43 Boating courses

 A course for leisure and professional boaters wanting to undertake more adventurous trips by day and night, this 2 day course, with at least one night navigation exercise, will provide you with an RYA Advanced Powerboat Course Completion certificate. Anyone undertaking this course must have practical skills of the Intermediate level and theory knowledge of at least Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster level. The course is split between theory and practical, with an emphasis on the application of theory knowledge to practical situations including preperation for sea, passage and pilotage making, skippering (meteorology, rules ofg the road)), navigation at planing speed, night cruising, and emergency situations. The Advanced Powerboat Certificate of Competence can only be issued after an exam, usually taken immediately after the course. If you are looking to take this exam, please let us know and we will arrange an examiner for you. The cost of this exam is payable directly to the RYA. To take this exam your must meet the following pre-requisites: 2 years relevant experience including night pilotage As a guide; 30 days at sea, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours in the past 10 years Hold a valid First Aid certificate Hold a GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade marine radio certificate Age 17 or over Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

The Powerboat Instructor course aims to provide candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge required to instruct the RYA National Powerboat Scheme in a safe and effective way. The course duration is 3 days and comprises both practical and theoretical training scenarios where candidates are expected to deliver short training sessions. These sessions aim to develop the candidates personal skills and teaching ability in the safety of the training environment. The course does focus on teaching you how to instruct. You will learn effective methods of instructing and coaching, how to debrief, and how to structure the courses. We do revise the skills you will need to teach, but you will need to be proficient on a power boat to do this course. All potential Powerboat Instructors are required to complete a 1 day pre-assessment course to assess your personal boat handling skills. This assessment must be completed within the 3 months prior to the commencement of your Powerboat Instructor course. Course Pre-Requisites To do this course you will need to have completed Pre-Assessment. You will also need the following certificates: Valid First Aid Certificate, RYA Powerboat Level 2, RYA VHF Short Range Certificate. You will need to have 5 years powerboating experiencing (or one season full time). The minimum age of this course is 16 years old. Ideally you will have a familiarity with a range of craft giving you a wide range of knowledge of powerboats. Your theory knowledge should be at RYA Day Skipper Theory level, and we would recommend holding the certificate. RYA Instructor Training At Torbay Sea School we have trained many RYA Instructors who have gone on to instruct with us, other RYA training centres or as freelance instructors. During the course of your general RYA training you will have gained all the skills necessary to sail, motor or power boat with confidence to a high standard. The following courses consolidate all those skills and give you the tools required to instruct others to gain their RYA qualifications. You will be able to utilise our Instructors experience and our boats/equipment to feel at ease with instructing others.

Our 2 day weekend course is a fantastic introduction to sailing, designed to give a taste of sailing or allow you to practice skills in a relaxed environment. It is the perfect setting to find out if sailing is for you, as students are involved in all aspects of sailing the yacht, from basic knot tying to hoisting the sails and steering the boat. You will be taught basic skills and routines on board, whilst enjoying your first exposure to sailing. Price includes accommodation on board one of our yachts, all meals, fuel & mooring fees. Waterproof clothing loan available on request. Our current school boat is the modern 2017 Dufour 382, a fantastic boat to learn and develop your knowledge on; with her spacious deck layout,dual helm and on-deck plotter, she is easy to handle in close and open quarters. We pride ourselves on providing a comfortable, enjoyable sailing experience and guarantee all students their own cabin.   Facilities on-board include: • Dual helm • Heating • Fridge • Two toilets each with hot water and showers • Three cabins • Television and radio • Charging points for mobiles • On-deck chart plotter and radar   We carry out a deep clean before every course and provide fresh linen and towels. Operating along the picturesque South Devon coast, we venture to prime local cruising locations such as Torbay, Dartmouth, Salcombe and Plymouth. Marinas feature as a daily stop, providing time to reflect and partake in shore-side activities. Our aim is to provide safe fun on the water, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge in a safe and friendly environment. We use a 3:1 students to instructor raitio, which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board, and deliver at a managable pace. Navigation is taught using traditional charting techniques along with electronic methods using E-Series Raymarine chart plotters and Radar. All course prices include accommodation on board, meals for the duration of the course, fuel and mooring fees, and the provision of fresh linen and towels.Waterproofs are available upon request.

This 2 day course builds upon the basic knowledge and skills covered in the Level 2 course and is aimed at those who want to drive larger and more powerful powerboats and is a good step to progressing onto the Advanced course. This course covers the practical use of pilotage and passage planning by day on coastal waters using both traditional and electronic navigational techniques, boat preperation, cruising at planing speed, advanced boat handlingand man overboard drills. By the end of the course you will be able to plan and execute short coastal passages by day. It is strongly recommended that candidates hold a first aid certificate and a VHF/SRC operator's certificate. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

Providing the skills and background knowledge required of a competent powerboat driver, this is a beginner 2 day course . The course is split in half to cover theory and practical, where the theory is applied. subjects covered include low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations. By the end of the course you will be a self-sufficient powerboater in the right conditions and be aware of your own limitations and those of the craft. Power Courses Our powerboat training is currently delivered on an MCA coded 7.8m Ribcraft with a 200hp Suzuki four stroke outboard engine and an E-series Raymarine chart plotter. We maintain a 3:1 student to instructor ratio which allows our experienced RYA instructors to tailor courses to the various levels and needs on board and deliver at a manageable pace. All course costs include tea and coffee, waterproofs are available on request.

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course is for experienced sailors. The course builds on the theory learnt on the Day Skipper course, which is the knowledge level required at the outset of this course. It will give you the experience and confidence to plan and achieve your passage in offshore and coastal routes. Unlike the Day Skipper course, it includes precision tidal calculations. The course will increase your theory knowledge to the required standard for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore exams, concentrating on advanced navigation, IRPCS and meteorology subjects. This is an intense six day course, from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs every day (1 hr for lunch plus 2 x 15 min breaks), that will teach you advanced navigation techniques. The syllabus contains: position fixing course shaping and plotting tidal knowledge use of almanacs and admiralty publications electronic position finding equipment taking and interpreting forecasts plotting weather systems weather predictions using a barometer and by observation collision regulations customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

The Day Skipper shore based course sits in the RYA Syllabus as preamble to the Day Skipper practical course and will give the aspiring skipper the knowledge that is needed to navigate familiar water. The course also provides an introduction to lights to help you on your way with sailing in the dark. The course will give you the confidence to be able to plan your passage on inshore and coastal routes, and ensure that you and your crew are safe. The course includes: Basics of seamanship Essentials of inshore navigation and pilotage Chartwork (plotting tidal streams, estimated positions and courses to steer) Electronic charts Position fixing Passage planning Weather forecasting and meteorology Tidal height calculations Collision regulations Construction, parts and equipment of a cruising boat Emergency and safety procedures including distress calls, the use of flares, safety harnesses, lifejackets and liferafts

A one-day/8 hour course, you will leave being aware of the main systems of a marine diesel engine. With a focus on prevention of breakdown at sea and having an ability to resolve defects which do not require workshop support. Course topics include: The four stroke cycle, Fuel, cooling and air systems, Engine electrical systems, Spares and tool requirements, Winterisation and servicing Course materials and tea and coffee are included in the price.

The RYA Start Yachting course is designed to give a taste of sailing over two days and nights and requires no previous experience. The course is for beginners who are interested in sailing. Our experienced instructors will guide you through health and safety and make sure that you are comfortable. We can advise on clothing for the trip too. You will live on board one of our yachts for the weekend, with up to four other crew members plus the instructor. There will be a mixture of experience which means that there will be other crew members who can give you a helping hand. Cooking will be shared between the crew to add to the experience. By the end of the weekend you will have learnt how to steer a course, handle the lines, tie knots - and, most importantly, find out if you have a natural talent or just love sailing!

Arguably one of the most important skills for any skipper is berthing the vessel and leaving the berth in any conditions and lowered visibility. Join us on unique course focused on pontoon and mooring practices led by one of our most experienced senior instructors. All your questions will be answered during the course and you will get the opportunity of extremely extensive training and practise of handling the vessel in any conditions. Take stress away from those approaches in harsh conditions or night time. During the weekend we will focus on: Weather conditions and forecast; Correct use of lines and fenders; Coming alongside; Crew management; Setting the appropriate lines; Turning in tight spaces. This course starts on Friday evening at 6.30 and finishes around 3pm on Sunday afternoon.