Uncategorized

RYA Advanced Powerboat Course — Lesson Plan   Aims  To develop advanced skippering techniques for powerboats in day and night operations under demanding coastal conditions. Course Overview 
Duration: 2 days (includes night navigation exercise)
Level: Advanced / Professional (preparation for Certificate of Competence exam)
Pre-requisites:
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Navigation knowledge to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased standard
- 2 years’ powerboating experience recommended
- Valid VHF/SRC and First Aid certificates (for CoC exam)
 Day 1 — Advanced Boat Handling & Coastal Navigation 1000   Meet at Itchenor Sailing Club (PO20 7AG)   Morning (1000–1230)   Topic 1: Introduction & Safety Briefing 
- Course objectives, weather, and safety review
- Safety equipment and emergency procedures
- Crew management and briefing skills
 Topic 2: Advanced Boat Handling 
- High-speed turns, wave handling, and close-quarters manoeuvres
- Berthing in wind and tide, man overboard drills
 Afternoon (1330–1700) Topic 3: Navigation Refresher & Passage Planning 
- Chartwork, tides, and pilotage
- Use of GPS, radar, and AIS
- Plan night navigation passage
 Topic 4: Pilotage Exercise 
- Execute short coastal passage using pilotage plan
- Position fixing and cross-checks with electronics
 Evening (1900–2300) Topic 5: Night Navigation & Pilotage 
- Use of lights, radar, and transits at night
- Identification of navigation lights and buoyage
- Conduct night passage under instructor supervision
     Day 2 — Emergency Skills, Advanced Seamanship & Assessment 1100   Meet at Itchenor Sailing Club (PO20 7AG)   Morning (1100–1430) Topic 6: Heavy Weather Boat Handling 
- Rough sea techniques, trim, throttle, and helm control
- Wave handling and speed management
 Topic 7: Search and Rescue / Emergency Scenarios 
- DSC, VHF distress procedures, towing, and breakdown drills
 Afternoon (1530–1700) 
- Leadership, navigation accuracy, and safety assessment
 Topic 9: Debrief & Preparation for CoC Exam 
- Instructor feedback on skippering
- Review of RYA CoC exam structure and expectations
   Learning Outcomes 
By the end of the course, students will:
- Plan and execute safe coastal passages by day and night
- Demonstrate advanced handling in challenging conditions
- Apply leadership and crew management effectively
- Handle emergencies and communicate via VHF/DSC
- Be ready for the RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence exam
 Resources & Equipment 
- RYA Advanced Powerboat Handbook
- Charts, plotting tools, GPS/chartplotter, radar
- Full safety gear (lifejackets, flares, radios, etc.)
- Coastal-capable training vessel
   Please remember to dress or the conditions, it is cooler on the water so you may need to bring waterproofs and a jumper. Bring water, suntan lotion and lunch. Let us know if you need a life jacket. Please bring a Passport style photo as we can’t issue a PB Licence without it.   We look forward to seeing you on the course.