RYA Personal Water Craft

This one day course aims to provide a sound introduction to the skills needed ashore and afloat for the safe use of your Personal Water Craft. A Personal Water Craft is more commonly known as a Jet Ski and is best described as a boat powered by a water jet but with an enclosed hull.

We run this course to demand, please call us to arrange a Personal Water Craft course.

Minimum age: 16

What's included?

• You will be coached over the full RYA course syllabus.
• Parking – available at Suffolk Yacht Harbour
• All mooring fees, safety equipment and tuition from one of our experienced RYA instructors.

Maximum teaching ratio - 2:1 

Course language - English

Standard course - £295.00pp 

One day course commencing at 0930 hours, you can find upcoming dates at the bottom of the page. 

Private course (EASS Ski) – £515.00

One day course commencing at 0930 hours, on dates to suit. 2 students maximum 

Private course (Own Ski) - £405.00 

One day course commencing at 0930 hours, on dates to suit. Bring your ski to our base, or we can come to you (travel charges will apply). 2 students per ski maximum.

RYA Personal Water Craft Certificate.

Holders of this certificate will be able to obtain the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) - this is a certificate which is intended to provide evidence of competence when requested by officials in foreign countries. You will often be required to show this when chartering vessels abroad.

Under 16's: the license will be issued with an endorsement and does not qualify the candidate for an ICC 

Introduction

Knowledge of

• Types of PW

Understands

• Layout of a PW; controls, propulsion and steering system; fuel and oil; stowage compartments.
• Personal equipment; wet/drysuit; personal buoyancy; foot and eye protection
• Essential PW gear – uses and stowage
• Pre-departure checks
• Pre-launch checks
• Essential safety information; killcord; safe speed; local hazards

Weather, safety & courtesy of others

Knowledge of

• Sources and significance of weather forecasts
• Avoiding pollution; disturbance; damage to wildlife and wildlife habitats

Understands

• Interpreting a relevant forecast
• Courtesy to other water uses
• Lee and weather shores

Launching & Familiarisation

Knowledge of  

• Balance and trim

Understands

• Launching from a trailer
• Anchoring
• Storing a securing a trailer

Can

• Demonstrate the correct use of a killcord at all times
• Board a PW in shallow waters and start the engine
• Control a PW at slow speed using all the available gears and controls.

PW Handling

Can

• Demonstrate a practical understanding of stopping distances
• Come alongside another craft, pontoon or floating dock
• Approach and recover a man overboard
• Control and corner a PW at planning speed
• Complete a slalom exercise
• Maintain a good lookout at all times

Emergencies

Understands

• How to right a capsized PW

Can

• Set up a tow using bowline and round turn & 2 half hitch
• Tow another PW or craft
• Rebound a PW from deep water

 Rules of the road

Knowledge of

• Sounds signals

Understands

• Lookout
• Safe speed
• Priorities between different classes of vessel
• Head-on, overtaking and crossing rules
• Local byelaws; sped limits; prohibited areas

Can

• Demonstrate practical application of the rules of the rule

 Essential Navigation

Knowledge of

• Charts – representation of land, shallows, deep water, hazards, direction and distance
• Buoyage
• Tides and tidal streams

Understands

• How to interpret tidal information

Can

• Follow a planned route, identifying buoys and landmarks (coastal only)
• Use compass to aid navigation

Recovery & Aftercare

Knowledge of

• Aftercare and basic maintenance

Understands

• How to recover a PW from the water
• How to prepare PW and associated gear for trailing