Powerboat Training
Powerboats are an essential part of our toolbox for supporting members to get afloat. At Spinnaker Sailing Club anyone driving a powerboat on the lake (unless under instruction from a qualified RYA Powerboat Instructor) must hold the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate as a minimum. When it comes to manning the safety boat supporting club racing or other social activities Spinnaker Sailing Club requires there to be at least one person on board who either holds the RYA Safetyboat Certificate or is an RYA Dinghy Instructor and has received additional training.
To support our members in becoming trained and qualified to safely operate our powerboats either as part of a safety boat team or on their route to becoming an RYA Instructor we run a range of powerboat training, all of which is heavily subsidised by the Club as an investment in our members. All course dates can be viewed in the programme at the bottom of this page, and booked via the calendar.
RYA Powerboat Level 2
This 2-day course is an introduction to powerboating looking at the basic techniques and knowledge required to safely handle a powerboat, you can join this course with no experience of driving a powerboat..
This includes how to use the equipment on board, basic driving - including returning to the pontoon, recovery of a man overboard, anchoring and launching and recovery. During the course we will also look at the "rules of the road", basic safety and navigational knowledge and different types of boats and engine. You will get to use both console (wheel) steered and tiller steered boats. If a member commits to performing 3 safetyboat crew duties in the 12 months following their qualification they can attend this course at a reduced cost of £50. To receive this reduced price please email the Chief Instructor on training@spinnakerclub.co.uk for further details.
Our powerboat training is normally reserved for those aged 16 and over, but we will accept 15 year old members onto the course where they are developing to become an instructor or just before their 16th birthday to allow them to support our safety boat teams.
Due to the sheltered environment of the lake we recommend that if you are interested in powerboating at sea for pleasure, you do your RYA Powerboat Level 2 at a coastal venue that can offer you a more varied experience, we are more than happy to provide advice to members about where an appropriate venue might be for them.
RYA Safetyboat
This course is all about how to rescue other sailors, windsurfers, kayakers and paddleboarders! If you want to perform Safetyboat Driver as one of your club duties or are an instructor interested in development then this course is for you. Over 2 days we will look at the equipment we carry to enable rescues and a variety of techniques to assist other water users safely. Whilst this course is mostly practical we will also look at the background knowledge of race management to provide an insight into what goes on at larger events behind the scenes. You must be 16 and hold your RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate to take part in this course.
The cost of this course to members is £50. Spinnaker Sailing Club offers safetyboat training to members primarily to grow the skills of our membership to allow them to support our programme of racing and other waterborne activities. If a member commits to performing 3 safetyboat helm duties in the 12 months following their qualification they can attend this course for free. To receive this reduced price please email the Chief Instructor on training@spinnakerclub.co.uk for further details.
Safetyboat Refreshers
During the Spring each year we run a number of short Safetyboat Refreshers for our existing qualified powerboat drivers to help them blow away any cobwebs, receive any updates about new techniques or advice from the RYA, and ask questions from one of our experienced RYA Powerboat Instructors. These refreshers are free to our members as part of our support to those who volunteer to support activities.
Downloads
Last updated 09:44 on 20 December 2023
