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)

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.

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 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