So you want to improve your boat handling skills and seamanship knowledge?
Diver Coxswain and beyond...
This article is for those members of the club wishing to get more involved
in seamanship and boat handling. As divers, we spend a great deal of time
in, on, or about the water. As a diver you can either sit back and let
others organise things, or you can learn the theory and get some practical
experience. Being able to just set off in a RIB and dive what you like
gives you a certain amount of freedom and additional enjoyment.
Where can you learn seamanship?
There are basically two, separate paths available to divers, to learn
seamanship. BSAC and/or RYA (Royal Yachting Association)
BSAC offers a number of courses and exams aimed at the diving powerboat
user. RYA offers a more comprehensive list of courses and exams. Unfortunately
there is little recognition of the BSAC courses by the RYA. But basically
the theory and courses are similar. RYA courses are roughly split into
two main groups. Powerboats being one and yachts/motor boats being the
other. (this is really small boats and large boats that provide accommodation)
BSAC provides a course called the Boat Handling Course. This course is
roughly equivalent to the RYA Level 2 powerboat course. (However there
is NO assessment on the BSAC Boat handling course) The course is normally
run for people that have little or no boat handling experience, over a
weekend, you will learn some basic theory on day 1 and get some practical
instruction on day 2. It does NOT qualify anyone to be in charge of a
“Dive RIB”. It is however a good start to progress towards
the Diver Coxswain Exam.
BSAC also run a course called Chartwork and Posistion fixing. This course
aim is...
To instruct members in the basic techniques of marine navigation to a
level which will help them as active divers in planning and managing dives
undertaken by a typical BSAC Branch.
Diver Coxswain exams are normally run on a Saturday morning at the same
time as a BSAC Boat handling course.
What are the pre-requisites for the Diver Coxswain Exam? Basically the
Boat Handling course and 5+ hours of RIB handling experience. However
it is certainly worth attending the Chartwork course before you go on
the Diver Coxswain assessment. The Diver Coxswain exam is ICC level and
the appropriate theory can be learned by attending an RYA Day Skipper
shorebased theory course.
BSAC Syllubus Sheets
Boat
Handling
Chartwork
and position fixing
Diver
Coxswain Exam
Outboard
& Diesel Engine Maintenance Course
What does the RYA offer?
The RYA offers a number of courses for powerboat. (and yachts/motor boats)
Level 1 powerboat is a basic 1 day course and allows you to drive a RIB
under supervision.
Level 2 powerboat is the 2 day course, taking trainees to the level that
will permit them to run a RIB un supervised. (RYA normally provide an
assessment) You will normally be qualified to obtain an ICC after the
level 2. However this RYA qualification contains no diving skills.
Intermediate powerboat teaches practical use of pilotage and passage planning
by day on coastal waters using both traditional and electronic navigation
techniques.
Advanced powerboat course contains pilotage, navigation and boat handling
techniques for planning boats on coastal waters by day and by night.
RYA also run an Advance Powerboat Exam for those individuals with 800
practical RIB driving miles of experience.
The RYA in addition, offers a number of courses aimed at yacht and motorboat
cruising. There are some basic practical courses that are of little interest
to the RIB driver, however RYA offers an excellent course called the Day
Skipper. Day Skipper starts with shorebased theory. The theory is normally
run on a night school basis from September to March with a paper exam
in March. To get the Day Skipper award you then have to attend a week
long practical course. Quite a few divers in the club have attained RYA
Day Skipper standard.
The next level about Day Skipper is Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster offshore.
The Theory required for these grades is Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster
shorebased course. Again this is run on a night school basis from September
to March. The normal prerequisite is the Day Skipper Theory.
The Coastal Skipper RYA grade is normally awarded to people that have
800 practical yacht sailing miles and pass the RYA Coastal Skipper practical
Exam. The Yachtmaster RYA grade is normally awarded to people that have
2500 practical yacht sailing miles and pass the RYA Yachtmaster practical
exam.
What can you do?
Firstly if you intend to aim for Diver Coxswain exam and hence YSAC club
coxswain, then you should keep a log of all times when you get a chance
to drive a RIB. RYA booklet G20 will do this.
Next step is to go on the BSAC Boat Handling course. This gives a good
introduction to boat handling. Another course that contains valuable theory
is the BSAC Chartwork and position fixing course. This is a 2 day course
run over a weekend. We will hopefully be running this course early next
year.
Consolidate your experience. Try and get involved with the club RIB. Try
and put your self on the dive list as an Assistant Coxswain.
When you have more than 5 hours driving experience, you can apply for
the BSAC Diver Coxswain Exam.
The RYA Day Skipper shorebased theory course offers approx 40+ hours of
tuition to the ICC level that is also the required “level”
for the Diver Coxswain Exam. This course is run locally in York by the
YCTC (York Cruiser Training Centre). It is run on Tuesday or Thursday
nights at the rail way Institute. If you are interested in Navigation
then this night school course is well worth doing before you attempt Diver
Coxswain.
Check
the comparison chart between BSAC and RYA courses -------->
YCTC sign on nights are Tuesday 2nd September or Thursday 4th September
2008
Also check out the YCTC website for info on evening classes.
http://www.yctc.co.uk/
Or the RYA
Information on Solos V
https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/index.html
Some other interesting sites are...
http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/home.html
Charlotte driving the club boat under the observation of Ian Salmons.
