Irish National Sailing School
National Powerboat Certificate (Level 2) C-23
Who should do this course?
This is the most popular powerboat course we teach. Covering all you need to know to safely operate a powerboat. Suitable for those who have been boating for years and want to brush up on their skills, and for those who are new to boating to learn the correct and safe way to handle a powerboat. This course revises all the material from the introductory course however, previous powerboating experience is required. Participants must be aged 16 years or older. Successful completion of the National Powerboat Certificate allows you to apply for the ‘International Certificate of Competency’ (ICC). The aim of the ICC is to provide boat owners and people wishing to charter boats abroad with an internationally recognised document certifying their competence to skipper a boat for recreational use.Overview
The course runs over two days from 9.30am-5.30pm and covers:
- Learning how to Leave and Come Alongside a Dock.
- Learning the art of picking up a Mooring.
- Anchoring.
- Turning in confined spaces / operating in busy marina areas.
- Recovering a person fallen overboard.
- Rules of the Road.
- Launch and Recovery from a Road Trailer.
- Safety and Planning.
- Tying up to a dock.
- All necessary knots to include Round Turn, Reef Knot and Bowline.
The above is just a taste of the many areas covered on the course. We aim to provide you with the perfect foundation and template in the sport of Powerboating. The course is conducted in a number of different boat types which may include tiller arm Yak boats with 15 horse power engines and RIBs (Rigid inflatable boats) of up to 175 horsepower.
Our cancellation policy for this course can be viewed here.
What to Bring
We provide waterproofs, lifejacket / buoyancy aid and all other safety equipment but it is necessary to bring the following:
Warm layers to wear underneath water proofs.
Grippy footwear that you don't mind getting a splash or two, old runners are ideal.
Suncream and hat!
Woolly Hat (for the colder days)
Change of clothes, you're unlikely to fall in, but better to have them just in case.
Shower Gear - Towel, Shampoo etc - for the same reason.
Packed Lunch
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Amazing! Well worth it and I enjoyed every bit of it! - Firstly, Jess (our instructor) was amazing! I was a bit nervous starting this course as I didn't know what to expect but Jess made it so easy to understand everything and I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! As a result, I'll be booking more courses with them soon.
I think the school is excellent, the structure of the courses are excellent and the instructors are very very good at what they do and I just want to thank Jess and everyone else involved for not only making it an excellent weekend but also giving me an interest in something that I want to stick with for the rest of my life!
If there were 100 stars to choose from instead of just 5, I'd choose 110 ;)
12/09/2022 -
Great sailing school in the tidal waters of Dublin Bay - I have just done the RYA Competent Crew course here, five-days aboard the 36-foot Beaufort Venture under the guidance of instructor Gary Curran. The whole week surpassed my expectations, and I cannot praise Gary's teaching style highly enough. We covered the syllabus with clear, safety-focused instructions, followed by lots of hands-on practice. He was patient when things didn't always go right first time, and challenged us to step up our skills when he thought we were ready. We got lots and lots of sailing in conditions ranging from 10 to 30 knots of wind, and the Beaufort Venture is a comfortable and forgiving boat to sail. I won't name check my wonderful shipmates, but I can say that after this week of instruction and encouragement I've raised my sailing ambitions to a higher level. The INSS under Kenny Rumball are super-well organised, and supported us with all the advice, equipment, clothing and food we needed. A great week, and I strongly recommend the INSS to anyone wanting to start sailing or to build their skills.
01/07/2017 -
Competent Crew Course - Excellent Instructor - Having done a few courses with the INSS over the summer of 2023, and some sailing on the Mediterranean, doing the Competent Crew course with others who were doing the Day Skipper course at the same time was the highlight of my time learning how to sail. The reason it was the highlight was largely due to the course instructor Shona O'Dowd (I made certain to get her full name before leaving to give her the credit she deserved). Huge knowledge and experience mixed with a great attitude, with friendliness, patience and approachability making Shona stand out and make each day of the course something to look forward to regardless of weather or experience level. Shona guided practical use of all facets of sailing knowledge excellently and never micromanaged or tried to exert too much control, thereby never limiting the learning that can take place for students.
This teaching style is difficult to find, having seen a variety of instructors and their styles, in different countries and even within the INSS, and so you will be very lucky if you get Shona on your boat when it comes your turn to learn the ropes (literally). All in all, the Competent Crew course was very enjoyable, and I just wanted to give credit where it was due.
20/08/2023