rya powerboat advanced

Aims to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation up to the standards required to drive a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal coastal waters, with which the candidate may be familiar, in more demanding conditions. Given the nature of these passages Advanced Powerboat courses should be delivered on powerboats of a minimum of 6 metres and an engine size sufficient to enable coastal passages at planing speed.

Candidates should be competent to the level of the Intermediate Powerboat Certificate with a knowledge of the navigation and chartwork to the level of Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased certificate.

It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF operators certificate.

2 days including at least 1 night navigation exercise

Preparation for sea, boat handling, passage making and responsibility as skipper, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, use of engines, emergency situations, night cruising

Able to plan and execute coastal trips and return to a familiar port by night

The course predominantly takes place afloat however some elements, specifically navigation, are classroom based.

RYA Powerboat Scheme Syllabus and Logbook

RYA Powerboat Handbook

£18.49

RYA Navigation Handbook 2nd Edition

£19.99

Chieftain Training

RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

MCA/RYA Advanced Powerboat COC Certificate of Competence

Advanced powerboat coc exam prep aims:.

The Advanced Powerboat COC Exam prep follows on from the RYA Powerboat Advanced Course.  for those who require the MCA / RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence. This Advanced Power exam also know as the Advanced Powerboat Commercial is intended for advanced drivers who wish to work commercially. It is broadly equivalent to the Yachtmaster Coastal Power Certificate of Competence Exam but examined in an open boat (such as an outboard driven RIB).

To give you the best chance of passing, we offer an intensive three day preparation course and exam. This will include two night exercises with our Instructor and a third one on the final night with your examiner. This course is often run back to back after the 2 day RYA Powerboat Advanced Course (similar named course).

ADVANCED POWERBOAT COC EXAM PREP DURATION:

This advanced powerboat commercial package spans three days. We need at least 4 to 5 hours of daylight and at least  3 to 4 hours of darkness each day so exact timings vary depending on the season. As an example, in December, Day 1 runs 1200 to 2100ish and June/July courses run 1400-0000ish. Day 2 is a longer day as you will complete a passage planning theory exercise in the morning as part of your exam preparation.

ADVANCED POWER COC EXAM PREP PRE REQUISITES:

• Minimum age 18 (essential)
• RYA First Aid  or STCW Elementary First Aid  or STCW Medical First Aid  (essentiall)
• RYA SRC, or higher GMDSS cert.  (essential)
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased  (other training centres may accept you onto their exam preparation course without this prior training but we are committed to you passing your Advanced exam so will not waste your or our time)
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate (highly recommended)
• RYA Radar  (or equivalent knowledge)

The RYA and MCA state that Advanced Power CoC exam candidates must have the following minimum sea time, gained over at least two years.

• 30 days on board
• 2 days as skipper
• 12 night hours
• For holders of the two-day Advanced Course Completion Certificate , this sea time is reduced to 20 days and 400 miles. We generally run these two courses back to back.

The cold and harsh reality is, that unless candidates have gained the above sea-time over a very structured formal training programme, they will usually require more experience in order to successfully pass the exam. You will typically log 6-8 night hours over the two training evenings of this course.

ADVANCED POWERBOAT COC EXAM PREP COURSE CONTENT:

There are four component to the final exam

• Close quarter boat handling
• Theoretical passage planning
• Supporting knowledge (theory)
• Skippering the night exercise (night pilotage)

During the Advanced Powerboat commercial exam, candidates will be expected to demonstrate that they are competent skippers. The examiner can test candidates on any part of the Powerboat scheme (except the safety-boat course) and on any part of the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased and/or  RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased courses.

We will devote some of the advanced exam preparation course to each of the above four examined areas. However the two days preparation will be largely spent planning and carrying out the night exercise. The second morning will be devoted to your passage planning exercise.

It is important that candidate recognise this is an exam preparation course and they should arrive with knowledge and experience of most of the necassary skills and techniques. There is not time on this course to teach these skills from scratch, the exam preparation is an opportunity to polish and refine these skills with coaching from our Instructor before presenting yourself to an examiner on the final day. The exam syllabus is;

SYLLABUS FOR ADVANCED POWERBOAT EXAMINATION

1 preparation for sea.

• Preparation of vessel
• Safety brief
• Stowing and securing gear for coastal passages
• Engine operations and routine checks, fuel systems, kill cord
• Fuel system, bleeding, changing filters and impellors

2 BOAT HANDLING

• Hull forms and their handling characteristics, propeller configurations.
• Knowledge of action to be taken in rough weather
• Significance of tidal stream on sea conditions
• Steering and power control through waves
• Understanding and correct use of power trim and tabs
• Towing, under open sea conditions and in confined areas
• Strategy up and downwind and in heavy weather
• Awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring, including
• Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
• Turning in a confined space
• All berthing and un-berthing
• Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy
• Recovery of man overboard
• Awareness of ground speed and ability to hold the boat on station

3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF SKIPPER

• Can skipper the vessel with effective crew communication
• Preparing the vessel for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Customs procedures
• Courtesy to other water users

4 PASSAGE MAKING AND PILOTAGE

Your chart work and theory knowledge should include:

• Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
• Chart work, including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tide
• Tidal heights and depths
• Buoyage and visual aids to navigation
• Instruments, including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navaids and chartwork instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Importance of pre-planning
• High speed navigation, pre-planning and execution
• Use of electronic navigation (GPS & Radar)
• Pilotage techniques and plans for entry into or departure from harbour
• Use of leading and clearing lines, transits and soundings as aids to pilotage.
• Navigational records
• Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
• Lee shore dangers

You should be able to enter and depart a charted port by day or night. Your Examiner will give you a pilotage exercise and ask you to explain your planning. You will need to be aware of the problems of collision avoidance and how to determine your position by night.

5 METEOROLOGY

You should be able to use weather and tidal information to predict likely sea conditions and make passage planning decisions.

• Definition of terms including the Beaufort Scale, and their significance to small craft.
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Weather systems and local weather effects
• Interpretation of weather forecasts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
• Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information

6 RULES OF THE ROAD

• Application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• You should be able to identify vessels by day and night.

Candidates will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board the vessel, based either on the recommendations in RYA booklet C8, or the Codes of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels. In particular, candidates must know the responsibilities of a skipper in relation to:

• Fire prevention and fighting
• Hull damage/watertight integrity
• Medical emergency
• Towing and being towed
• VHF emergency procedures
• Explanation of helicopter rescue procedures
• Use of flares
• Man overboard
• Search patterns
• Lifejackets

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE ADVANCED POWERBOAT COC EXAM PREP?

• 2 days and 2 nights of instruction
• Use of one of our RIBs for the 3 days and nights
• Loan of a life jacket
• An examiner arranged for you
• Free on street parking
• Tea & Coffee

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN THE ADVANCED POWERBOAT COC EXAM PREP?

• RYA Advanced Powerboat Exam Fee
• Wet weather gear (£5 per day to hire)

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

In order to then commercially endorse this qualification, skippers will also need a RYA Sea Survival Certificate , a Seafarers Medical from a doctor and a  RYA PPR certificate. The RYA then charge you a commercial endorsement fee .

BOOKING THE ADVANCED POWERBOAT COC EXAM PREP

If the dates below do not suit please contact us as we may be able to arrange some dates around you.

IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?

This training course and exam is specifically aimed at the commercial sector (i.e. those wanting to drive powerboats for a living). The Advanced Power Exam will qualify you as skipper (master) of powerboats up to 24m in length, up to 20 nm from a safe haven and to carry up to 12 passengers. The Advanced CoC Commercial exam is popular across the industry from corporate entertainment RIB drivers, through wind farm transfer crew and onto parts of the offshore industry. It is a good stepping stone, on the way towards the Yachtmaster Offshore (Power) Certificate of Competence and probably the most appropriate MCA/RYA Certificate of Competence for skippers operating most RIBs.

WHY CHOOSE CHIEFTAIN TRAINING FOR THIS COURSE?

Our Senior management have been running preparation course for the Advanced Commercail COC since the day the exam was introduced in 2005. Our method is tested and proven and has set the industry standard which many other Instructors and training centres now try to follow.  We want you to pass the final exam so we will push you hard during your time with us. Our Instructors will give you 100%.

Once you have booked the course and exam with us you will need to complete an RYA Exam Application Form 

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RYA Advanced Powerboat Course - £375

Boatability advanced powerboat course.

Course Duration:

A maximum of 2 days with a 1 Night Navigation Exercise carried out on day one of the course 

Course Cost:

The RYA Powerboat Advanced Training course is £375 per person - Unlike some we will still run the course with only one student, hence we do not offer silly prices. 

Minimum Age:

Certification:, please note:.

• Under the RYA's guidelines the Advanced course can only be run over 2 days, it is not permitted to be a 3 or 4 day course! 
• If you are training with the intention of taking the RYA Powerboat Advanced Assessment for commercial endorsement, then we can offer familiarisation training with the assessment area and the topics that will be covered by the assessor independently of the course. 
• We strongly recommended that you do not jump straight into taking the commercial assessment on completion of the Advanced course, in case any weak areas are highlighted during the training; which could be a waste of your money! 
• To date all our students who have attended a commercial assessment have passed! 
• We provide the boat(s), fuel, all safety equipment as well as warm waterproof clothing as part of our course, there are no hidden charges! 
• There is free parking on site and we provide tea and coffee. This is not a residential course but there is plenty of accommodation nearby if required. 

Course Topics Practical

Preparation for sea:.

• Prepare the boat 
• Carry out relevant engine checks 
• Ensure equipment/gear is stowed and secure 
• Can carry out pilotage plans and pilotage for entry into or departure from harbour 
• Can use leading and clearing lines, transits, back bearings and soundings as aids to pilotage 
• Can use GPS and understand its limitations in pilotage 
• Can Navigate using soundings 

Boat Handling:

• Has knowledge of the differences for a twin engine vessel 
• Understands the importance of boat control in waves and adequate seating to minimise possible injury 
• Understands the characteristics of various hull forms and propeller configurations 
• Understands what action if to be taken in rough weather 
• Can demonstrate a practical understanding and correct use of power trim and trim tabs (if fitted) 
• Can demonstrate an awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring including: 
• Steering to transits and in buoyed channels 
• Turning in a confined space 
• Berthing in various conditions using the wind and tide 
• Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy 
• Demonstrate the use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times 
• Pick up a MOB in differing conditions 
• Understands the importance of pre-trip planning 
• Understands the Planning required for making a coastal passage, taking into account the relevant navigational hazards, type of boat and the strengths and limitations of the crew 
• Understands chart plotters and radar, their advantages and limitations 
• Can organise the navigation, safety and welfare of the crew during a powerboat passage 
• Can navigate at higher speed using a range of techniques, for example the 6 minute rule 
• Can use electronic navigation equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of way-points, routes, XTE, SOG, COG, BTW and DTW 

Course Topics - Theory

Meteorology:

• Understands the terms used in shipping forecasts, including the Beaufort Scale and the significance of it to a small craft 
• Understands the sources of forecast information and interpretation of forecasts including synoptic charts 
• Understands the significance of meteorological trends 
• Can interpret a synoptic chart 
• Can use and interpret forecasts to make decisions about passages 

Rules of the Road (IRPCS):

• Can apply IRPCS at sea

Use of Engines:

• Knows how to change a propeller 
• Has knowledge of propeller diameter and pitch 
• Has knowledge of Ventilation and Cavitation 
• Understands the checks to be made before starting, during running and after stopping for diesel and petrol engines 
• Understands the importance of periodic checks on engines and electrical systems including spark plugs, water filters and pump impellers, transmission belts and what spares we need to carry

Emergency Situations - Students Understand:

• Correct action to take in emergency situations 
• Fire prevention and fighting 
• Hull damage and watertight integrity 
• What to do in a medical emergency 
• Towing or being towed 
• Helicopter rescue procedures 
• How to issue a distress by all available means 
• Search Patterns 
• The danger of cold shock and immersion hypothermia 

Night Cruising:

• Can take charge of a powerboat at night, including leaving and entering harbour 
• Demonstrate the ability of keeping a proper look-out and identifying lit and unlit positions by night 

What to Expect on the Boatability Advanced Powerboat Course 

Leisure and RYA Training Course we offer

Rya powerboat, rya powerboat level 1, rya powerboat level 2, rya intermediate powerboat, rya advanced powerboat, boat licence, icc powerboat under 10m, icc powerboat over 10m, pwc (jetski) - personal water craft, shore based courses, rya first aid, rya sea survival, rya tender operator.

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RYA Powerboat Advanced

RYA Powerboat Advanced Syllabus

Preparation for sea.

• Preparation of vessel
• Safety brief
• Stowing and securing gear for coastal passages
• Engine operations and routine checks, fuel systems, kill-cord
• Fuel system, bleeding, changing filters and impellers

Boat handling

• Hull forms and their handling characteristics, propeller configurations
• Knowledge of action to be taken in rough weather
• Significance of tidal stream on sea conditions
• Steering and power control through waves
• Understanding and correct use of power trim and tabs
• Towing, under open sea conditions and in confined areas
• Strategy up and downwind and in heavy weather
• Awareness of the effects of wind and tide when manoeuvring, including:
• Steering to transits and in buoyed channels
• Turning in a confined space
• All berthing and un-berthing
• Picking up and leaving a mooring buoy
• Recovery of man overboard
• Awareness of ground speed and ability to hold the boat on station

Responsibilities

• Skippering the vessel with effective crew communication
• Preparing the vessel for sea and for adverse weather
• Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
• Emergency and distress situations
• Customs procedures
• Courtesy to other water users

Passage making and pilotage

• Your chart work and theory knowledge should include:
• Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
• Chart work, including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tide
• Tidal heights and depths
• Buoyage and visual aids to navigation
• Instruments, including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navigation aids and chart work instruments
• Passage planning and navigational tactics
• Importance of pre-planning
• High speed navigation, pre-planning and execute
• Use of electronic navigation (GPS & Radar)
• Pilotage techniques and plans for entry into or departure from harbour
• Use of leading and clearing lines, transits and soundings as aids to pilotage
• Navigational records
• Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
• Lee shore dangers
• You should be able to enter and depart from a charted port by day or night. Your examiner will give you a pilotage exercise and ask you to explain your planning. You will need to be aware of the problems of collision avoidance and how to determine your position by night.

Meteorology

• You should be able to use weather and tidal information to predict likely sea conditions and make passage planning decisions.
• Definition of terms including Beaufort Scale, and their significance to small craft.
• Sources of weather forecasts
• Weather systems and local weather effects
• Interpretation of weather forecasts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
• Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information

Rules of the road

• Application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• You should be able to identify power and sailing vessels by night. Identification of types of ship by night is not required, but you will need a knowledge of the lights of tugs and trawlers.
• Candidates will be expected to know what safety equipment should be carried on board the vessel, based either on the recommendations in RYA booklet C8, or the Codes of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels. In particular, candidates must know the responsibilities of a skipper in relation to:
• Fire prevention and fighting
• Hull damage / watertight integrity
• Medical emergency
• Towing and being towed
• VHF emergency procedures
• Explanation of helicopter rescue procedures
• Use of flares
• Man overboard
• Sector search
• Lifejackets

RYA Powerboat Advanced is aimed at more experienced leisure and professional boaters who would like to consolidate their experience by achieving a more demanding qualification on board a powerboat. ​Courses are held on our Highfield 6m RIBs, (new 2020 & 2021).

The course further develops your skippering techniques so that you can undertake more challenging trips by day and night in coastal waters. You will carry out advanced high speed manoeuvres such as lee shore handling, berthing in adverse conditions and search and rescue patterns. You will also learn about night time navigation, plan and undertake night time passages.

The RYA Powerboat Advanced qualification can be used commercially and it’s the required standard by many professional bodies such as the RNLI, Police and Military. To obtain your commercial endorsement you will need to complete an independent exam for the Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence conducted by an MCA/RYA examiner.

What’s Included

You’ll be based at our well-equipped training facilities in Swanwick Marina and included in your course price is:

• RYA Advanced Powerboating handbook
• Refreshments (tea, coffee and water)  throughout the course
• All mooring fees
• All fuel costs
• Use of Urban Truant’s high quality wet weather gear and safety kit
• RYA certification for all successful students

Course Dates

Below are listed our available dates. If you cannot see dates that you require, please get in touch with us and we may be able to to arrange a more suitable date.

Take advantage of our Combined Learning Packages

Rya advanced powerboat 1.

RYA Coastal / Yachtmaster™ Online Theory

RYA Advanced Powerboat 2

RYA Short-Range Certificate (SRC) VHF Radio

RYA Advanced Powerboat and Exam

Rya advanced powerboat.

The RYA Advanced Powerboat course aims to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage and navigation to the standard required to command a planing powerboat safely by day and night in tidal, coastal waters with which the candidate may or may not be familiar. To benefit from this course you should already be an experienced powerboat driver at the intermediate level and have commensurate experience. You should also have completed the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased course or have equivalent knowledge. The course will test and extend your skills in boat handling and seamanship as well as in planning and executing short passages including night pilotage. It is primarily a hands-on practical course with most of the training conducted on the water aboard our Humber 7.5 metre RIB. Classroom sessions are included to check your professional knowledge of pilotage, navigation (including electronic navigation systems), passage planning, weather forecasts and IRPCS. You will be part of a crew of 3 students and one instructor. We provide all safety equipment and waterproof clothing if required and you do not need to bring any specialist clothing or kit. The advanced course is ideal preparation for the Advanced Powerboat Exam. Candidates who wish to take the exam for the Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence, should book this as a separate event that we would usually arrange over 2 days, 1day Prep and 1 day Exam.

Course Format:

Course Times may vary due to daylight savings. 0930 to 2100 each day, over 2 days, including at least 1 night navigation exercise.

Note: This is a non-residential course (you will return home after each day), catering is not provided, please bring a packed lunch with you on both days.

Student/Instructor Ratio: maximum 3:1

Minimum age: 17 years old

Assumed Knowledge or Experience:

• Competent to Intermediate Powerboat
• Knowledge to the level of Yachtmaster Theory is strongly recommended
• VHF Operators Certificate (SRC) and First Aid certificates are recommended
• RYA Radar course is recommended

Recommended Reading:

RYA Powerboat Handbook (G13)

RYA Navigation Handbook 2nd Edition (G6)

Dates 2025:

Wed 29th – Thu 30th Jan 2025;

Mon 10th – Tue 11th Mar 2025.

View Course Syllabus

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Great school, fantastic skippers, and easy to reach from London! Really can recommend the weekend courses if you are busy working.

- Leonard Wossnig

Friendly but highly professional sail training, both shore-based and practical. Fred and the team are now my "go-to" RYA trainers of choice. After all, if you learn to sail in the Medway and Thames Estuary, in British weather, in February and March, you can probably sail anywhere!

- Gareth Draper

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value 100% recommended, good people dedicated, learnt a lot from Paul my instructor and Fred the boss.

- Richard Collis

Absolutely amazing experience. I took part in 2 days Milebuilder. Well prepared. It’s a pleasure to learn from such experienced people like Steve who was a skipper. Highly recommend and hope to return soon.

- Piotr Kurzawa

I've just come back from my first weekend for competent Crew and wow what a great experience. I definitely think I’ve got the sailing bug now. I was nervous before I started the course due to never sailing before. Also, I thought I'd be meeting people completely different from myself, and I wouldn't gel I am covered in tattoos and talk like someone from the cast of Harry brown 😂but everyone was sooo cool and the skipper big Steve was a proper lad and a great teacher! Spoke to us through the whole process, and he also allowed us to make mistakes and build our confidence to get it right. 👌

- David Barrett

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