RYA Safety Boat Course
RYA Safety Boat Course
The RYA Safety Boat course is for members who already hold PB2 and want to take the next step. It focuses on managing incidents, supporting sailors on the water and handling more challenging situations with confidence and calm. If you help with training or racing, this is a natural progression that helps keep everyone safe while building your own seamanship and decision making.
It is for members only and offers outstanding value compared with commercial centres. We run it across a weekend.
What this course is about
The Safety Boat qualification teaches you how to manage a wide range of situations, from simple capsizes to more complex recoveries. You will learn how to position the powerboat safely, how to support dinghies, windsurfers and other craft, and how to deal with incidents in a structured, controlled way.
By the end of the course you will be able to provide safe, effective support during club activity and understand your responsibilities as part of a safety team.
A typical progression
Weather, water state and demand on the reservoir influence the order, but a typical pathway includes:
Core safety roles
- Responsibilities of a safety boat driver
- Communication on the water and working with race officers and instructors
- Assessing risk and managing incidents calmly
Dinghy recovery
- Standard capsize assistance for single handers and double handers
- Inverted dinghy management
- Recovering boats with damaged foils or rigs
- Towing singles or multiple dinghies safely
- Long tows and controlled slow tows
Advanced techniques
- Lee shore recoveries
- Supporting sailors in stronger winds
- Managing mixed fleets and busy water
- Using the boat effectively as a floating barrier or guide
- Casualty recovery to the safety boat in simple scenarios
Practical seamanship
- Effective positioning for different rescues
- Anchor use and boat setup
- Efficient deployment and tidying of tow lines, paddles and safety kit
How the sessions run
- Pre session kit checks and a clear briefing
- On water coaching with demonstrations and practice
- Scenario based exercises to build confidence
- End of session debrief with guidance on next steps
The pace is steady and supportive, with plenty of hands on time to make sure you truly understand both the techniques and the judgement required.
Equipment and what to bring
We provide the powerboats, training equipment and fuel. Bring warm layers, gloves if you have them, a waterproof top and shoes that can get wet. Club wetsuits and buoyancy aids are available to borrow if needed.
Safety and support
All instruction follows RYA guidance. You will be taught by experienced, qualified staff who focus on safe practice, clear communication and calm, practical decision making on the water.
After the course
Once qualified, you will be able to support club racing, training sessions and general activity as part of the safety team. It is one of the most rewarding roles in the club and gives you a genuine chance to help others enjoy their sailing safely.
How to book
This course is for members only and places are limited. To join the Safety Boat programme, become a member, then contact the training team to secure your place and receive your joining instructions.
Last updated 11:04am on 2 January 2026