CQBHA Free Training for Members

In association with Powerboat Training UK*, CQBHA are pleased to be able to offer our members two free training sessions to help support one of our key strategies, promoting safety and skills in boating.
There are two training sessions that are available and you can attend one or both of them.    

Module 1, Introduction to Safety and Navigation

This 2 ½ hour session will cover a broad range of subjects and will allow plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion on areas that interest you. The session is suited to all boaters whether owning a large motor cruiser, a mid-sized yacht or a small RIB. As a guide we would intend covering the following:

Lifejackets – We show you exactly how a lifejacket inflates (one of you will be wearing it as we fire it!) and we’ll look at repacking and general service and maintenance.
Flares – how and when to use them. There are a variety of flares available so we will look at the various types and discuss what is best suited to your boat.
VHF – a quick session on distress techniques and the general use of the radio and which channels to monitor and use.
Charts & tides – We will look at charts and look at how they can be used to make short trips even easier and more fun. In respect of tides we’ll keep it simple and ensure you are happy with what information you need, how to use it and how tidal information is used together with a chart.
Buoyage & Planning – There will be time for a look at the buoyage you see around the Harbour and elsewhere and we’ll look to link this to a discussion on planning to look at how you use this sort of information to help you find your way around the harbour and into those areas you want to go but haven’t dared yet.

Module 2, Pilotage and Passage Planning

Another 2 ½ hour session that either suits those with a bit more experience or those that have completed Module 1.  The aim of this module is to look at the subject of pilotage and passage planning in the context of the sort of trips that we tend to do from Cobbs Quay. For example what sort of planning do we need to do to get to MDL Port Hamble Marina in the Hamble if we haven’t been there before?  As your primary means of navigation will tend to be using electronic systems we’ll ensure that we look carefully at these in conjunction with the use of paper type charts. 

The areas that we intend covering include:

Passage Planning – A brief discussion on what a good passage plan contains, what are the legal requirements and what we recommend for a range of passages.
Pilotage – a comparison of pilotage versus passage planning and a look at a range of techniques for pilotage and open water navigation.
Position fixing – We’ll look at a variety of techniques for knowing where you are as this links neatly to passage planning. We’ll even have some clever techniques to show you that you may not have seen before!
Radar and depth – We’ll briefly touch on these techniques as aids to navigation and give you a flavor of how they can be used cleverly.
We’ll also ensure there is plenty of time for discussion and the sharing of ideas and techniques.

For further information, to check course dates or to book please contact Ian in The Quay Shop.

*Powerboat Training UK have been based at Cobbs Quay for over 8 years and have a broad range of boating experience from very small powerboats and sailing dinghies to large super yachts. Their approach when running these sessions is to run a fun and informative session where no one feels any pressure to perform and everyone can contribute as much or as little as they want. Please note that neither course is certificated and whilst run by RYA Instructors are not RYA courses.