RYA Personal Water Craft Course Syllabus

The following programme covers the subjects and skills taught, ashore and afloat, during the course. The programme is set out in the order in which it will usually be taught but local conditions or the weather on the day of the course may require a different teaching order.

INTRODUCTION - ASHORE

Layout of a PW controls propulsion and steering system. Fuel and Oil. Stowage compartment.

Personal equipment wet suit/dry suit, personal buoyancy, head and eye protection.

Checks on PW prior to launching.

Essential safety information. Kill cord, safe speed, local hazards.

LAUNCHING AND FAMILIARISATION - AFLOAT

Launching from trailer, board in shallow water and start engine.

Control at slow speed. Balance and trim.

Falling off and re-boarding. Capsize and righting.

Control at speed. Stopping distances.

COLLISION AVOIDANCE - ASHORE

Rule of the road applied to PWs, including:

Lookout.

Safe speed.

Priorities between different classes of vessel.

Overtaking, crossing and end-on approach rules.

Local rules speed limits and prohibited areas.

ORIENTATION AT SEA - ASHORE

Charts scales, direction and distance. Representation of land, shallows and deep water.

Buoys, lateral and cardinal, avoiding shipping channels, special buoyed areas for water-skiing etc., tides, high and low water and tidal streams.

ORIENTATION - AFLOAT

Following a planned route, identifying buoys and marks.

COLLISION AVOIDANCE - AFLOAT

Recognising potential collision situations and taking correct avoiding action.

PW CONTROL AT SPEED - AFLOAT

Slalom exercise.

EMERGENCIES - AFLOAT

Towing a disabled PW knots bowline and round turn and two half hitches.

On completion of this practical exercise, recover PW from water and prepare for trailing and storage.

WEATHER, SAFETY, COURTESY TO OTHER WATER USERS - ASHORE

Sources of significance of weather forecasts.

Lee and weather shores.

Safety and emergency equipment.

Courtesy to other water users and avoiding pollution.

Avoiding disturbance and damage to wildlife habitats.