What COURSES DO YOU PROVIDE?

We provide RYA based powerboat courses for participants with varying degrees experience. Specifically RYA Powerboat Level 2, RYA Powerboat Level 1 and we also allow the Powerboat Level 2 course to be taught with your own boat – the Own Boat Course.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPERATING?

We have been operating for over a decade in the Christchurch Harbour area and recently setup at Bailey Bridge Christchurch.

HOW LONG ARE THe COURsES?

The courses are 1 and 2 day courses, Monday to Saturday. You can find out more when booking the course with our Sailia partner. Please see the course schedules below:

• RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course
• RYA Powerboat Level 1 Course

WHAT TIMe DO WE NEED TO ARRIVE?

Both Powerboat Level 1 & 2 start at 09:15 and finish at 17:00 (subject to tides and local arrangements). The please allow for enough time either side so we can start promptly and finish at the correct time.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Please bring a passport sized photograph for your certificate. Be prepared for all weathers. We have Waterproofs and Automatic Life Jackets available for you to use but if you wish to bring your own you can. Dress for the weather conditions and remember that wind chill is often greater at sea than on land. We recommend you bring extra layers. Also bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Please bring soft soled shoes such as trainers, deck shoes or sailing boots. Also since much of the day will be spent on the boat de-hydration can be an issue so please bring a bottle of water / soft drink.

Checklist:

• Passport photo
• Dress for the weather
• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• Soft soled shoes or sailing boots
• Water & a packed lunch.

WHAT IS THE COURSE STRUCTURE?

Tides may affect session sequences but generally for two day courses the first day is split into two parts.

On Day 1 in the morning after a safety briefing and kitting up we take to the boat and spend two hours or so learning basic manoeuvres in the harbour and on the sea. We break for lunch at about 1 o’clock for an hour. In the afternoon there is more time on the water and then a theory period of about 2.5hrs duration (aboard the boat or outside) which covers basic charting, Buoyage, rules of the road (IRPCS), weather and an introduction to GPS and passage planning.

Day 2 is spent entirely on the boat. The first exercise is to put into practice a passage plan you will have prepared during the theory session and while on the sea you will practice man over board, procedures (we use a dummy, not real people). The rest of the day, either side of the lunch break is spent learning and practising mooring and turning manoeuvres.

WHAT ARE THE LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS?

On each day we break for lunch. You will need to make your own lunch arrangements but we do have a lovely area where you can eat a packed lunch by the river. You may find it useful to know that there is a Costa Coffee, Subway, Mac Donald’s and Lidl within 2 minutes walk from Bailey Bridge Marina.

DO I NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE THEORY?

There is no real need to prepare for the theory session and there is no exam. If you want to study a little before you arrive, then the theory section in our website has some information to review.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

If you have any covid-19 symptoms please do not attend but give us a call in advance to let us know if possible.