Power - RYA Start Powerboating

Title: RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course (Incorporating ICC)

Price: £299 p/p

Duration: 2 Days or 1 Day ‘one-to-one’ (with previous experience).

Catchment area: Powerboat courses serving London, Brighton and the counties of Sussex, Kent and Surrey in the South East of the UK.  About 45mins from Eastbourne's sovereign harbour and 20 minutes from Newhaven harbour and Lewes to the East.  About an hour from Croydon and 40 minutes from Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport to the North.  About 45 minutes from Worthing, an hour from Littlehampton and 35 minutes from Shoreham Harbour yacht club.

Location: Brighton Marina.

Parking: Free in the marina multi storey car park.

Candidates: Beginner Power boaters, Novice power boat drivers, Start Power boating, Learning to powerboat, Start powerboat driving, Starter boat driver, Learner powerboaters, New boat owners.

Frequently asked questions:

How do I book / What is availability?
Due to our low student to instructor ratio for powerboat courses, we can set up a course almost any time to suit you.  Just call with a few dates in mind and we can usually fit you in.

Do I need a RYA Powerboat  licence to drive a boat / sail a yacht?
In the UK, amazing as it may sound, legally you do not need to hold any certificate or licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat or sail a yacht.. for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  
In reality.. it’s more complicated than that!  It depends where you are driving, which company/club/country, what type/size of boat, who you are on the boat with and the reasons you are on the water. ie leisure or commercial.  The RYA Powerboat  Level 2 licence will cover you for most scenarios as long as you have applied for your ICC with it.

Will my RYA Powerboat certificate allow me to drive in France?
Yes and No!  You will need at least an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) certificate and a VHF operator’s licence whether you are driving a powerboat or sailing a yacht in France. The RYA Powerboat Certificate is deemed equivalent to ICC but you will need to send an ICC application form to the RYA with a copy of your Level Two Certificate to receive a genuine ICC certificate.  Only this is guaranteed to be recognised by French authorities.  Powerboat Level 2 or ICC will not cover you however for CEVNI or VHF.  If you are going inland (French canals, lakes etc), you will also need to do a CEVNI test. You can do all of these here at SailnetUK.

Do I ever need to renew my RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate?
No, your Powerboat level 2 Certificate is for life.  However, if it has been a while since you have driven then it would be prudent to do a sailing refresher day.

Is there a RYA Powerboat Level 2 exam at the end of the course?
No, the Powerboat Level 2 course is an attendance course with continual instruction and assessment.

Where will my RYA Powerboat Level 2  licence be valid?
Remember this is not a ‘licence’ it is a certificate and is not a legal requirement anywhere.  However, if you are travelling abroad it would be prudent to get your the ICC certificate.  Once you pass the Powerboat Level 2 course you can apply for it automatically without any further courses.  Although RYA qualifications are generally internationally recognisable, the ICC is a legal requirement in some countries.   Most charter companies will accept a RYA Powerboat Level 2 and/or ICC for bareboat charter.

What is the right Powerboat Level two course to take, there seems to be so many?
RYA Powerboat Level 2 tends to be referred to in many ways -
Practical Powerboat Licence, Power boat Practical License, Powerboat Certificate, Powerboat Course, Powerboat Courses, RYA Powerboat Course, Powerboat Training, Powerboat Practical Training Course, Powerboat Practical Training Courses, Powerboat Skipper's Licence, Powerboat skipper's Practical Course, Boat skipper's Practical Licence, Boat Skipper's Practical Course, Start Powerboating, Boat Handling Course, Powerboat Classes.

...but don’t worry, it's usually the same course!

Is there a fee for issuing a Powerboat Licence?
No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?
If you book over the phone, a 2% credit card charge (not debit card) will apply. If you don't have wet weather we will supply it free of charge.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my Powerboat?
Some Training Centres can be draughty out of the way places incompatible with a sail training.  At Brighton Marina, you are in the heart of one of the biggest marinas in Europe, and only minutes from the open water.  To the West we have Shoreham, Littlehampton, Chichester and the Solent.  To the East we have Eastbourne's, Sovereign Marina, and to the South, the Coast of France.  Brighton Marina with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out afterwards too!  Our boats and our charter yachts, are modern and well maintained, and our main sail training area - The Sussex Heritage Coastline - is part of England's newest National Park - The South Downs.

Do you do group discounts, special dates, special offers or ‘on location’ training?
For groups of 3 or more, we are happy to discuss your specific needs, whether it be a Powerboat Course group discount rate, a date to suit you, holding the course at your dive club, boat club, marina, crew house or business. Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.  We can arrange dedicated Powerboat courses for London and other city based marina businesses.  As a Brighton Berth Holder Member (BMBHA) you will get a further 10% off our already competitive price. (Only £10 joining fee!).  Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.

What does the course cover?

PRACTICAL (Section A)

Launching and Recovery

Knowledge of:
• Use of a trailer or launching trolley
• Consideration of launching and sea conditions, including hazards and obstructions.
• Number of persons required to launch/recover
• Construction, width and condition of slipway
• Steep/slippery slipways, beach launching, lee shores
• Care of trailer bearings, hitch, lashings, ties, lights and winch
• Trailer parking

Can:
• Prepare the boat, lines, fenders, safety equipment, fuel tanks, lines and secure gear
on board.

Boat Handling

Knowledge of:
• Loading: effect on handling and performance, effect on balance and trim, CE plate
and manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Displacement boats: handling ahead and astern, carrying away.

Understands:
• Crew members: minimum number in high speed craft, keeping a look-out
• Awareness of other water users, including effect of wash
• Steering, controls, effect of current or tidal stream
• High speed manoeuvring: planing, trim tabs and power trim
• Planing boats: propeller angle and immersion, shallow drive, high/low speed
handling, tiller/console steering.

Can:
• Carry out pre-start checks, engine starting and stopping
• Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times
• Carry out low speed manoeuvres including: turning in a confined area, effect of
wind on bow and holding off. Demonstrate an awareness of the danger of flooding
when going astern.
• Carry out high speed manoeuvres including S-turns and U-turns.

Securing to a buoy

Understands:
• Preparation of mooring warp
• Use of a boat hook
• Method of approach
• Crew communication
• Making fast
• Procedure when overshooting

Can:
• Approach and secure a buoy.

Anchoring

Understands:
• Method of approach in various conditions
• Taking way off
• Crew communication
• Check holding
• Depth of water, holding ground, scope required

Knowledge of:
• Types of anchor
• Stowage and attachment to boat
• Preparation of anchor, chain and warp
• Weighing anchor

Can:
• Approach and anchor correctly
• Weigh anchor correctly

Leaving and coming alongside

Understands:
• Preparation and use of painter, lines and fenders, attachment to boat, stowage
under way
• Speed and angle of approach
• Wind effect
• Method of approach in tidal stream or current

Can:
• Make fast alongside
• Use springs
• Leave – ahead or astern

Man Overboard

Knowledge of:
• Recovery of man overboard

Can:
• Take immediate action
• Observe the man overboard
• Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
• Approach and recover the man in the water

THEORY (Section B)

Knowledge of:

• Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping ability
• Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and
outdrive units, single and twin screws, choice and use of fuels
• Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring and fire extinguishers
• Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis
• Close down procedure
• Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters
• Use and limitations of GPS
• Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping
• Sources of weather information

Understands:
• Awareness of other water users
• Communication with other craft – hand and sound signals
• Disabled craft
• Emergency action preventing sinking
• Adrift – alternative means of propulsion
• Towing and being towed
• Fire precautions and fire fighting
• Ropework
• Distress signals and the Mayday call

Can:
• Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5,7,8,9, 12-19

COASTAL (Section C)

Knowledge of:
• Pilotage and passage planning
• CG66 Small Craft Safety Scheme

Understands:
• Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems
• Tides and tidal streams

Can:
• Use steering and hand bearing compasses
• Apply Section A on coastal waters

• Recovery of man overboard
Can:
• Take immediate action
• Observe the man overboard
• Carry out the correct return with awareness of propeller
• Approach and recover the man in the water

THEORY (Section B)

Knowledge of:
• Types of craft: advantages and disadvantages of different hull forms with respect to sea keeping ability
• Engines and drives: advantages and disadvantages of outboard, inboard and
outdrive units, single and twin screws, choice and use of fuels
• Siting of fuel tanks, fuel lines, batteries, wiring and fire extinguishers
• Routine engine maintenance checks, basic fault diagnosis
• Close down procedure
• Advice to inland drivers about coastal waters
• Use and limitations of GPS
• Application of local byelaws, especially around commercial shipping
• Sources of weather information

Understands:
• Awareness of other water users
• Communication with other craft – hand and sound signals
• Disabled craft
• Emergency action preventing sinking
• Adrift – alternative means of propulsion
• Towing and being towed
• Fire precautions and fire fighting
• Ropework
• Distress signals and the Mayday call

Can:
• Apply IRPCS, principally rules 5,7,8,9, 12-19

COASTAL (Section C)

Knowledge of:
• Pilotage and passage planning
• CG66 Small Craft Safety Scheme

Understands:
• Charts, chart symbols, buoyage systems
• Tides and tidal streams

Can:
• Use steering and hand bearing compasses
• Apply Section A on coastal waters

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