Boat Training
If you are using your boat for leisure you don’t have to be
trained, but like many sports and leisure activities, it’s more
enjoyable when you know what you’re doing.
And if you are thinking of taking other people with you then
they’ll probably feel better knowing you’ve had some training.
What boat training is available?
All around the UK there are outdoor and training centres that
offer taster and short courses for a wide variety of water
sports such as canoeing, windsurfing, rowing, water skiing,
dinghy sailing with recognised training programmes.
These are run by the various sports governing bodies;
British Canoe Union (BCU),
British Rowing, British
Waterski and Wakeboard and the RYA.
Virtually every water sports/activity
centre or club offers a basic level training course in your chosen
water sport. For bigger boating activities there are training
schools all around the UK, offering a wide variety of courses,
basic and advanced. The Marine Leisure
Association offers more information and details on their
training school members. If you fancy learning in the sun there are
recognised centres in nice warm climates too such as Sunsail and
Neilson
If you can’t get to a training centre or school, the
experts can usually come to you. More and more people are opting
for one to one tuition or own boat training.
How much does boat training cost?
Like all outdoor activities the prices change depending on the
season (boating season tends to be April – September) but look
out for special offers outside of the of season.
Here is a snap shot of some typical courses
prices:
British Canoe Union 1 Star course - basic “learning to
paddle” in the region of £65 for day’s course
Intermediate Windsurfing around £200 for a residential two day
course
Advanced Dinghy sailing - performance weekend from
£145.00
RYA Competent Crew - the starter course for yachts and
motor yachts, costs in the region of £300 in the UK and around £450
for an overseas course
Power boat level 1 - for those new to power boating, costs
in the region of £200
Ladies only sailing week – chance to gain competent crew or Day
Skipper qualifications, around £350 for five days
One to one tuition on your own boat - costs in the region
of £150 per day
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Once you have mastered the basics, why not invest in your own
equipment?
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All the companies contained in the directories above
are BMF members - why is this
important?