Learn basic, safe powerboat operation skills including boat preparation, maneuvering, and VHF radio operation. This course is is open to all members. The course can help you achieve the Dayleader rating which is required before a member can operate a club powerboat. The California Boatercard is also required to operate the boat on your own.
To sign up for this course, contact the port captains at portcaptain@cal-sailing.org. The training requires that you read the skiff operation and dayleader manuals, and is provided on an on-demand basis. During the covid crisis, training is limited to one student and one instructor in the skiff to be able to maintain social distancing.
The equipment used in the course includes our open, 15 foot motorboats, which are used to provide rescue support for most of our on-water activities. The club's motorboats are not available for recreational use, only for training, rescues, and other operations in support of club activities.
Topics covered in the course include:
- proper boat preparation and fueling, use of hoist for launching and retrieval
- key safety equipment including PFD, weather-appropriate attire, VFD radio, and kill switch lanyard
- crew communication, and accident avoidance by proper coordination and situation awareness, especially of collision hazards with other watercraft and with swimmers.
- safe maneuvering in high winds and waves
- how to assist disabled vessels, rescue persons from the water, and how to summon assistance if needed to handle larger
emergencies.
These are all skills that are critical to safe powerboating and to supporting our other programs.
To achieve the Dayleader rating, you have to pass the written test on Skiff operation, and be signed off by the Port Captains based on their evaluation of your skills.
