Course Pre-Requisites: 

• RYA Advanced Powerboat certificate
• First Aid certificate (approved by RYA)
• MCA Commercial CoC Endorsement - RYA Advanced Powerboat CoC or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (Power) CoC, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Power) CoC
• Knowledge to the level of RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased
• RYA Membership (If you are not already a member please see below):

Timings: 

Day 1 - 09:30 - 17:30/18:00 + evening session (timings TBC dependant on time of year)

Day 2 - 09:30 - 17:30

 

Meeting Place: Port of Poole Marina 

 

What to bring: 

• Pen & Paper
• Passport photo (with name printed on reverse)
• Summer: Warm jumper/ jacket, sunglasses, suncream, cap
• Winter: warm clothing, including a hat, gloves etc
• Non-marking footwear - i.e. sailing boots / trainers
• Lifejacket (150N) w/DoT approved light - if you have one, otherwise we will provide this
• Wet weather gear - we have light wet weather gear for your to borrow if required. 
• Water / Drink for on the boat
• Packed Lunch & drinks (+ packed dinner on first day)
• RYA Powerboat Logbook, RYA Powerboat Handbook, RYA Advanced Powerboat handbook and RYA Power schemes Instructor handbook if you have one. 
• First Aid certificate, RYA/MCA Certificates, RYA Membership Number

Course Joining Information:

The aim of the course is to provide you with the skills necessary to teach the RYA Powerboat Intermediate, Tender Operator and Advanced courses.

To set you on the right track, we would suggest you consider borrowing or buying the publications detailed above, you will need access to them in some way or form during the course.  We generally hold some of these books in stock for you to purchase during your course if required. 

 

Your Health: 

You will be required to sign a Health Declaration before commencing your instructor course - please check the example wording below and if you have any concerns please contact the centre as we will just need you to fill out an extra form if so. 

"I declare that I am not suffering from any physical or mental impairment which has an adverse effect on my ability to properly discharge my duty of care as an instructor. I undertake to inform the RYA if this changes and agree to submit to a medical examination if requested by the RYA."

 

Course programme & timings: 

Please be aware that timings and the order of the syllabus are subject to change according to weather conditions.

 

Day 1 - 09:30 - 17:30/18:00 

• Administration and centre orientation
• Course plan write-up / Session planning
• Boat familiarisation, kit & boat prep
• Teach practical sessions from Intermediate, Tender Operator & Advanced syllabi including but not limited to: Holding off, Mooring, Man Overboard, Marina work, day time navigation techniques. 
• Theory sessions  -  including but not limited to: Navigation, Weather, Tides, GPS/Chart Plotters, Radar, Night lights & sound signals
• Pilotage / Passage planning for Night exercises

Day 1 (Evening) - 18:30 - 21:30 (timings may vary dependant on time of year)

• Night exercises including traditional & electronic navigation techniques 
• Identifying positions (both lit and unlit)

Day 2 - 09:30 - 17:30 

• Presentations on pre-prepared subject
• Theory sessions -  including but not limited to: Engines, Prop characteristics, Emergencies, Medical Emergencies
• Teach practical sessions from Intermediate, Tender Operator & Advanced syllabi - including but not limited to: Search patterns, High speed navigation techniques, Marina work, Rough weather handling
• Administration & feedback, Individual debriefs 

 

Assessment:

During your course you will be continually assessed on the following skills: 

Theory - All content of the RYA Powerboat Intermediate, Tender Operator and Advanced syllabus

Practical - Personal powerboat handling skills, safety awareness, group control and management.

Teaching - Communication, briefing, debriefing, 'soft' skills, ability to identify areas to improve, preparation and presentations.

 

Pre-Course Work: 

To assist you, it would help if you worked through the following tasks prior to the course:

 

1) Assess your own knowledge & skills in the following areas:

 

Theory - GPS/ Chart Plotters & Radar, Engines & Props, Traditional & Electronic Navigation Techniques, Meterology, Tides, IRPCS, Emergency Situations (refer to RYA Powerboat Log book for more information. 

Practical - Close quarter boat handling (i.e. pontoon work, turning in a confined space etc), Picking up a mooring, Man overboard (the RYA method!), Anchoring, Pilotage techniques day & night. 

 

Ask yourself the following question:

"If I were asked about any of the above, would I be able to answer confidently and accurately?"

 

If the answer is no, or you are not sure, please do some revision prior to the course.

 

2) Read and understand the RYA Powerboat logbook (G20), RYA Powerboat Handbook, RYA Advanced Powerboat handbook and the relevant sections of RYA Power Schemes Instructor handbook.

 

3) Prepare a 10 minute classroom based interactive session on each of the subjects below:

• GPS / Chart Plotters & Radar - Advantages & limitations
• Meteorology - Interpreting a synoptic chart
• Propellors - Diameter & pitch, Ventilation & Cavitation

You will be asked to deliver one or more of these sessions during your course.

 

Pre-Course Checklist:

Please make sure you have the following when you arrive for the first day of your course:

 

a) Passport Photo

 

b) First aid certificate, as approved by the RYA (see further info here)

 

c) RYA Advanced Powerboat certificate, MCA/RYA Commercial Endorsement Certificate

 

d) Your RYA Membership Number.

To join or renew your membership with the RYA please click on the link below:

 

e) Any notes you have made & the books you have borrowed/purchased

 

f) Personal clothing & protective equipment i.e. wet weather gear, lifejacket w/ DoT approved light, boots, gloves, hat etc - please note the centre cannot take responsibility for any loss or damage. Please do not bring valuables with you.

 

g) Food  - so that we can use our time as best as possible, please bring a pack-lunch/dinner, snacks and drinks with you to each day of the course.

 

h) Your pre-prepared sessions & any teaching aids you intend to use. 

 

Possible Course Outcomes: 

• PASS
• ACTION PLAN - If for any reason you do not quite meet the criteria set by the RYA, then the outcome may be that you receive an action plan. This will be written and give clear guidance on the items you are required to complete prior to being issued with your Powerboat instructor certificate. You will always receive a S.M.A.R.T. action plan (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) that will be discussed and agreed with you. Example actions are:- Improving powerboat handling skills, Gain confidence teaching, Improve background knowledge etc.  
• FAIL - Highly unlikely, so don't even think about it!