Sign up now for RYA Discover Sailing (was PTBO) 2020

The RYA has renamed its excellent annual Push The Boat Out campaign to “Discover Sailing” even though it encompasses all kinds of boating. To encourage newcomers into boating, the RYA puts a lot of resources into supporting clubs’ Open Days. To benefit from the RYA’s marketing support, your club must sign up by 7 February (midday) for April and May taster sessions, and by 27 April (midday) for June to September sessions.

The Discover Sailing activator sign up page can be found at www.rya.org.uk/go/discoversailing The form will take you through the process of both ordering your resources and filling in your details for the Discover Sailing Map. For further information please contact discoversailing@rya.org.uk .

You may also wish to attend a webinar on Thursday 23 January at 1900, which will give you insights into planning and running a successful event and will pull together our collective knowledge from running different types of open day events over the last six years. Members of the RDO team will be on hand to give us their thoughts and experience on what makes a successful event. To sign up for the webinar, follow https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1815800976546211587. If you are unable to attend please register anyway as a recording will then be sent to you.

Last MYC Powerboat Course of 2019

Medway YC are organising their last Powerboat Course of the year on 5 and 6 December. The RYA Powerboat Level 2 course covers the theory and practical skills needed to be a competent powerboat driver. Focusing on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed and collision regulations. This course is governed by the Royal Yachting Association, who sets the syllabus for the Level 2 powerboat course. This course will also allow you to apply for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) should you wish to go boating abroad. If you are interested contact Inti Guaschino at training@medwayyachtclub.com or come to Medway Yacht Club’s Office.

RYA Affiliated Clubs Conference, Maidstone, 24 Nov 2019

It’s not too late to register for this excellent conference, free to representatives of local RYA affiliated clubs. The day is a fantastic opportunity for you to meet and network with other clubs, share ideas and success stories and discuss the current issues that are having an impact, both in clubs and the sport more widely. Places for this conference are free with lunch and refreshments provided at no cost. Due to limited capacity pre-booking is essential, so get in early to avoid disappointment. This year’s conferences are about ‘Putting people first’. That means understanding what your members, volunteers and new sailors need, and putting that at the forefront of your decision making. Whether you want to grow your membership, increase your volunteer base, develop your instructors and race coaches or simply get better at retaining members of all ages, interests and abilities, you will leave with the ideas and information you need to make it happen.

To find out more and register click here.

New RYA training dates at Medway YC

Inti, the new training manager at Medway Yacht Club, invites members of RYA/MSBA affiliated clubs to MYC training events at the special members’ rates. Here are the dates for for October and November 2019:

RYA POWERBOAT LEVEL 2 COURSE: 17/18 OCTOBER, 31/1 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 14/15 NOVEMBER, 21/22 NOVEMBER

RYA SAFETY BOAT COURSE:  24/25 OCTOBER, 7/8 NOVEMBER

FIRST AID COURSE: 16 OCTOBER, 11 NOVEMBER 

More info here: http://www.medwayyachtclub.com/training/formal-training

RYA Training at Medway YC

Inti Guaschino, the new training manager at MYC, is offering the following courses. Members of MSBA/RYA affiliated clubs are eligible for MYC member rate.

 RYA Powerboat Level 2: 
29 & 30 August 
5 & 6 September
19 & 20 September (1 space left) 
26 & 27 September

RYA Safety Boat:
12 & 13 September
25 & 26 September (1 space left)

First Aid Course: 
17 September 

For further information visit MYC webpage 

RYA Powerboat Training at Medway YC

Medway Yacht Club will be running RYA Powerboat Training sessions on Thursdays and Fridays, 9.00 to 16.00. The price for the Powerboat Level 2 will be £120 for members (including members of local MSBA/RYA affiliated clubs) and £185 for non members. The first RYA Powerboat Level 2 course will be available on 18 and 19 July. If anyone is interested please book a place at training@medwayyachtclub.com at least a couple of days before the date. Or you can come into the office and Inti, the new senior instuctor, will sign you up. The Powerboat Level 2 will be run on a regular basis and Inti will endeavour to keep the course open every Thursday and Wednesday. The maximum number of places is 3 but 1-to-1 sessions are available. The first RYA Safety Boat course will be on the 15 and 16 August with the same ratio as Powerboat Level 2, from 9.00 to 16.00 and the price will be £100.

MCA yacht and powerboat safety consultation

The MCA wants to hear recreational boaters’ views on six draft Marine Guidance Notes (MGN) concerning guidance on boat safety over the next few weeks. The six notices cover guidance on keel groundings, rigging inspections, preparedness, stowage of life saving gear, vessel resilience and emergency procedures, and maintenance, modifications, damage and repairs. They are aimed at both small commercial vessels as well as pleasure boats. The MCA states that it wishes to reinforce to owners, managing agents and skippers of both commercial and pleasure vessels what it considers good practice in terms of safety when going out to sea.

Boaters’ views are sought in the following areas:
1. Whether the draft notes contain guidance that is realistic to carry out in practice;
2. What other costs and benefits there might be that haven’t been included in the de minimis assessment; 
3. If there is the right level of content in each MGN. 

Full details on the draft MGNs and how to give your views can be found on the government website. A full list of consultation questions is contained in Section 5 of this consultation. The consultation closes on Thursday 18th July 2019 and the RYA encourages all boaters to respond.