RYA Advanced Powerboat Course
Duration
2 days course
Minimum Age
12+ Years
Maximum Students
Max 3 Students per Course
Duration
2 days course
Minimum Age
17+ Years
Maximum Students
Max 3 Students per Course
Required Experience
Strong practical powerboating experience
Build the skill, judgement and confidence to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters. The RYA Advanced Powerboat course is designed for experienced powerboat drivers who are ready to progress to more demanding coastal passages, advanced pilotage, night navigation and confident skippering. Over two days, including at least one night navigation exercise, you will develop the boat handling, seamanship, passage planning and decision-making skills required to operate a planing powerboat safely in more challenging conditions. This course is a significant step in your powerboating progression and is suited to those with strong existing experience who are looking to become more capable, confident and responsible coastal powerboat skippers.
Course Overview
The RYA Advanced Powerboat course teaches boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation to the standard required to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters. You will develop the skills needed to take responsibility as skipper, plan and execute coastal passages, manage changing conditions and use advanced pilotage and navigation techniques with confidence. The course includes preparation for sea, passage making, night cruising, meteorology, emergency situations, rules of the road and more advanced use of engines and onboard systems. Training will take place on a suitable planing powerboat, giving you practical experience in the type of boat required for coastal passages at planing speed.
Course Information
- Duration
- Minimum Age
- Maximum Students
- Qualification
- Training Boat
- Training Location
- Course Fee
- 2 Days, including at least one night navigation exercise
- 17+ Years
- 3 Students per Course
- RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate
- Planing Powerboat
- Chichester Harbour and tidal coastal waters
- £375 per person
What You'll Learn
Preparation for Sea
Develop a thorough approach to checks, safety equipment, crew briefing, weather assessment and passage readiness before heading out on the water.
Advanced Boat Handling
Refine your handling of a planing powerboat in more demanding conditions, including close quarters manoeuvres, slow speed control, higher speed handling and decision-making in wind and tide.
Passage Making as Skipper
Build the confidence to plan, brief and execute coastal passages while taking responsibility for the boat, crew, conditions and navigational decisions.
Pilotage Techniques
Practise advanced pilotage methods for entering, leaving and navigating coastal waters, including transits, back bearings, depth contours, visual references and electronic aids.
Navigation and Chartwork
Apply higher-level navigation and chartwork skills on the water, including tidal planning, position fixing, course shaping and monitoring progress during passage.
Night Navigation
Learn how to plan and carry out navigation after dark, including buoyage, light characteristics, pilotage plans and maintaining safe awareness at night.
Meteorology
Understand how to interpret forecasts, assess changing weather and make informed decisions about passage planning, sea state and safety.
Rules of the Road
Refresh and apply collision regulations in practical situations, including safe decision-making around other vessels by day and night.
Engines and Systems
Develop your understanding of engine use, checks, fuel planning and practical considerations when operating a powerboat on longer coastal passages.
Emergency Situations
Practise prevention, preparation and response for emergency situations, including man overboard, breakdowns, search patterns and decision-making under pressure.
Available Course Dates
Choose a date and book online.
Required Experience
Candidates should be competent to the level of the RYA Intermediate Powerboat Certificate. You should have strong practical powerboating experience and be confident handling a planing powerboat in coastal waters. This course is best suited to those who have spent time powerboating over multiple seasons and are ready to progress into more demanding passages and conditions. You will also need navigation and chartwork knowledge to the level of Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased. It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF/SRC operator’s certificate.
Why Train with Chichester Boat Club?
The RYA Advanced Powerboat course is about more than technical ability. It is about judgement, confidence and taking responsibility on the water. At Chichester Boat Club, you will train in a practical coastal environment, with small group sizes and focused instruction from experienced RYA instructors. With a maximum of three students per course, there is time to assess your existing skills, refine your boat handling and develop your confidence in more demanding situations. Training from Chichester Harbour gives you access to tidal waters, coastal passage opportunities and real-world pilotage scenarios, helping you apply advanced techniques in a meaningful way. Whether you are progressing your personal boating, preparing for more independent coastal passages or considering the next step towards commercial work at sea, this course is a strong and respected milestone in the RYA powerboat pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the RYA Advanced Powerboat course for?
This course is for experienced powerboat drivers who are ready to progress to advanced coastal boat handling, passage making, pilotage and night navigation.
Do I need to have completed the RYA Intermediate Powerboat course?
Candidates should be competent to the level of the RYA Intermediate Powerboat Certificate. Holding the certificate is strongly recommended, although equivalent experience may be considered.
What level of navigation knowledge do I need?
You should have navigation and chartwork knowledge to the level of Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased. The course includes advanced passage planning, pilotage, tides and night navigation.
Do I need previous coastal powerboating experience?
Does the course include night navigation?
Do I need a VHF or first aid certificate?
It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF/SRC operator’s certificate before attending this course.
How long does the course take?
The course takes two days and includes at least one night navigation exercise.
How many people are on each course?
There is a maximum of three students per course, giving you focused instruction and plenty of practical time on the boat.
What type of boat will I train on?
The course is delivered on a suitable planing powerboat. Advanced Powerboat training should be delivered on a boat of at least 6 metres with sufficient engine power for coastal passages at planing speed.
Where does the course take place?
The course is based around Chichester Harbour and tidal coastal waters, giving you the opportunity to develop advanced skills in a real coastal environment.
Where does the courIs this course useful for commercial powerboating?se take place?
Yes. For those looking to move into commercial work at sea, the RYA Advanced Powerboat course is often an important step before taking the RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence exam, which can be commercially endorsed.