New - Personal Watercraft Handbook

The new Personal Watercraft Handbook brings the PW course support material closer in line with the other Power schemes in terms of style and syllabi layout. The Personal Watercraft Proficiency course certificate will shortly be moving to online registration, when this happens the certificates will be sold in individual certificate packs (a cert and a PW Handbook), just like the Powerboat Level 2 and Start Powerboating.

You’ll note that both syllabi in the PW scheme are included – the RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency (PWP) is at the front, and the RYA Introduction to Personal Watercraft Safety course syllabus is located towards the back. For the time being, the Introduction to PW Safety remains a course taught and certificated on board Super Yachts RTCs.

The layout of the syllabi provides more detail to you (our instructors) in ascertaining the depth to teach each subject. Man overboard has been added to the PW Handling section of the PWP syllabus and should be taught using the same drive up into wind method as MOB in the powerboat scheme; this is detailed on page 36. NB. We are aware that there is a mistake on the graphic (showing a tide arrow, which will be removed on the next print run), tide is not mentioned in the text in relation to man overboard. During instructor courses, it may be useful to try the drift down method, although the success of this is very much based on the profile of the craft and is not as predictable or reliable as the drive-up method.

If you have any questions regarding the above then please contact us as we will be delighted to help.

I hope the season is busy and sunny

Rachel Andrews

Chief Instructor, Motor Cruising & Power

RYA Training Department

On behalf of Rachel Andrews, Chief Instructor Motor Cruising & Power…

Dear Principals, Trainers and Powerboat Advanced Instructors,

It’s been a busy few months in the Motor Cruising and Power seat getting out to meet as many of you as possible. It has been great to see the high level of support and commitment to the RYA schemes and I hope to meet many more of you in the near future.

As busy as it’s been there has been enough time to cover a couple of changes, which will be outlined in the next edition of Wavelength, however I wanted to send this email to ensure it  reaches everyone. 

·         Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat course - change to teaching ratios; The teaching ratios for Intermediate and Advanced Powerboat courses are being reduced to 3 students to 1 instructor in one boat. This is with immediate effect and is to bring the course in line with Powerboat 1 and 2 courses where the high standards of safety, good value for money and great teaching are hallmarks of RYA training.

NB. The Safety Boat teaching ratios remain 6:1 in two boats but with the strong recommendation that an experienced assistant is on hand should 2 boats be being used.

·         Powerboat Advanced Instructor – changes to pre-requisites;-From 1 April 2011, in addition to holding the Powerboat Instructor qualification, the Advanced Powerboat Day and Night course completion certificate, prospective candidates for the Powerboat Advanced Instructor endorsement will also have to hold the RYA/MCA Advanced Certificate of Competence (exam).  This step has been taken to ensure the high standard of teaching on the Advanced Powerboat Course. It will prove a measureable level of knowledge and ability of candidates.

·         Safety Boat Instructors -Powerboat Instructors who gain the Safety Boat qualification after their PB Instructor award should notify the RYA Certification department by sending a copy of the certificate so that their Instructor Record can be updated.

·         Powerboat and Personal Watercraft Instructor Courses -All instructor courses must be approved by the RDO or RYA Training if being run abroad. There must be a minimum of 2 instructor candidates on an instructor course

Whilst writing I wanted to remind you of a couple of points which have arisen:

Ø  Man Overboard practice – under no circumstances are people to go in the water for training MOB during Powerboat Level 1, 2, Intermediate or Advanced courses.  A dummy (such as a small fender with a weight or chain attached) is to be used

Ø  Emergency Stop! This is not part of the Powerboat syllabus and should not be trained, practiced or demonstrated

Ø  ‘High Speed’ should be interpreted as ‘Planing Speed’ the primary reason for teaching this element of the course is to allow the student to understand the different handling characteristics. Planing speed is achieved typically from 12 knots onwards

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Andrews to the post of RYA Chief Instructor Motor Cruising and Powerboats. With extensive experience in the industry and having worked as an RYA Power Boat Trainer Rachel will be a great asset to the Training Department. Rachel also brings formal teaching qualifications, several years experience in adventure sports as well as an intimate knowledge of PWC training in the superyacht world to the role. We very much look forward to her commencement in the first week of January 2011.

I am sure you will join me in welcoming Rachel and working with her on the on going development of the various training  schemes for which she will be responsible.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Falk

RYA Training Manager and

Chief Examiner

The RYA is delighted to announce that Richard Falk who joined the RYA in February this year as RYA Chief Cruising Instructor has now been appointed the new RYA Training Manager, following the retirement of James Stevens.  

After a long and illustrious career at the RYA, James Stevens will retire at the end of September, when Richard will take over the post of Training Manager and Chief Examiner.  

Richard said: “I am delighted with my appointment and look forward to taking over where James leaves off. RYA Training is without question a powerful force with great recognition around the world. We have a healthy scheme delivered by committed and professional instructors.  

“The strength and scale of the various schemes can be largely attributed to James Stevens through his many years of involvement and leadership. I look forward to carrying on his work whilst exploring the many opportunities for growth and development in the future.”  

As Training Manager and Chief Examiner, Richard will be responsible for the maintenance and development of all RYA training schemes both in the UK and overseas.

He will also replace James as the Chief Examiner for the Yachtmaster scheme and will continue to champion RYA recreational and commercial training and qualifications.

One of his key responsibilities will be in liaising with national governing bodies concerning the recognition of RYA qualifications internationally.  

Originally from Australia, Richard has been living in the UK for five years and is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner. He has been Principal of an RYA training centre, so is well versed in the challenges that instructors and Principals face.      

Richard is also a very experienced cruising and racing sailor, having skippered the Singapore entry for the Clipper Ventures Round the World Race and is highly qualified in the commercial motor boating world. In addition, he has a strong business background, having worked for large retail corporations in Australia over the years.

Article Published: July 28, 2010 by RYA HQ

For the attention of RYA PWC Trainers:-

As you may be aware, there has been an increase in the number of applicants to train as PW instructors. Many are existing Powerboat instructors wishing to complete the one day conversion.

There have been occasions where applicants have not had the required PW experience and assumed that being a Powerboat instructor was sufficient.

Please ensure that when accepting candidates onto PW instructor courses that they hold the PW proficiency certificate, a valid first aid qualification and have previous PW riding experience. Having attended the PW proficiency course without any other riding experience is insufficient.

- RYA 30/7/08

Powerboat instructor skills assessment

Background:

The powerboat skills assessment has been introduced in line with the dinghy instructor assessment. Over recent years there has been an increase in the number of instructor candidates failing the course due to poor boat handling skills and lack of background knowledge. This has been disappointing for the candidates concerned and also disruptive to the course.

Introduction:

These guidance notes are for instructor candidates, Powerboat Trainers, Prinicpals and Regional Development Officers. They explain the content, conduct and standard of the assessment.

• These guidance notes should be read in conjunction with the Powerboat logbook G20/04 and Powerboat Instructors handbook G19/08.
• The assessment will be phased in from April 2008. Any instructor candidate already booked on to an existing course may attend without completing the assessment. However, course providers should make every effort to make the Skills Assessment available from April.
• The assessment will become compulsory from September 2008, after which candidates must have passed the assessment before being accepted on to the Instructor training course.
• Instructor candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to the level of CAN in ALL aspects of the level 2 syllabus as described in the Powerboat logbook G20/04.

Conduct of the assessment:

The assessment will be carried out by a Powerboat Trainer at a recognised training centre or affliated club.

• Duration: Minimum 4 hours
• Carried out at: Recognised Powerboat Training centres or affiliated club
• Venue: Coastal or Inland
• Assessed by: Powerboat Trainer
• Eligibility: Powerboat level 2 (Coastal or Inland)
• Minimum age: 16 years
• Ratio: Max 1:6, using 2 boats (i.e. 3 candidates per boat)

Only candidates holding a Level 2 Powerboat certificate with a coastal endorsement will be eligible to attend a coastal instructor course.

The candidate should be given the opportunity  that he/she can demonstrate a level of proficiency in the subject being assessed. Therefore the candidate should be able to explain the subject in great depth, including background theory and practical demonstration. E.G. IRPCS - The candidate could explain and demonstrate the correct action to be taken to avoid collisions with other craft, principally rules 5, 7, 8, 9, 12-19.

Practical assessment:

Practical assessment will include all elements of the Powerboat Level 2 direct assessment. i.e. Familiarisation, Moor alongside (down wind/tide), Turn using warps, Man overboard, Stop/Start engine, High speed runs, S & U turns, Securing to a buoy, Holding off, Turning in own boat length etc.

Completion:

Upon completion Trainers will make an entry into the candidate's logbook G20/04 giving details of the venue, date and outcome. Trainers are encourages to record details of both passes and failures. Unsuccessful candidates should have the reasons for not passing explained to them. The Trainer should give some guidance in what is needed to achieve their goal. This can be in the form of a short action plan recorded in the logbook. If an action plan is set and partial reassessment is required the candidate must complete this before attending the instructor course. Trainers/Principals should check that a candidate is eligible before accepting them on to an instructor training course. Successful candidates should endeavour to attend their Instructor training course within 12 months of passing the Powerboat skills assessment.

Published Feb '08 -Updates to this information will be posted on the RYA Training website http://www.ryatraining.org/

An RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor who has attended and passed the Shorebased Instructor Course is the lowest qualification you can hold in order to teach the new Basic Navigation and Safety Course. More information will be added to the RYA website tomorrow (14/6/07) and it is going in the Guidance Notes as we speak -they are just printing of some new ones.

-Written by Beth Jenkins (PA to the RYA Chief Powerboat instructor)

Information for instructors:

The RYA's new Basic Navigation and Safety course will be launched in September '07, with course packs available from approximately the end of August (the same time as the other shorebased course packs go on sale).

Please note the slight change of name for this course to incorporate the word 'safety'. When marketing your courses use the full name 'RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Course'.

The course introduction and notes for instructors in the links above are taken from the new course materials and will give you an insight into the content of the course and how to teach it. At this stage, these materials are provisional, but will be finalised soon.

In April the RYA ran a pilot course to test the syllabus and materials, and to ensure that the course is pitched at an appropriate level. It was run by Roger Seymour, whose comments are shown in the 'teaching points' link at the bottom of this page. 

The RYA invited the Marine Leisure Association (MLA) to send a representatitve to observe the pilot course. Their representative was Caroline Bews of Capital Sailing, who was impressed by the course and wrote the article in the 'course observations' link.

An important thing to remember when teaching this course is that it is intended to give a basic introduction to navigation and safety for a wide audience. The syllabus has been written to encompass everyone including powerboaters, sea anglers, divers, boatmasters, dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

Please note: This course is not specific to the northern or southern hemisphere. However, please use the northern hemisphere Training Almanac to support the course pack.

Every student will receive a plotter in their course pack, but training centres will need to provide Training Almanacs, dividers etc.

In due course the G15 and G18 logbooks will be revised to include the new course syllabus and space for the certificate.

For further information & downloads on this course please visit: http://www.rya.org.uk/WorkingWithUs/instructors/instructorresources/Basicnavcourse.htm

A new basic course for SuperYacht Charter guests

For more information please visit   http://www.rya.org.uk

Following many requests from the SuperYacht Charter Industry the RYA have launched a new basic PW course for guests using PWs during their charter holiday – the Introduction to Personal Watercraft Safety course.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be issued with a certificate valid only for the duration of the charter, and only whilst being supervised by the crew/PW instructor on board the yacht.

In order to offer this training, the captain of the Superyacht will need to train as (or employ) an RYA PW Instructor, apply for RYA recognition and undergo an inspection visit in the usual way.

When devising this new course, the RYA consulted with the Professional Yachtsmen's Association (PYA) and the Superyacht charter industry. Captain Peter Evans, President of the PYA, comments:

"The PYA is pleased that the recent discussions with the RYA have led so quickly to the introduction of this new PW training scheme tailored to the needs of the Superyacht industry. We expect that this scheme will be taken up by many of the larger yachts and we hope that it will bring about a significant improvement in the levels of skill and safety awareness of occasional PW users. We look forward to co-operating with the RYA in other areas of mutual interest as and when the opportunity arises."

This new course will not affect existing recognised PW training centres and will not change the delivery of the existing PW proficiency course. However, PW instructors need to be aware of it and able to deliver the basic course on board a Superyacht if requested. Therefore PW trainers need to include guidance on how to teach the course when they are training new instructors.

On the RYA website (link above) are Guidance Notes for instructors and training centres, which include the course syllabus.

PW Instructors need to be familiar with the course as potentially you could be asked to provide training for a Superyacht. If you wish to be approached you need to ensure you are on our ‘available for work’ list so that we can forward your contact details to any interested Superyacht.

A very simple explaination regarding PWC's & section 58 Merchant Shipping Act 1995

-  On May 15th 2004 at Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, a PWC rider collided with another PWC which was stationary in the water. The rider of the stationary ski was thrown into the water and sustained serious facial injuries.

- Such incidents are uncommon and the law has not been tested recently in relation to PWCs and the piece of legislation used. Section 58 Merchant Shipping Act 1995 was applied in this situation; that is the defendant was charged with "doing an act which caused or was likely to cause serious injury."

- This legislation refers to "ships" but not as we would generally percieve them. The definition of a ship under legislation includes "every description of vessel used in navigation". The arguement is whether or not a PWC can be navigated. This issue has been raised in the passed in relation to a "jetski" i.e. a 'stand-up ski'. However, PWCs have dramatically changed in appearance and capabilities and could in all intense and purposes now be navigated.

- This definition is pivotal to this case and any further cases brought in relation to PWCs and Sec 58. The rider in this case was found guilty of the offence and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment but appealed against his conviction and the decision overturned. Then an appeal went in for the prosecution.

- To date, there has been no desicion in relation to the latest appeal.....watch this space!

- BEWARE - you can still be prosecuted under other legislation including; Local byelaws, Public order, Anti-social behaviour etc etc