerboat Instructor (PBI) Courses are generally run on request and ideally with 3 people to spread the cost. Using your own boat also keeps the fee down. Subject to instructor and assessor availability we’ll run the course on your preferred dates if possible. Candidates must fulfil the following criteria before taking part in the 3-day instructor training course: Pass the PBI Assessment with your Logbook signed off. Minimum age 16 (no candidates will be accepted for training under this age) At least 5 season’s logged experience of powerboating, preferably in a range of boat types and sizes. For those who use powerboats as an integral part of their full time occupation this period is reduced to one season. RYA National Powerboat Certificate Level 2 Valid First Aid certificate (either the RYA’s First Aid certificate, or one recognised by the Health & Safety Executive, covering the treatment of hypothermia and a minimum of six hours course length) Existing Instructors wishing to teach the Advanced course must hold that level of certificate themselves, already be a Powerboat Level 2 Instructor and attend a two-day endorsement course (Minimum age 17 years) THE POWERBOAT INSTRUCTOR ASSESSMENT COURSE: PBI Candidates must attend a minimum four hour session prior to the PBI course to demonstrate their suitability to a RYA Trainer to attend the instructors course. The RYA guidelines contain an outline of the assessment and are available from PHSS. In short please make sure you handling and theory are at least up to Level Two standard for the assessment. The aim is to make sure suitable candidates go on to do the instructors course and give everyone the best chance possible of being successful.
RYA Cruising Helmsman Course
Course Aim	The RYA Helmsman course is taught onboard a motor cruiser of at least 7mtrs Length. This is a two-day course and it is specific to the type of boat in which the course is carried out and therefore is particularly suitable for new owners of motor cruisers. It aims to teach seamanship & boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a motor cruiser safely by day in waters in which the student is familiar.
Course Content	A: Theory session Types of craft Engines and drives Engine operation and maintenance Safety and seamanship Rules of the road B: Practical session Boat preparation Boat handling – manoeuvring Securing to a buoy Berthing alongside Man overboard drills
Previous Experience	Some practical experience desirable but not essential
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA Motor Cruising Scheme syllabus & logbook when your booking is confirmed. Navigation equipment can be provided if necessary. Safety equipment should be on board your vessel at all times (can be provided if necessary). Some items are on an additional list, Recommended Safety Items List which will be forwarded to you when you confirm your course. The RYA Motor Cruising Handbook by Simon Jinks and Cockpit Companion may help you on your home study and can be supplied by Cruise Control Ltd.
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 2 course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training.
Additional Information	Other RYA courses to consider alongside RYA Helmsman are: RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Theory, 1 day sea survival and VHF radio course. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course or safety equipment.
Coastal Skipper Tidal (Practical) Course
Course Aim	To teach the skills & techniques required to skipper a motor cruiser of at least 7mtrs length safely on a coastal and offshore passage by day & night. This is a course for potential commercial skippers and it will assume that those attending it will already be competent boat handlers with a good knowledge of navigation and meteorology theory. All students should have a level of experience approaching that required for the Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence.
Course Content	Passage Planning Preparation for sea Pilotage Passage making & ability as skipper Radar Rules of the road Boat handling Adverse weather conditions Emergency situations
Previous Experience	Navigation to coastal skipper shorebased standard and boat handling to day skipper practical level. 15 days at sea including 2 as skipper. 800 logged miles plus 8 night hours.
Course Materials	You should have a copy the RYA Motor Cruising Scheme Syllabus & Logbook (RYA G18) for reference throughout the course. Your own navigation and safety equipment on board, some items can be provided if necessary. The RYA Motor Cruising Handbook by Simon Jinks (G24) and the Reeds Skippers Companion is an excellent little reference book.
Certification	Completion Certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the 5 day course or if required for commercial use a Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate practical exam will need to be taken. An additional exam fee of £149pp applies in 2010 which is run by an independent examiner. This can be arranged by PHSS or direct with the RYA. Please note the name change for the exam. As of 2010 the Coastal Skipper exam is now called Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence.
Additional Information	Please contact us if you have any question about equipment or the course. For the commercial endorsement candidates must hold a VHF (SRC) licence, First Aid certificate, Sea Survival certificate and a HSE or boatman’s medical, ML5.
Day Skipper Tidal (Practical) Course
Course Aim	The RYA Day Skipper practical course is taught onboard a motor cruiser of at least 7mtrs length. It aims to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship & boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a motor cruiser safely by day in waters in which the student is familiar. There is also an introduction to night cruising. The course is run over 4-6 days depending on the pace and experience of the students
Course Content	Preparation for sea Boat handling – manoeuvring The art of navigation Pilotage Passage making Meteorology Rules of the road Engines Emergency situations Night cruising
Previous Experience	Some shore based experience is desirable and some practical experience useful but is not essential. On the Day Skipper Course the vessel will cover a minimum of 100 nautical miles for qualification.
Course Materials	You will be sent the RYA Motor Cruising Scheme syllabus & logbook when your booking is confirmed. You should have navigation and safety equipment on board (can be provided if necessary). Some items are on the additional list. The RYA Motor Cruising Handbook by Simon Jinks and Cockpit Companion may help you on your home study
Certification	Certification on successful completion of the 4 day course. We run a constant assessment and daily debrief to inform you how the course is progressing. There is no exam to pass at the end of this training.
Additional Information	Other RYA courses to consider alongside RYA Day Skipper are: RYA Day Skipper Theory prior to the course, 1 day sea survival, VHF radio and first aid course. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course or safety equipment.
RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Preparation Course
Course Aim	The RYA Yachtmaster Offshore preparation course is designed to meet your needs and experience and will cover most theory and practical aspects of the exam syllabus, ensuring that you have the best possible preparation and practise to succeed in the exam. The skipper has to demonstrate their knowledge and competency aboard a motor cruiser to an examiner. The skipper must take full responsibility for the management of the motor cruiser and crew.
Course Content	International regulations for preventing collision at sea Safety Boat handling General seamanship and maintenance Responsibilities of the skipper Navigation Meteorology Signals
Previous Experience	Candidates must be 18 years or older and have Navigation to Yachtmaster Shorebased standard and boat handling to coastal skipper practical level. 50 days at sea including 5 as skipper. 2500 logged miles plus 5 passages over 60miles, including 2 as skipper and 2 overnight.
Course Materials	You should have a copy the RYA Motor Cruising Scheme Syllabus & Logbook (RYA G18) for reference throughout the course. Your own navigation and safety equipment on board, some items can be provided if necessary. The RYA Motor Cruising Handbook by Simon Jinks (G24) and the Reeds Skippers Companion is an excellent little reference book.
Certification	Exam duration will be 8 – 12 hours for one candidate and 10 – 18 hours for two candidates. Completion Certificate awarded via the RYA on successful completion of the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate practical exam. An additional exam fee of £170pp applies in 2010 which is run by an independent examiner. This can be arranged by PHSS or direct with the RYA.
Additional Information	Please contact us if you have any question about equipment or the course. For the commercial endorsement candidates must hold a VHF (SRC) licence, First Aid certificate, Sea Survival certificate and a HSE or boatman’s medical, ML5.

Group bookings taken, courses can be run anywhere subject to terms and conditions, call for details.