International Certificate of Competence Sailing, Power Boating & Motor Cruising Courses

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the ICC syllabus & details of the ICC test

It is now necessary for British owners of Yachts, Motor Cruisers, Power Boats and Jet Skiis in Portugal & Spain to have a licence to operate their vessel. Marine Police in both countries are fining owners who do not have such a licence. The Iberian Sea School is authorised by the RYA to issue International Certificates of Competence for skippering Yachts, Motor Cruisers and Power Boats.

For people who intend to skipper vessels of less than 10 metres and with just one engine I offer a three day course, the first day of which is spent studying theory in my classroom at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura and the next two days practical boat handling and navigation at sea. There will be a test towards the end of the third day. If you have completed an RYA theory course in the last 3 years then it is only necessary to do the 2 practical days of this 3 day course.

For people who wish to do the course in their own boat of less than 10 metres but with two engines I recommend a five day course as described in the next paragraph for boats of more than 10 metres. If you have completed an RYA theory course in the last 3 years then it is only necessary to do the 4 practical days of this 5 day course.

For people intending to skipper a motor cruiser of more than 10 metres and up to 24 metres in length I offer a five day course, the first day of which is spent studying theory in my classroom at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura and the next four days practical boat handling in a marina and navigation at sea. If you have completed an RYA theory course in the last 3 years then it is only necessary to do the 4 practical days of this 5 day course.

For people who intend to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres in length I suggest an assessment to determine how many days of tuition a client will need to reach ICC level.

If someone only wants to be tested and they do not require tuition, the exam will take half a day. In addition to my fee for conducting the test there is an RYA test fee of £39 which can be paid by credit card or by cheque made out to 'The Royal Yachting Association'. It is also necessary for candidates to supply a passport size photograph.

Courses can be taken either on your own boat, or on a vessel supplied by The Iberian Sea School.

For four / five day courses on which I have a maximum of three people I use a Sunseeker Carmargue 44 based at Lagos Marina. For pictures of a similar boat and more information about the courses go to my 'RYA Motor Cruising and Power Boating' page.

For two / three day courses on which I have a maximum of three people I use a Quicksilver Commander 6.30 with a Mariner 150 HP outboard based at Lagos Marina. A similar boat is shown below. This course covers marina boat handling, safety, man overboard, high speed exercises at sea, navigation at sea using both traditional navigation techniques as well the use of a handheld GPS chart plotter.

Quicksilver Commander 6.30

I have spaces available on the following courses on boats supplied by the ISS:

5/4 day courses:

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

For a course on your own boat please email or telephone me to find out my availability.

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

I am also available for ICC instruction and testing in your own boat

Below are some examples of courses that I have done with clients in their own boats

A 5 day ICC course on a Motor Cruiser of more than 10 metres with a client and his son on their own boat at Torrevieja in Spain.

In the photographs to the left we were practising lassooing a bollard on the quay, then motoring very slowly astern to tighten the rope, then with the starboard engine still in slow astern swinging the boat on to the quay where came to rest alongside the quay. This extremely useful technique should not be attempted without having had instruction.

A 5 day ICC course on a brand new Sunseeker Manhattan 50 from Vilamoura Marina in April 2007 with Michael and Catherine Guerin.



This was a very enjoyable week with Michael and Catherine Guerin in their new boat. The first day consisted entirely of theory in my classroom at Olhos de Agua. The next day we spent the day in Vilamoura Marina practising berthing the boat, driving her astern (backwards) and turning around in a confined space. The third day we did a passage to Ria Formosa (15 miles to the east of Vilamoura) and were joined by Clair, Emma and Sarah who can be seen in the photograph to the right assisting with our pilotage up to Olhão and Faro. Michael's mother and father Mary and John were also on board for this day, but were below in the salooon during our pilotage. We had an excellent lunch of sandwiches whilst at anchor off Ilha Deserta and then returned to Vilamoura. On the fourth day we did more marina boat handling plus a passage down to Albufeira and back and finally on the fifth day a passage down to Portimão with some pilotage up to the town and then back to Vilamoura. Following an excellent Italian lunch in a restaurant in the marina, we completed the course with some intensive marina boat handling exercises the last one of which involved dropping me off on a pontoon so that I could take photographs and then returning to pick me up, as can be seen in the photograph above.

Since completing the course I have received an email from Michael in which he wrote "We really enjoyed the course and look forward to improving our skills over the summer months. Thank you for giving us such a great start and helping to build the confidence which should lead to many happy and safe hours cruising on the Algarve."

A 3 day ICC course in a Power Boat of less than 10 metres with a couple on their own boat in Vilamoura Marina

Using exactly the same technique as the much larger boat in the photographs above. However this boat has only one engine with a stern drive so to bring it alongside a different system is used which involves having thrown a loop of rope round the cleat on the pontoon and motoring very gently backwards to get it tight (exactly as with the larger boat above) and then (this is the different part) turning the wheel whilst still in astern towards the pontoon and the stern drive will pull the boat alongside. The engine should not be put into neutral until a stern line as been secured to a cleat on the pontoon. Again you will see five fenders ranged down the side of the boat to prevent any damage as the boat comes alongside the pontoon. Each of those fenders probably cost about 30 euros making a total investment of 150 euros which is less than a professional gel coat repair to a scratch about 18" long!

As can be seen from the photographs below taken in the Guadiana river we had lots of fun and had an excellent lunch at a restaurant at Foz de Odeleite (approximately 18 km from the sea) where we tied up their boat to a pontoon just 100 yards from the restaurant. That week in March 2007 being the equinox period there were the biggest tides of the year and so berthing in a very fast moving tide was extremely challenging!

A three day course with Lee Sheldon from Vilamoura Marina in April 2007 in his beautifull Chris Craft Corsair 28 in April 2007

Following a day of theory in my classroom we had almost a full day of boat handling exercises in Vilamoura Marina the second day, the third day we went to Portimão where we anchored and had some excellent sandwiches for lunch, then a fast trip back to Vilamoura. In the photograph below to the left we were just picking up speed as we left Vilamoura with Lee driving and Sam and Amelia acting as crew. Below right a photograph that I took just after our return to Vilamoura when we joined by Davina, Zak & Lilli.

 

A reference from John & Julia Bramah who did a 3 day ICC course in 2006

Dedicated to Martin Northey

It seems that many people
Have a dream to which they cling…
That one day they’ll own a cruiser,
…..‘cept they can’t drive the bloody thing!

So we bought this shiny Cranchi.
With its gleaming chrome and leather.
And we filled it up with diesel,
And waited for good weather.

So then you seek an expert.
One who knows each trick and rule.
And one name, it kept recurring….
The Iberian Sea School!

He starts you in the classroom.
With a load of stuff to do.
Are tides “neaps” or “springs” you wonder,
And is that compass bearing true?

There are bowlines, there are bowsprings,
There’s a cleat, and clove hitch too.
There are flares and there are fenders,
There are flags of white and blue!

There are buoys and there are black balls.
There is anchor chain and rope.
And there’s how to check position…..
it’s all now within our scope!

And whilst much of it’s important,
And there is merit to each bit,
With his humour and his patience,
He makes sense of all of it.

Our first turns amongst the moorings,
Were not in whole devoid of fear!
And we had to learn quite quickly,
When we’re “in” or “out” of gear!

And I guess like many couples,
I was cocky , she was scared!
But it took her just an hour,
To do spins I’d not have dared!

And at times we lacked in judgement,
And got our knickers in a tizz,
But despite his swift instructions,
He still claimed the fault was his!

I’m not sure about my colleagues,
Who say “a bigger boat’s the game”.
‘Cos the diesel pump attendant,
Already uses my first name!

So now we’re proud and confident,
To use the expertise he gave.
And we can join the scores of boaters,
Who all greet him with a wave!

John & Julia, Bumbelady, Albufeira, June 2006.

John & Julia having lunch at the restaurant at Boca do Rio during their course on their own boat

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International Certificate of Competence - Syllabus

Regulations

Should know responsibility for keeping a proper lookout.
Should be able to determine a 'safe speed'.
Can recognise a potential collision situation.
Can identify 'give way' vessel in a collision situation.
Should know what action to take as 'give way' and 'stand on' vessel.
Should know responsibility for a small vessel in a narrow channel.
Can recognise manoeuvring signals (1,2,3 & 5 short blasts).
Can make and recognise visual distress signals.
Should know rules relating to Traffic Separation Schemes.
Knows requirements for navigation lights and shapes to be displayed by own vessel.
Should be able to recognise the following from lights : - Power driven vessel, sailing vessel, vessel at anchor, tug and tow, fishing vessel, dredger.
Should know sound signals to be made by vessels.
Safety

Is able to use and instruct crew in the use of Lifejackets, Distress Flares, and Fire Extinguishers.
Can prepare a boat for use and take sensible precautions before setting out, including : - Engine checks, check fuel for range / duration of the trip, obtain a weather forecast.
Pilotage

Can recognise, by day and night, and understand significance of buoys of the IALA system.
Knows sources of information on : - local regulations, port entry and departure signals, VTS and Port Operations Radio.
Can plan a harbour entry / departure, taking into account possible presence of large vessels and avoiding navigational hazards.
Navigation (Chart & Plotting Instruments required).

Should be able to interpret a navigational chart, understand significance of charted depths, drying heights and can identify charted hazards.
Can plot by cross bearings and by Lat / Long.
Can determine a magnetic course to steer, making allowances for leeway and tidal stream.
Can use a tide table to find times and heights of high and low water at a standard port.
Can determine direction and rate of tidal stream from a tidal stream atlas or tidal diamonds on chart.

International Certificate of Competence - Test

Bob & Gloria Ball on their Sunseeker Manhattan clearly enjoying their ICC test off Vilamoura

CANDIDATES WILL BE TESTED ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE NAVIGATION, PILOTAGE, SAFETY & COLLISION REGULATIONS AS SHOWN IN THE SYLLABUS ABOVE AND ON ALL THE MORE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SEAMANSHIP COVERED AS FOLLOWS BELOW.

Give safety briefing including use of safety equipment.
Should have listened to weather forecast.
Should carry out pre start engine checks.
Start engine.
Check cooling.
Should know fuel range
Depart from Pontoon
Should understand use of Springs to depart from lee wall / pontoon.
Should have good communication with crew.
Fenders should be positioned correctly
Should be able to carry out 360º turn under engine in a confined space.

Securing to a buoy

Communicate effectively with the crew, prepare warps, choose correct angle of approach, control speed of approach, secure boat effectively, and depart from mooring safely.

Man Overboard under power and sail.

Observe man overboard or instruct crew to do so, demonstrate correct direction and speed of approach, and make suitable contact with MOB.

Handling under Sail

Sail triangular course with one leg to windward, choose suitable area for hoisting and lowering of sails, use sails suitable for prevailing conditions, show awareness of wind directions, trim sails correctly on each point of sailing, warn crew before manoeuvres, look round before tacking and gybing, control sails during tacking and gybing.

Coming alongside pontoon.

Effective communication with crew, show awareness of other water users, prepare warps & fenders, choose correct angle of approach, control speed of approach, stop boat in place required and secure to pontoon, stop engine.

 

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It is recommended that if candidates are not completely familiar with all of the above syllabus that they purchase 'The Skipper's Pocketbook by Basil Mosenthal and published by Fernhurst Books, it is also available from Amazon and Windward Marine. This one I strongly recommend as a book that will always be useful as it has in it everything you need to know all the way up to and including Yachtmaster standard. It should be available at any chandlery in Britain. Alternatively you can buy it through Amazon, or Windward Marine Ltd. Web Site: www.windward-marine.com Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by telephone on 0845 1300710 or by fax on 0845 1300720. I can supply copies of this publication at 20 euros each.

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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!

 

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