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The RYA Level 2 Powerboat Handling Course is one of the highly sought courses in the marine industry. As Superyacht industry employment is increasingly in demand, the RYA Powerboat Level 2 certification is a must for deckhands. As deckhands tend to operate tenders for guests or the owner(s) onboard, having a powerboat license becomes tremendously crucial. But what do you learn in an RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course? Let’s take a quick glance at the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course in South Africa.

A Quick Glance at RYA Powerboat Level 2 in South Africa

We have covered information about the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course in South Africa in our previous articles. In fact, Skipper Training SA is one of the top RYA-accredited marine institutes to provide RYA Powerboat Level 2 training and examination to candidates across South Africa.

It is a three-day course that covers a variety of basic aspects covering powerboat handling, navigation, passenger safety, dealing with emergencies, and basic maintenance.

If you are age 16 and above, you can take the course without any prior experience. However, we do encourage you to take the level 1 course first, even though it is not necessary. We have expressed our thoughts in this article about the matter. However, it is an optional course and you can go straight for the RYA Powerboat Level 2 certification.

What do you learn in an RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course in South Africa?

1. Launching and Docking the Boat

The must-have skills, the course strongly emphasises on basic launching and docking procedure of a boat. The course will teach you how to properly launch your boat off the ramps or off the docks in a marina. This segment will also include speed and control optimisation based on waves and wind direction to save fuel and make the docking/launching procedure smooth. Also, your instructor will teach the proper usage of docking lines to secure your boat.

2. Basic Manoeuvres

The basic handling of the boat. This segment covers how to use the throttle and steering wheel. As a boat does not have brakes, your instructor will advise you to use the throttle moderately. During this segment, your instructor will also teach you about some other basic stuff such as the marina’s regulations, personal safety regulations and so on. This segment will also include confined manoeuvres, which are basically boat handling in cramped spaces.

3. Driving the Boat

Once you are out of the marina, your instructor will let you experience driving a boat, under their supervision of course. During the training, the instructor will also introduce you to your boat’s navigation system, such as a compass, a radar (if available), and the GPS system. The instructor will also make sure of basic safety checks such as donning a life jacket, attaching the engine kill switch to the jacket and so on.

4. Anchoring or Mooring to a Buoy

Depending on the type of powerboat, your instructor will show you a safe and reliable way to use the boat’s anchor. Alternatively, they will also teach you about mooring buoys, which are an alternative to dropping anchors in the sea. During this lesson, the instructor will also emphasise being mindful of the natural environments around you as an anchor can damage the underwater ecosystem.

5. Man Overboard Procedure

Accidents can happen during your boating experience. One of the most common accidents is people falling off your boat. This is why learning man overboard safety procedures is important for you as a skipper. In this section, your instructor will use an object to create a man overboard scenario and teach you how to recover the object methodically.

This can help you methodically rescue a real-life situation efficiently and without harming anyone or your boat. During this segment, your instructor will also emphasise the importance of having a spotter/lookout guide on your boat.

6. Learning the charts and basic navigation

While GPS and radar systems have made boating easier in 2023, it is important to understand how to read maps. Emergencies can occur anytime and your automatic navigation system may fail you. This may be an indoor learning session or right on your boat.

Conclusion

And that was a quick glance at the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course in South Africa. The purpose of this article was to highlight the main skill a skipper would learn in the course. Of course, the course teaches way more than just the six segments mentioned above. Depending on the instructor, you may also learn varied things in the course. With the RYA Certification, you can find employment in relevant industries internationally.

For the best experience with the RYA Powerboat Level 2 Course in South Africa, feel free to give us a call and we would be glad to answer all your questions.

RYA Powerboat Level 2 in South Africa | A Quick Glance

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