Helmsmans course
The RYA Inland Waterways Helmsmans Course is for those new to boating or those boaters who feel that they need to brush up on their helmsmans skills. Our courses are run on our dedicated training boat the Gwendoline May although we can run a course on your own boat*.
As an RYA recognised training centre, the helmsman’s course follows the RYA syllabus and participants are awarded an Inland Waterways Helmsman’s Certificate upon successful completion.
We run scheduled courses throughout the month but if you are booking for 2 or three persons at the same time we will run a course at a time to suit you.
For operational reasons there are no more than 3 students on any course.
The course includes:
Boating Safety
Pre start checks
Ropework and knots
Boat control
Getting underway
Slowing down, stopping and mooring up
Locks and using them safely
Navigating bridges and tunnels
It is a highly practical course with the majority of the day spent out on the water or on the bank mooring up or working locks. As such it is important that you have suitable clothes (including wet weather gear) and sturdy non slip shoes (no flip flops or sandals). It is also recommended that you bring a hat in the unlikely event that the sun is shining. Lifejackets are provided and wearing them is mandatory.
We provide hot and cold drinks throughout the day as well as lunch. If you have any special dietary requirements please speak to us before the course so that we can accommodate you.
Our cruising route will include wide locks, tunnels, bridges, a small aqueduct and optionally swing bridges. We can if desired include the incredible Foxton Locks.
*Our training vessel, the Gwendoline May, is configured specifically for training and we would suggest that wherever possible you take your course on our boat. However we realise that for a number of reasons (location, special access requirements or even personal preference) you may want to use your own boat for the course and we are happy to accommodate you. For preference your boat should either be cruiser stern or semi trad. If it is a traditional stern boat we can only have one helmsman on the counter at one time which restricts teaching. We will provide sufficient lifejackets for the course but it is your responsibility to ensure that other equipment (mooring lines, piling hooks/chains, mooring spikes etc) is available. It is also important that you are near at least one lock. If we run a course on your boat from our base at Debdale there is no additional cost. If we run a course on your boat at a different location there is a fixed £40 cost to cover all travel and accommodation costs we might incur. Please contact us to discuss further.
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Course Details
Duration: 2 days
Location: Gwendoline May
Cost: £360
Maximum # students 3
Minimum # students 2
Student Reviews
A very enjoyable course and left me feeling well prepared for two weeks afloat in September. We very much enjoyed the company of the instructor.
David
Best Parts: Locking instructions and the little tips making a big difference to the way the boat responds What could be improved: Not much Course Presentation: Steve was exceptionally sympathetic but positive with his instructions, which made it less nerve wracking for me. Overall: Excellent
Jennifer
Lovely to have such a calm instructor - felt relaxed enough to let go of any anxieties, as a newbie! Great that the tutor is both an experienced narrowboater and a proper engineer! Lovely lunch too!
Barbara
A lot to learn in 2 days but a fantastic basic course to give one confidence to go out and practice to gain further experience
Anne
Excellent course & very good instructions throughout the full course. Excellent introduction to using a boat safely and correctly on the network
Gary
Helpful instructor, was very patient & lots of time to practice.
Priya
Fab course.Nick was lovely, engaging & professional over both days
Chaaya
Can't say enough positive! The course contributed in a BIG way to the enjoyment of our subsequent holiday. Would recommend course and specifically David to all. Many thanks, Harry
Harry
Our instructor was perfect, patient, skilful, informative with an excellent manner. Thoroughly enjoyable and informative. Highly recommended.
Gary
Steve was engaging and fun to learn from. Enjoyed the days from beginning to end.
Sarah
Very helpful instructor who made me feel very much at ease.
Martin
Best bits – Steves patience, good humour, and ability to explain in different ways the same thing so that I understood. Tunnel, locks, mooring – all the things I had been scared of. Intense, all necessary and so many tips that a whole new world of boating is opened up
Hilary
Very enjoyable and informative. Excellent training vessel and got me ready to go solo. A must for all new boat people.
Nick
Excellent facilitator giving us all a broad and very hands on experience. All round excellent course which exceeded my expectations.
Karin
Thoroughly enjoyed the course, tutor was brilliant.
Judith
A revelation - my retirement plans might need re-doing now. I'm a convert to the Inland Waterways.
Roy
Great covered exactly what I needed. I enjoyed the course immensely
Rosalind
The course was really good value for money and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Andrew
Best bits – learning ways of tying up & manoeuvring slowly especially when mooringup & moving off but difficult to choose because all good.
Karen
Really enjoyed the 2 days, will recommend to others. The guidance will remain with me always