Powerboat Training 
Another of life's little time wasters?  No I don't think so, even though the closest I get to using my instructor skills is running the voluntary 'Rescue Assistant' course for my sailing club. I really enjoy being on the water with nice people in little fast boats, so maybe it's not such a waste of time.

The Powerboat/Training pages were written originally as an example to test search engine rankings for (Non commercial) private web sites. The methods used work well enough to get to the top of the Google listings. I had to take the phone number of, as I was actually getting calls for courses.  It makes it quite tempting to go into business, but as you know from the home page I'm not in the position to do that. Shame.

The pages remains live for use with the voluntary training of powerboat rescue crews at Castle Cove Sailing Club, here in Weymouth.  See also www. ccsc.org.uk/support boats/training.   (CCSC is a self help private members club, and it' doesn't cost the earth to belong).

The club is running a members only (Club and Class Specific) Non-Driver 'Rescue Assistant' courses throughout the year.  To date (2008)The RYA offer no such qualification.

The third Saturday of each month,  club rescue boats, and members dinghies are used for righting practice, recovery of people from the water, and general seamanship and boating skills.

The knowledge gained by members is quite a chunk of the RYA rescue drivers syllabus, but without the driving skills.  Although as part of the course the 'Rescue assistant' is encouraged to gain driving experience (Under instruction), and ultimately driver qualifications. 

WEYMOUTH AND THE OLYMPICS

The RYA powerboat syllabus is on these pages for reference only

Weymouth's lifting bridge is remarkably similar to London's Tower Bridge, but did you know Weymouth also has a a clock tower? The Weymouth clock tower is a smaller version of Westminster's St. Stevens Tower, which houses the world famous clock, and probably the most famous bell in the world...BIG BEN!   As in London, the Weymouth clock tower is a focal point for local events, one of the biggest being NEW YEARS EVE!.  That's where the similarities stop, because, one thing that London doesn't have is a beach like Weymouth, and of course the Olympic waters.

                           Weymouth Bridge Neither Up Nor Down

OLYMPICS WATERS and 
SAIL FOR GOLD

                                                  WEYMOUTH BAY and
                                              PORTLAND HARBOUR

We spend a lot time in the  OLYMPIC WATERS of WEYMOUTH BAY and PORTLAND HARBOUR (Also OLYMPIC WATERS).  Power boat driving. is exciting,  'Fun but Safe' are the key words.  This is what power boating is all about. Exhilarating bursts of power across the bay, high speed 'S' turns, 'U' turns, 'Doughnuts' and 'Wave jumping', if there are no waves we can make our own and jump through those.  All of the time remembering that you have to 'slow down' or 'give way' to other water users when appropriate.   'Keeping a Look Out' (Rule5) and 'A Safe Speed '(Rule 6) for the conditions and circumstances, which go towards your responsibilities as a power boat driver. One of your first lessons will be returning to and picking up a small object that has been lost over the side and getting it safely back into the boat. This progresses to picking up a larger object which will represent a   'Man Overboard'. You will be given full instruction on all aspects of seamanship needed as a powerboat driver at your level.  All this within hours of getting into the boat!

RYA Certificated courses: (Listed On this site for information only) 
NOTE: Only the club specific parts are covered by the voluntary club run courses.  The boats committee, can tell you about course run by the Weymouth Sea Cadets, and WOEC. (Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre)

                   

Should you decide you want to go the certificated route you will be required to pass an assessment by the principal of a recognized training school. As yet it not a legal requirement to hold a licence to drive a boat on the sea, but it could come along later so the choice is yours.

I will stick rigidly to the tried and tested RYA syllabus during the course in order that you will pass the assessment.
(A bit like the driving test but less stressful). You can of course to be assessed at a later date when you have had a chance to hone your skills and dazzle the assessor.

Un-certificated courses:

You may like to consider a 'Mix & Match' approach to your training. Take a look at the syllabus for each course and and pick the parts that you already know. You may already be good with knots and lines, you may have a lot of experience with towing and the use of trailers. If it is pieces of paper (RYA certificates) that you want, then you must do the courses and suffer repetition of stuff you already know.

However, rest assured I will give you 'Best advice' on the route you should be taking.

Student Ratios:

• Certificated Course (With independent assessment)
  • A maximum of three students to one instructor per boat
• Non-certificated Course (Without assessment but tailor made to suite your requirements)

• A maximum of six students to one instructor in two boats (Following the RYA syllabus, ideal for a family learning in own boat)
• One student to one instructor when mixing and matching skills in your own boat.