Advanced Powerboat

The aim of the Advanced Powerboat Day and Night course is to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation up to the standards required to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in coastal waters with which the candidate may be familiar.

Students should have a thorough knowledge of navigation and chart work to the level of Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory certificate and it is strongly recommended that you hold a First Aid certificate and a VHF operator’s licence.

The prerequisite is students should be at the RYA Intermediate Powerboat level of competence and be 17 years or more.

The areas covered in the course:

• Preparation & Passage Planning
• Meteorology
• Safety and the Skipper’s responsibilities
• Passage-making and responsibility as a Skipper

Boat handling and manoeuvres which include:

• High speed boat handling
• Pilotage by day and night
• Emergency situations
• Search patterns
• Awareness of Chart Plotters and Radar.

Minimum age to attend is 17.
Maximum ratio of students to Instructor is 3:1.

Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence

Qualifying Experience: At least 2 years relevant experience including night pilotage.

As a guide:

• 30 days
• 2 days as Skipper
• 800 miles
• 12 night hours (which can be reduced if an Advanced Powerboat course is attended).

Exam: Approximately 4-5 hours for 1 person including ashore/afloat and including night passage.