Sea Survival

See our current news page for an account of our last sea survival course!

A one-day course for anyone going to sea, providing an understanding of how to use the safety equipment on board your boat. A genuine lifesaver.

Cruising is one of the safest leisure sporting activities, and 99.9% of those afloat will never use their liferaft. However, if you are part of the unlucky 0.1% your chances of survival will be greatly increased if you understand how to use the equipment and how to help yourself.

It is a well-proven fact that, in the event of an emergency at sea, people with training are more likely to survive.
An important part of the course is a practical session in a swimming pool. Experience first hand the problems of entering an uncooperative liferaft and assisting others while fully kitted out in wet weather gear and a lifejacket.

Course topics include:

• liferafts and the equipment they contain
• survival techniques 
• the design of lifejackets 
• medical aspects of sea survival 
• search and rescue techniques

Diesel Engine

A one-day beginners’ course to help you prevent and solve diesel engine failure.

Mechanical failure is the main cause of rescue call-outs to cruisers. Basic maintenance and engine care will help ensure that you are not part of this statistic. Most engine problems can be avoided by taking simple precautions, and you don’t need a detailed mechanical knowledge.

This course teaches you how your engine works, how to keep it healthy by using basic checks and maintenance procedures, and how to get it started again in the event of a breakdown.
Whether you sail a yacht with an auxiliary diesel engine or are a motor cruising enthusiast, this course could not just save you money, but one day could save your life.

Course topics include:

• the principles of diesel engine operation
• the systems and parts of the engine 
• fault finding 
• rectification of common problems 
• bleeding the fuel system 
• changing the impeller 
• routine maintenance 
• winter lay up procedures

Marine Radio (SRC)

A one-day course for anyone who owns a fixed or hand-held marine VHF radio. The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any British vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio.

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.

All new VHF sets are either fitted, or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels. If you hold the ‘old’ VHF licence (pre-1999) you need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase new equipment. This can be done by attending this one-day course or, if no tuition is required, you can enter for direct examination.

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 telephone calls 
• Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators 
• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) 
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) 
• Search and Rescue (SART)

The course will be taught using radio simulators and will be examined by a short written test.


Radar

A one-day course giving you an understanding of radar as an aid to navigation and collision avoidance.

Cruising boats increasingly have radar on board. The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea state that if you have a radar, you must know how to use it.
Radar is probably the most versatile of all electronic navigation aids, but the best results are only obtained when you know how to use all the functions correctly. It is not an all seeing eye, and can easily mislead those who do not understand its controls, allow for its limitations, or interpret its picture.

Course topics include:

• how the radar set works
• how its adjustments and features affect the way it works 
• target definition 
• radar reflectors 
• types of radar display 
• radar plotting 
• the use of radar in navigation and collision avoidance