Three volunteers for Cowes Sailability Club have gained a national powerboat qualification, enabling them to provide additional support for members on the water.
Following a successful training course held on 3-4 May, three more volunteers for Cowes Sailability Club now hold the nationally recognised RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate of competence. Simon Atwell, Chris Chadwick and Robin Whitehead all passed the course using Dougal, the club’s wheelchair-accessible motor catamaran.
“At Cowes Sailability Club, we take training for volunteers very seriously,” says Patrick de Peyer, the club commodore. “Simon, Chris and Robin have gained very valuable new skills, which will help the club to offer safe and accessible boating experiences for many more disadvantaged people this summer.”
The training course was delivered by Tim Griffin of Griffin Marine Services and included making checks before departures, recognising the buoyage, understanding weather forecasts, recognising tidal implications, responding to ‘man overboard’ and berthing. On the second day, the team used charts to complete a voyage around the Solent and successfully demonstrate their newly-acquired skills.