The Iberian Sea School is an RYA Recognised Motor Cruising & Powerboat School

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Individual Private Tuition in Your Own Boat

Each motor cruiser has a unique personality and each merits sympathetic operation. Even the most talented skippers find their boat handling improves with better technique.

A large boat berthed with ease and grace, and just a dash of panache, is a beautiful sight. Equally, we have all observed the nervous skipper bungling a tricky manoeuvre in high winds or strong tides, and radiating their insecurity by yelling at the crew.

It is amazing the number of owners and skippers stuck on their own in marinas because nobody wants to go to sea with them any more. My goal is to help you to become that marvellous thing, a capable and personable skipper, who manoeuvres a motor cruiser with ease and panache, utterly reliable in a crisis and a pleasure to be at sea with at all times.

I not only offer all the official courses in the Royal Yachting Association syllabus (shown below) but also Marina boat handling is a particular specialty. In just a day, I can transform your ability from ‘just average’ to ‘deeply impressive’. I thoroughly enjoy this work. It is very satisfying to see my clients now able to handle their own boat with confidence and style - in what previously was a difficult berthing situation.

My function is to guide owners and skippers into understanding what is important and what is not. Motor Cruising is fun and it is all about 'style' and 'panache'!! But without proper training a motor cruiser or power boat in the wrong hands can be extremely dangerous, much of my training is about safety as well as driving the boat effectively in a marina and at speed out at sea.

A five day Yachtmaster preparation course on a client's Sunseeker Manhattan 84. For information on Yachtmaster training go to the Yachtmaster Training page.

4 / 5 DAY RYA DAY SKIPPER AND COASTAL SKIPPER COURSES

Engine checks on board a client's Sealine 450

In your boat The first day of a 5 day course will be spent studying theory in my classroom near Vilamoura. The next four days will be spent using your motor cruiser practising marina boat handling, high speed navigation exercises at sea visiting a different marina or harbour everyday. I have a maximum of 3 people on these courses. If you have done an RYA theory course in the last 3 years, you will only need to do the 4 practical days.

In a boat supplied by The Iberian Sea School Which is a Sunseeker Carmargue 44, the first day of a five day course is spent in the school's classroom at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura. The next four practical days involve marina boat handling exercises in Lagos marina, and high speed navigational exercises visiting various other harbours and marinas along the coast. I have a maximum of 3 people on these courses. If you have done an RYA theory course at any time over the last 3 years, then you will only need to do the four practical days of this 5 day course.

THE NEXT 4 / 5 DAY COURSES USING A BOAT SUPPLIED BY THE IBERIAN SEA SCHOOL ON WHICH I HAVE PLACES AVAILABLE IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. October 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th & 31st 2008. 3 spaces available.
2. November 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th &21st 2008. 3 spaces available.

Please note: If you have done an RYA theory course at any time over the last 3 years, then you will only need to do the four practical days of these 5 day courses.

For information on how to book an ICC course go to 'Booking Information' in the main menu (above left).

RYA MOTOR CRUISING COURSES

Helmsman’s Course: Syllabus – Types of Craft - Engines and Drives - Engine Operation and Maintainance - Safety and Seamanship - Rules of the Road - Boat Preparation and Boat Handling - Securing to a Buoy - Berthing Alongside - Man Overboard.

Day Skipper: Syllabus – Preparation for Sea – Boat Handling – Navigation – Pilotage – Passage Making – Meteorology – Rules of the Road – Engines – Emergency Situations – Night Cruising.

Coastal Skipper: Syllabus – Passage Planning – Preparation for Sea – Pilotage – Passage making and ability as Skipper – Radar – Boat Handling – Adverse Weather Conditions – Emergency Situations.

Course Duration: Helmsman’s Course 2 days, Day Skipper 5 days (unless unless an RYA theory course has been completed during the last 3 years in which case 4 days), Coastal Skipper 4 days.

For information on training for RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence please go to the RYA Yachtmaster Training page.

Sunseeker Carmargue 44 similar to the one used by the school

Bob Ball navigating using tradition techniques on board his Sunseeker Manhattan

I recently heard of a skipper of a 60 foot motor cruiser who - while cruising in the eastern Mediterranean - was unable to read his chart plotter positioned on the fly bridge because of very bright sunlight. He had no knowledge of traditional navigation, no charts or pilot books on board and despite having land on either side of him was completely lost. A telephone call to a friend in England did not help him find his position, but eventually a local naval vessel guided him to his destination.

Approximately 16 hours of a five day Day Skipper or ICC course will be spent learning and practising traditional navigation. After which if you should ever for any reason loose your GPS signal you can be certain of having the expertise required to reach your planned destination.

RYA Powerboat Courses

The RYA International Powerboat Scheme exists to meet the needs of those who use small, open powerboats for sport, diving, water skiing, fishing or as a safety vessel for any other water-based activity. The RYA Powerboat scheme is applicable to sportsboats, RIBs, dories, launches and other boats which do not provide accomodation or cooking facilities.

Powerboat courses can either be taken in your own boat, as shown in the photograph to the left or in a Quicksilver 6.3 supplied by the Iberian Sea School as can be seen in the photograph on the ICC page.

There is no lower age limit for powerboat courses, but the RYA would not recommend under 16s being left in charge of a powerboat without adult supervision.

Level 1. A one day course providing a practical introduction to boat handling skills.

Level 2. (Inland) A two day course providing the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent powerboat driver.

Level 2. (Coastal) A three day course covering everything covered by level 2 (inland) plus a day of coastal passage making with a greater emphasis on the practical use of charts, understanding of chart symbols, buoyage systems, practical understanding of tides and tidal streams, use of steering and hand bearing compass, pilotage and passage planning and use of a hand held GPS chart plotter as well as tradition techniques for navigation.
Many Powerboat Schools offer this course over two days in the full knowledge that the majority of people with no previous experience will not complete the syllabus and will have to come back for another half day or day of tuition in order to complete the course.

Powerboat courses on a boat supplied by the Iberian Sea School

The next Power Boat level 2 (Inland) courses on which I have spaces are on:

1. Nov 6th & 7th. There are 2 spaces on this course.

2. Nov 10th & 11th. There are 3 spaces on this course.

The next Power Boat level 2 (coastal) courses on which I have spaces are on:

1. Oct 20th, 21st and 22nd. There are 2 spaces available on this course.

2. November 3rd, 4th & 5th. There are 3 spaces on this course.

I look forward to meeting you on your course, meanwhile if you would like some practise in boat handling and navigation follow this link: www.ribcraft.co.uk/rib-challenge.html and have fun!

For information on how to book a course go to 'Booking Information' on the blue menu (above left).