'Learning the Ropes'

 As a novice where do you start if you want to learn the finer points of boating? In this article Simon Everett recounts the steps of a learner driver on a training expedition.

"Too many people shy away from taking the approved training route through, I assume, the fear of ridicule at the hands of their peers, so they carry on as before - in blissful ignorance. They learn slowly and painfully."

The benefits: So why bother taking a training course? The answer is easy - because it will save you the expense of learning the hard way.  A recognised training course makes sense, If you plan on travelling abroad, you'll need an International Certificate of Competence (ICC).  This is the minimum requirement to use your boat on the continent.  If you cannot produce this certificate when challenged, the authorities will seize your boat and impound it until such time as you can, and they will charge you storage too.  This requirement for a recognised certificate of competence is slowly appearing in certain locations in this country for the use of a local authority launching facility, and I believe it is only a matter of time before we have to fall in line with the rest of Europe.

Insurance Purposes: Each insurance firm I asked told me the same, there are reduced premiums for those who have gained the certificate.

Is it Worth the Money? The course will soon pay for itself, It doesn't take many bent propellers or wrecked legs to cover the cost of the course.

Who Can Do It. To prove that anyone can do it we sent my wife, Anna, to Safe Water Training on the Wirral to go through the RYA Powerboat Level 2, a two-day course that also counts for an I.C.C.

The Centre:  Safe Water Training has been in existence for several years.  As recently as last year, due to demand, they opened a larger training centre right on the seafront at New Brighton, on The Wirral.  Here they have facilities for many training courses run by top instructors, from the RYA Level I through to Advanced, Day Skipper, Powerboat Instructor, VHF Radio and Yachtmaster.  All their instructors are enthusiastic professionals who thrive on imparting practical experience, over and above the course syllabus.  They will tailor the course to your own particular needs, pointing out how the various elements of the course that will benefit you in your boating. Anna was in the capable hands of Danny Nixon for the weekend.  Danny had his work cut out right from the start, a total novice, unwilling guinea pig!  Funnily enough, they say that the girls are easier to instruct than the chaps are, because they have nothing to prove.  The girls listen.

Steps to Success After familiarising Anna with the controls of the boat and trailer, the two of them disappeared to get togged up for the water.  If you have your own foul weather gear then great, bring it.  If not, Safe Water Training have a range of suitable gear for you to borrow. Without further ado it was out and into the thick of it.  Once on the water an enormous grin spread from  one ear to the other as her confidence in handling the boat soared.  She learned how to perform high speed turns, how to stem the tide, how to moor, to come alongside a berth, to take another vessel in tow.  All aspects of general boating were covered, this is what the training course is all about.  By imparting their knowledge through enthusiasm, the experience becomes one of learning through fun and the enthusiasm rubs off onto the trainees.

A Girl's Point of View One aspect of the training that Anna said would be of great comfort to other ladies wishing to go for a course, is that all the time, she felt completely at ease with the men around her.  At no time did she feel intimidated.  After being shown what to do, and having the theory behind it explained, she felt very confident to perform the exercises she was being asked to carry out, even the high speed manoeuvres.  By the end of the day, she was tired, happy and far more interested in the whole "boaty thing" Through the time on the water her knowledge and ability increased to the point where she now felt capable of handling the On the second day chartwork, tides and coastal navigation were explained thoroughly.  Anna then plotted a 30 mile navigational cruise on the chart, with courses to steer from one waypoint to the next (and the reciprocals).  Danny checked it, and then it was back on the water to actually follow the plotted course and recognise the various landmarks and buoys along the way.  From no more experience than sitting back and enjoying the ride, Anna was now able to navigate correctly in a buoyed channel and pilot the craft in a safe and seamanlike manner, with just two days of intensive tuition. For boating couples it makes sense for both to enrol on the course.  This makes for better communication on board your own boat, as you will then both know what is expected and you will understand what the other is talking about. 

The course is great value for money. You are using the school's boat, fuel and safety gear, which if you had to launch and run your own boat would cost you about £40 per day.  Then on top of that you get the benefit of experience passed onto you from friendly, enthusiastic instructors. One last point to bear in mind, if you go voluntarily you will get much more out of the course, because you will want to learn.  If you wait until you are compelled to enrol on a course through legislation, you will begrudgingly turn up and do the bare minimum required to get the certificate.  Do yourselves a favour, make it a priority to pass level 2 this season.  After all, Anna did.

Anna's training course was run by Safe Water Sea School who advertise on the site.