RYA Powerboat Courses

SeaRegs Training, the sailing club based in Plymouth, offers a range of RYA Powerboat Courses for those interested in gaining the necessary skills and knowledge for operating a powerboat. The courses cater to individuals looking to familiarise themselves with driving, mooring, navigation, and boat safety.

One of the courses available is the RYA Powerboat Level 2. This two-day course focuses on teaching participants the essential skills and background knowledge required to safely drive a powerboat. It covers various aspects such as close quarters handling, high-speed manoeuvres, man overboard recovery, and collision regulations. The course fee of £335 includes lunch, a certificate, and the RYA Start Powerboating book.

Another option is the RYA Tender Operator course, also spanning two days. While initially designed for ferrying passengers between Superyachts and the shore, this course is valuable for anyone operating a powerboat with passengers. The course fee of £375 includes lunch and a certificate.

For those seeking more advanced training, the RYA Intermediate Powerboat course is highly recommended. Over two days, participants will learn about practical pilotage and passage planning on coastal waters, utilising both traditional and electronic navigational techniques. The course also emphasises advanced boat handling. The fee for this course is £375 and includes lunch and a certificate.

The RYA Advanced Powerboat course, which spans three days, is ideal for both leisure and professional boaters striving to undertake more challenging trips. This course covers navigation during the day and night, weather conditions, and other aspects of skippering a small boat in coastal waters. Before enrolling in this course, individuals must possess the practical skills acquired in the Intermediate course and have knowledge of navigation equivalent to the standard of the Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore shorebased course. The course fee is £525 plus the RYA exam fee. Students are also provided with an additional day for consolidation and exam preparation prior to the Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence exam. To be eligible for the exam, students must hold a VHF/SRC operator's certificate, a valid and in-date first aid certificate, and have at least 2 years of relevant experience, including night pilotage. Once successfully passed, the CoC can be commercially endorsed. If individuals already possess the 2-day course completion certificate and only require the prep day and exam, they can reach out to the school. The course fee includes lunch and a course completion certificate but does not cover the exam fee.

Please note that the Advanced Powerboat courses are typically conducted between September and April, as they necessitate hours of darkness for night navigation.

In addition to the powerboat courses, Plymouth Sailing School and Plymouth Powerboating also offer Powerboat Instructor courses. For further details on these courses, please visit the provided link.