If you’re new to Motorboating, the RYA Helmsman course is designed to get you spending time at the controls rather than simply watching somebody else handle the boat.
It is a two-day practical Motor Cruising course covering the everyday skills involved in operating a Motorboat, from preparing to leave the berth to low-speed manoeuvring, berthing and handling the boat underway. No previous experience is required, making it a useful starting point for new Motorboat owners, regular crew and anyone who wants more experience at the helm.
So what do you actually do during those two days?
Getting familiar with the Motorboat
Before leaving the berth, you need to know what you are working with.
The course introduces the controls and equipment aboard the training boat, along with the checks made before getting underway. This includes understanding the engine controls, steering and the safety equipment available aboard.
You will also look at practical preparation. Lines and fenders need to be ready, the boat needs to be safe to leave and everyone aboard should understand what is happening before the helm starts manoeuvring.
For someone who has mainly been a passenger or crew member, this is an important change. You begin thinking about the boat from the perspective of the person responsible for operating it.
Learning how the boat responds at low speed
A significant part of practical Motorboat handling happens at relatively low speeds.
During the course, you spend time using ahead, neutral and astern and seeing how the boat responds to the controls. You will practise steering, stopping and turning while beginning to recognise how momentum affects the boat after power has been reduced.
This is where differences between Motorboats become noticeable. Weight, hull shape, propulsion and windage can all influence the response.
The course gives you time to experience those effects rather than simply being told about them. You can make an adjustment, see what happens and repeat the exercise until the relationship between the controls and the movement of the boat becomes clearer.
Coming alongside and leaving a berth
Berthing is an important part of RYA Helmsman because it is something Motorboat owners and crews encounter on almost every trip.
You will practise approaching and leaving alongside berths while considering the available space and the conditions affecting the boat.
Preparation is part of the manoeuvre. That means having fenders in suitable positions, preparing the appropriate lines and making sure the crew know what is expected before the final approach.
You will also begin looking at how wind and tide alter the plan. An approach that works in calm conditions may need adjusting when the wind is pushing the boat towards or away from the pontoon.
The course is an introduction to these skills rather than an expectation that every berth will be mastered in two days. The useful outcome is understanding the process well enough to continue practising it afterwards.
Handling the Motorboat underway
Helmsman is not solely a marina-handling course.
Once underway, you have the opportunity to spend more time at the helm and become familiar with steering the Motorboat at different speeds.
This includes maintaining a course, keeping an effective lookout and making appropriate changes to speed and direction. You also begin to see how the boat behaves differently once it has more way on compared with the slower manoeuvring practised around a marina.
Time underway is particularly valuable for new boaters because it helps make the controls feel more familiar. Instead of concentrating on every movement of the throttle or wheel, you can begin looking further ahead and paying more attention to what is happening around the boat.
Picking up a buoy
Picking up a mooring buoy brings several of the skills together in one exercise.
You need to approach at an appropriate speed, judge where the boat will be when the remaining momentum carries it forwards and position it so the crew can reach the buoy safely.
Wind and tide can change the approach, so this is not simply a case of pointing the bow at the buoy.
It is also a useful crew exercise. The person at the helm needs to know whether the buoy can be reached and communicate with whoever is handling the line or boat hook.
Anchoring
Anchoring introduces another everyday Motor Cruising skill.
During the course, you will look at preparing the anchor and choosing an appropriate place to use it. The exercise also involves positioning the Motorboat, deploying the anchor and checking that it has set.
There is more to anchoring than lowering equipment over the bow. Depth, available space, conditions and what is around you all need consideration before choosing where to stop.
Working with other people aboard
Boat handling becomes considerably easier when everyone knows what they are doing.
Throughout the course, you will practise communicating with other people aboard rather than trying to manage every task from the helm.
That can include preparing fenders, handling lines, keeping a lookout and helping during berthing or buoy work.
Instructions need to be clear enough that the crew know what is required without lengthy explanations halfway through a manoeuvre. It is also important that people know where they should stand and keep clear of ropes under load or gaps between the boat and pontoon.
These are simple habits, but they make a noticeable difference when you start boating with family or friends.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Practical Motorboat training also needs to consider situations that do not go to plan.
The course introduces safety procedures and encourages you to think about what you would do if circumstances changed while underway.
That includes keeping an effective lookout, knowing where safety equipment is located and understanding the importance of dealing with problems before they develop into something more serious.
The intention at Helmsman level is to establish sensible habits alongside the practical handling skills you are developing.
Do you need experience before taking RYA Helmsman?
You do not need previous boating experience to start the RYA Helmsman course.
It can suit somebody who has recently bought a Motorboat, is considering ownership or regularly goes boating with somebody else but wants to take a more active role at the helm.
It can also be useful for existing crew who have picked up experience over time but have never had structured practical instruction.
Because the course is taught afloat, you are applying what you learn immediately. Rather than spending two days studying Motorboat handling in theory, much of the learning comes from actually taking the controls and repeating the practical skills.
What should you expect after the course?
Two days of training will not make somebody experienced in every type of Motorboat or every set of conditions.
What RYA Helmsman provides is a practical starting point.
You should have a better understanding of preparing a Motorboat for departure, using the controls, manoeuvring at low speed, handling the boat underway, coming alongside, leaving a berth, picking up a buoy, anchoring and working with other people aboard.
From there, those skills need using.
If you later move onto your own Motorboat, some things may feel different because its propulsion, weight, controls and visibility will not necessarily match the training boat. That is normal. The principles learned during the course give you something to apply as you become familiar with a different vessel.
For someone taking their first proper steps into Motorboat handling, that is what the RYA Helmsman course is there to provide: time at the helm, practical instruction and a foundation you can continue building on every time you go boating.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the RYA Helmsman course?
The RYA Helmsman course is a two-day practical Motor Cruising course taught afloat, with time at the controls to practise everyday Motorboat handling skills.
Do I need boating experience before taking RYA Helmsman?
No previous boating experience is required. The course is suitable for new Motorboat owners, regular crew and people who want to take a more active role at the helm.
What practical skills does RYA Helmsman cover?
The course covers preparing for departure, using the controls, low-speed manoeuvring, handling the boat underway, coming alongside, leaving a berth, picking up a buoy, anchoring and working with other people aboard.
Will I practise berthing during the course?
Yes. You will practise approaching and leaving alongside berths, preparing lines and fenders, communicating with crew and considering how wind and tide affect the manoeuvre.
Does RYA Helmsman include anchoring and buoy work?
Yes. Anchoring and picking up a mooring buoy bring together boat positioning, speed control, awareness of wind and tide, and communication with the crew.
Will I still need practice after completing RYA Helmsman?
Yes. The course provides a practical foundation, and the skills need continued practice afterwards. A different Motorboat may respond differently because of its propulsion, weight, controls and visibility.