RYA Safety Boat

This two-day course provides the skills required when acting as an escort craft, safety boat or coach boat for a fleet of boats, windsurfers or canoes, or for racing or training activities. It includes rescue techniques and elements of race management and mark laying. It is also a requirement for any RYA Senior Instructor qualification. At BSC, we recommend that any regular patrol boat drivers take this course as it provides the practical skills required to safely recover a boat and its occupants from a capsize or other incident.

The course focuses on preparation, boat handling, dinghy rescue, windsurfer rescue, kayak or canoe rescue (which may be covered as theory), towing, end-of-day procedures, safety, suitability of craft, local factors, communication, rescuing other water users. The course is taught by a qualified RYA Safety Boat Instructor in centre console ribs, but other powered craft may also be used. After this course, successful students will be able to provide safety or support cover to a range of craft, particularly for sailing or windsurfing.

This course offers lots of practical rescue experience, which means that students will be required to be physically in the water and around capsized or beached craft.

For more information about the course see this RYA webpage.

Minimum age: 16

Experience required: Candidates must have RYA Powerboat Level 2 and a familiarity with sailing boats and windsurfers, although no direct sailing experience is required.

Student ratio: Up to 6:1 in two power boats.

Course materials: The 'RYA Safety Boat Handbook' is provided as part of the course. .

Cost: Members £225, non-members £275

Book: See 'Tickets' below.

Last updated 10:01pm on 19 April 2024