4 GMDSS 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 GWO Sea Survival course is a one day course as either initial or refresher training.

The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. This includes both fixed and hand held equipment using International channels. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call. Course topics include: the basics of radio operation the correct frequencies (channels) to be used distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures making ship to shore communication Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) Search and Rescue (SART)

This is the course for sailors who would like to pass on their sailing skills and experience on the water. The title RYA Cruising Instructor will allow the successful candidate to teach up to Day Skipper level. The course is for experienced Yachtmaster Offshore candidates, with commercial endorsement, who on successful completion of the exam be able to instruct practical courses. The course is taken over 5 days with a moderator joining at the end of the week. It is a combination of assessing the candidate's knowledge, providing a structured framework to instruct, coach, observe and deliver constructive feedback, and ensure the structure and standards required of RYA courses are understood. Prior to the course the candidate is required to have their RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence commercially endorsed. Your Professional Practices and Responsibilities certificate (PPR this can be done online) Your original, completed ML5 or ENG1 (for cat 1 or 0 waters) medical fitness form A copy of your RYA Basic Sea Survival certificate or STCW Personal Survival Techniques A copy of your RYA Marine Radio SRC Certificate or other acceptable GMDSS Marine Radio Operator's Certificate. The course is for the experienced skipper with theoretical and practical knowledge well in excess of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. Candidates are required to pass an online Pre-Course Knowledge Check prior to attending the Cruising Instructor course. Access to the online check will be issued with the course Joining Instructions, which will be sent out 6 weeks before the course starts. As with all our courses, onboard food, fuel and marina fees are included in the cost. The course starts on a Monday morning (0900 hrs) and departs from Largs Yacht Haven, Scotland. Candidates are invited to arrive on Sunday evening and familiarize themselves with the yacht.