Want to learn to drive a powerboat? – we have a course for you!
"A powerboat is any open craft driven by power" This includes anything from a small outboard tender through open displacement craft to high powered, high speed planing craft. Every day the number of people driving powerboats increases. Uses range from professional through various leisure uses to using powerboats for teaching purposes.
Powerboating as an activity has become much more popular and at SailCork we pioneered structured courses to teach complete beginners, powerboat owners, instructors, club safety boat drivers, rescue services and commercial users- whatever you do in powerboating we have a course for you!!
The team of powerboat instructors is led by Eddie English who established Ireland’s first powerboat training centre at SailCork where we have been training powerboaters of all levels and powerboat instructors since 1991. SailCork is the only year round, full time professionally run powerboat school in Cork.
"Expert training by full time professionals" Obviously powered craft can be dangerous because of the high power available and safety and seamanship are of utmost importance. SailCork has developed a professional teaching programme to help powerboat users to advance quickly in total safety. Our aim is to provide safe, enjoyable tuition afloat and ashore.
National Powerboat Scheme
The National Powerboat Scheme will allow you to learn and develop your skills from absolute beginner to expert, in the type of powered craft that you want to drive. The syllabus of the National Powerboat Scheme is followed but a programme can be built to suit any powerboat needs. All courses as described below are recognised by the ISA and certified.
Taste of Powerboating If you are stuck for time or just want to get out with friends or family for a "blast", try a ride on a fast exhilerating speedboat. Session is 2 hours. See the Harbour from the sea.
Introduction to Powerboating:
The aim of this course is to provide a course in Powerboating for beginners. This includes training on how to crew a boat as well as covering basic driving (helming) skills.
National Powerboat Course:
By the end of this two day course the successful participant will be capable of helming without supervision in good conditions and familiar waters. Both of the Introduction to Powerboating and the National Powerboat Course are usually taken together as a two day course.
Safety Boat Course:
By the end of this course, the successful candidate will have a wide range of boat handling techniques and experience in the provision of safety cover for sailing and boating events.
Recreational Powerboat Course (Intermediate Course):
This is an improver course for those who have Level 2 and who want to drive a boat better and safer as well as navigation by day. Course also helps boat owners to make the best use of their own boat.
Advanced Powerboat Course
By the end of this course, the successful participant will have a sound introduction to using fast open boats at sea- by day and night. Participants must have their National Powerboat Cert and have logged plenty of driving experience. As this course included a large amount of high speed navigation by day and night candidated must have completed a navigation course.
Full Details of Syllabus and times for each course- click here.
Click to see POWERBOAT INSTRUCTOR COURSES
All courses at SailCork use a variety of powered craft – both planing and displacement. Courses take place at East Ferry Marina in Cobh. We also run courses at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.
The Day:
Two day powerboat courses usually run from 1000-1700 on Saturday and Sunday.
In the summer months we run evening courses over 3 evenings. (1800 to 2200.) Courses begins with a briefing with the Senior Instructor which explains the course syllabus and the course layout. We then cover the shorebased elements of the course – meteorology, tides and chartwork.
After preparing the crew and the boat we spend most of the rest of the course afloat. On most of our courses the second day involves a daytrip when we go exploring and employ our new skills and enjoy powerboating!!
SailCork Pro runs courses for watersports clubs, angling clubs, fishery boards, fire brigades, police forces, rescue units, government agencies etc using powered craft of any type at any location in Ireland or abroad using our own or other craft. We can design and build a syllabus to suit your needs using our tried and tested teaching methods. We also have powerboats available for hire with professional drivers. Details on request. (021) 4811237 or [email protected]
Professional Learning Environment:
Ashore: The shorebased sections of our courses take place in fully equipped, dedicated classrooms using the most up to date teaching methods and equipment.
Afloat: Our "outdoor classroom" is Cork Harbour. One of the worlds finest harbours it offers the wide variety of conditions and situations necessary to run our powerboat courses. We work in areas from busy shipping lanes and bustling yacht race courses to secluded wooded creeks and golden sandy beaches.
What to bring:
1. Plenty of warm clothes (including hat and gloves) + a change of clothes.
2. Booties or soft shoes and seaboots.
3. Waterproofs or oilskins.
4. Safety Boat courses and instructor courses you will be required to go in the water- so a wetsuit or drysuit is necessary.
5. Buoyancy aid or lifejacket- will be provided if necessary – please let us know
6. Pencil and paper to take notes – a powerboat logbook will be needed €10. It is necessary that you purchase "Start Powerboating" at €14 or the comprehensive book on powerboating the "Powerboat Handbooks" at `€ 20 . Charts of the area are also available at € 24 (Available from SailCork )
Have a look at this video of Interceptor Boats – we use this training ground too! Click here
Special Junior (under 16) Powerboat Course: Details please click here Courses are run monthly during the summer and at all school holidays including mid- term.
