Advanced or Intermediate?

ch5120 · 20 January 2008, 22:59

Hi, im new to forum but have a newbie interest in RIB's and have RYA Level 2 Powerboat along with some military boat handling experience.
I did my Level 2 with the mil and although along the guidelines of RYA syllabus, the course was actually 4 and half days. This included plotting, navigation by charts and rough weather legs etc. I want to gain further qualification but not sure whether to go straight onto Advanced. Any ideas? Im based in the Poole area of anyone knows good RYA accredited schools.
Thanx

BruceB · 20 January 2008, 23:19

The intermediate (or safety boat) course is mainly aimed at rescue work, mostly sail.
I would go straight to Advanced unless you are involved with sail as it is likely to be of greater utility to normal rib use.

robin · 21 January 2008, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceB

The intermediate (or safety boat) course is mainly aimed at rescue work, mostly sail.
I would go straight to Advanced unless you are involved with sail as it is likely to be of greater utility to normal rib use.

Bruce...unless I have misread what you mean.....

The RYA safety boat course is not an intermediate course between L2 and Advanced.

It has a specific (and very involved and worthwhile) aim, as you rightly point out, mostly at escort and rescue of/racing sail, windsurfers etc. A great course and loads of fun but by no means intermediate.

About 5 years ago, before the RYA scheme was revised, the safety boat course was seen as a progression between L2 and advanced but only because there was nothing else to fill the gap.

The Intermediate course actually fills that gap between L2 and Advanced and covers skills such as passage planning and day cruising without having to cram too much into a 2 day course (as used to happen with the old advanced courses).

L2...........................Aim..to teach Boat handling and seamanship in
powerboats.

No assumed knowledge

Intermediate.............Aim..to teach powerboating up to the standard
required to complete a short coastal passage by day.

Assumed knowledge....Competent to L2 coastal
Recommended VHF and 1st aid certificate

Advanced..................Aim..to teach boat handling, seamanship, pilotage
and navigation up to the standards required to drive
a planing powerboat safely by day and by night in
tidal coastal waters with which the candidate may
be familiar.

Assumed knowledge...competent to intermediate
skills, thorough knowledge of navigation and
chartwork to the level of Day Skipper shorebased.
Required to hold VHF and 1st aid.

ch5120.....Notwithstanding your credentials (I may even have taught you!) I can thoroughly recommend the intermediate course if only to take the strain off before doing your Advanced and it's a great course too.

Regarding good RYA accredited schools in your area.....just Google RYA POWERBOAT SCHOOL POOLE
you will probably get a few hits ...take yer pick.
Alternatively have a gander at the RYA website, there's a few on there too.
All the best.

Cheers
Robin

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 01:00

Thanks for replies. I did my Level 2 at Marchwood. As for other mil boating, on and off, Rigid Raider, Beach Raider and even the good old Mk5 Assault Boat!

robin · 21 January 2008, 01:04

Rigid raider.....damp and emotional?

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 01:09

Yes and Yes.
Not had a go in the new diesel ones, seen them recently but my experience was in the old Suzuki petrol ones.
After a few years break from mil boats i decided to do the RYA Level 2 through the military. Now want to purse more quals.

robin · 21 January 2008, 01:20

Sent you a pm

Chris · 21 January 2008, 10:14

Seeing as your Level 2 covered a lot more that most Level 2 courses would I would go for Advanced. I did my level 2 and am aiming to go for my advanced later this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch5120

Hi, im new to forum but have a newbie interest in RIB's and have RYA Level 2 Powerboat along with some military boat handling experience.
I did my Level 2 with the mil and although along the guidelines of RYA syllabus, the course was actually 4 and half days. This included plotting, navigation by charts and rough weather legs etc. I want to gain further qualification but not sure whether to go straight onto Advanced. Any ideas? Im based in the Poole area of anyone knows good RYA accredited schools.
Thanx

SeaSkills · 21 January 2008, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Seeing as your Level 2 covered a lot more that most Level 2 courses would I would go for Advanced. I did my level 2 and am aiming to go for my advanced later this year.

I'd strongly recommend you discuss this with the Principal or Chief Instructor of whichever RYA training establishment you choose to use. The reason that the Intermediate course was introduced was because the jump from Level 2 to Advanced was too great.

It may well be that your background and experience justifies going straight to Advanced, but don't do it without talking it through with someone who can spend a bit of time talking through the options with you in the light of your present skills level

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 11:17

I have emailed Powerboat Training UK, at Poole, and asked about what i need. The problem is, as always with experience, trying to get the hours in when you dont own a boat. Its all very well having a cabby in a mil one, but unless its your day to day job, the oppurtunity is few and far between. Im trying to get qualified up and then offer my services for weekend work in the civilian sector. Hard i know, due to lack of hours but what i have done mil wise and now doing through civilian accreditation may help some what.

BassBoy · 21 January 2008, 13:03

Hi
I think at last count, there where 27 RYA Recognised Training Centres in and around POOLE! About 5% of them are active and you have emailed one of them. A quick google will quickly bring up some of the others if you need to compare.

I would have to agree with most comments so far. Talk to someone, but sounds to me like the intermediate may be a bit of 'old news'. It very much depends on your fellow candidates and the skill of your instructor as to whether your needs can be met specifically within the syllabus of a course.

Can I suggest that if your budget allows you consider some private tuition. At first glance, pehaps an additional day preceeding an advanced course to look at passage planning and pilotage as this is very much the essence of the intermediate.

Good luck

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 14:05

Cheers for advice, as for costs etc, the military do help out quite a lot on this. If i can persuade the powers that be that the course is beneficial to "further personnal development etc etc" then they will pay up to 80% of the costs or no more than £175 of course fees.
Its the getting them to agree part that is hard. The Level 2 i did as a military course, so that was free apart from the registration with the RYA, but as the military dont go any higher, i have to go to a civilian school to progress.
Like i said ill wait out for a email today, but if any other Schools on here want to contact me ill gladly discuss with them.

scm · 21 January 2008, 16:08

Pm sent
Regards
Stuart

BassBoy · 21 January 2008, 16:32

Just an after thought for you.... Advantages of training in and around poole harbour are that there is a huge area of 'protected water' which , until 31 March is not subject to a speed limit in most parts. This means that (in light of last 3 weeks of shite weather) that an INT/ADV course is much more likely to run even with an evil forecast! Also loads of buoyage, narrow channels, tidal issues, commercial shipping, anchorages and a large municipal marina for the close quarters stuff etc etc.
You can also find a challenging sea sate within the harbour given a stiff W/SWesterly and a spring flood as there is approximately a 2 mile fetch at the widest point. Not uncommon to find 6ft standing waves!

No I don't work for Poole tourism!

(forgot to mention the great pubs and eateries but I guess you know that if you live in that well known suburb of Poole.......... Bournemouth!)

BruceB · 21 January 2008, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by robin

Bruce...unless I have misread what you mean.....

The RYA safety boat course is not an intermediate course between L2 and Advanced.

It has a specific (and very involved and worthwhile) aim, as you rightly point out, mostly at escort and rescue of/racing sail, windsurfers etc. A great course and loads of fun but by no means intermediate.

About 5 years ago, before the RYA scheme was revised, the safety boat course was seen as a progression between L2 and advanced but only because there was nothing else to fill the gap.

Cheers
Robin

When I was an instructor, and that was many moons ago, there was only L1-L4 which then changed to L2, Safety boat and Advanced. The intermediate course you mention must be a new one as I just assumed what was meant was the usual confusion on what a level 3, Safety Boat and what at the time was sometimes called the Intermediate course actually where. You learn something every day, the RYA have even snuck in a new course without me finding out!

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 16:41

I know plenty of eateries and drinking dens. But im getting older so i try to limit it!!
As for weather, was around Studland Bay area last week with RM lads and the weather was pretty poor then, got to 40knots and had to slow it a bit. Im not put off with the bad weather im not like those wet weather bikers who only take there bikes out when its a sunny! I did my Level 2 around Southampton and off to Cowes, and that was busy on some days. Actually on the final assessment, with legs to Cowes from Marchwood was bad weather, especially around the Bramble Buoys.

BassBoy · 21 January 2008, 16:47

Sounds like you had a ball! Was thinking more about the likelyhood of a course being cancelled due to adverse weather. RTC's have risk assements that may preclude them running a course dependant on forecast sea state, wind, viz etc etc
This is arguably less likely to happen in Poole and therefore reduce the anoyance and inconvenience of a short notice cancellation!

BassBoy · 21 January 2008, 16:53

Don't get me started on those 'waterbike', jetski thingies. I think they are now called PWC's ( personal water closets).

In my view (piracy aside).....the only justification to carry a shotgun whilst afloat!

ch5120 · 21 January 2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBoy

Sounds like you had a ball! Was thinking more about the likelyhood of a course being cancelled due to adverse weather. RTC's have risk assements that may preclude them running a course dependant on forecast sea state, wind, viz etc etc
This is arguably less likely to happen in Poole and therefore reduce the anoyance and inconvenience of a short notice cancellation!

Understand, the Instructor we had nearly cancelled the assessment, but due to some lads not being able to come the following day, and the weather was forecasted to get better, we went for it but with another boat coming along. But having as mentioned about last weeks trip, the sea state then was worse than my assessment day, then i was in a Avon Searider, last week i was in a Halmatic Pacific 28....a lot easier!