RYA Powerboat Intermediate

RYA Powerboat - Intermediate

Duration: Two days

Cost: £250 (minimum of 2 students), £390 (one to one tuition)

Prerequisites: At least 16 years of age. Candidates should be competent to the standard of the Level 2 course with a coastal endorsement. It is recommended that you hold a Marine Radio Short Range Certificate and current First Aid Certificate.

The RYA Powerboat Intermediate course is designed to bridge the gap between the RYA Level 2 Powerboat course and the RYA Advanced Powerboat course. The course aims to teach you to take the powerboat beyond just line of sight destinations and as such you will learn more about both traditional and modern navigational techniques including the use of GPS and chart plotters. You will spend time working on passage planning and pilotage skills which you will put into practice by completing a slightly longer coastal trip. The course will also work on improving the basic boat handling skills you acquired during Level 2 including some time spent considering handling slightly rougher conditions. Having successfully completed this course you will be confident to take a powerboat on slightly longer and more demanding trips and manoeuvre it in tighter confines.

On the course you will cover:

Theory - Planning a daylight passage

Navigation basics revision:

Latitude and longitude
True and magnetic bearings
Bearing and distance measurement
Chart symbols
Position lines

Tidal diamonds and tidal streams

Use plotting instruments to plot a course to steer

Work out tidal heights for standard ports using a tidal curve

Tidal heights at secondary ports
Use of pilot books

The principles of GPS
Use of GPS to navigate by waypoints and understanding XTE, SOG, COG, BTW, DTW

Sources of weather forecast information and the interpretation of forecasts

Use of marina locks

Mooring stern-to between posts or Med style

The need for pre-planning, including preparing to return at night in an emergency.

Practical - Skippering a daylight passage

Preparing the boat and crew:

The importance of protective clothing and safety equipment, including the kill cord.
Choosing appropriate equipment for the boat
Considerations of equipment required for longer passages
Correct stowage of equipment

Handling the boat at sea:
Effect of waves and weather on sea conditions
Boat handling in a variety of sea conditions

Awareness of other water users

Interpreting Lateral and Cardinal buoyage
Implement IRPCS, in particular rules 5,7,8,9,12-19,23

Techniques for picking up a man overboard in differing conditions

Awareness of wind and tide
Moor alongside

Navigating the boat at sea:

Fixing position by traditional and electronic means
Practical application of techniques for pilotage in local waters
Use of pilotage to enter an unfamiliar port by day

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the RYA Powerboat Intermediate Certificate.

Whitstable Powerboat Training

RYA Recognised Training Centre