Boat license SAFETY - La Rochelle

Since the reform of the boat license

For several years now, boat license training centers have seen exam pass rates soar, with some reporting 99% success. But what would really happen if an examiner once again had to validate the practical navigation part…

“Since 2008, for the practical part, candidates no longer need the approval of a State examiner.”

Two hours of individual practice at the helm of a vessel!!! Is that enough to gain solid navigation skills and be able to avoid the common beginner’s pitfalls? Yet judging by the success rates, all new boaters are excellent sailors!!!

However, one thing is certain for the vast majority of them… they lack experience, and practical training should be less condensed. Two hours or even three or four hours of navigation to learn how to operate a motorboat are absolutely not enough to acquire the essential skills needed to handle all nautical situations.

Strong fundamentals are required during the learning phase in order to build serious experience in future navigation. But this experience can only be acquired if the navigator has sufficient self-confidence.

Objectives of the boat safety license – La Rochelle

While remaining fully within the legal framework of learning and passing the coastal pleasure boat license, we will support you with advanced training to achieve better control in complex nautical situations.

Day 1 of boat SAFETY license training

Theory day, during which it is strongly recommended to have read your code book several times.

This 1^st day of training for the coastal license in La Rochelle includes the standard 5-hour theoretical training program, to which are added 2 additional hours dedicated exclusively to vessel and crew safety. This module focuses on risk prevention and anticipation through the management of passive and active safety. It is about knowing all the measures to take to prevent the occurrence or escalation of a nautical risk and knowing how to react in a degraded situation on board.

Day 2 of boat SAFETY license training

This day of boat license training in La Rochelle is entirely dedicated to maneuvers and practical boat handling. The program allows full-day navigation to meet the objectives for the various targeted skills.

Namely…

- Ensuring individual and collective safety

Through the use of onboard equipment such as individual life jackets, lifebuoys, and any other means to save one or more lives in degraded situations. There is mandatory safety equipment, but nothing prevents you from adding more. The list is not exhaustive!!!

- Knowing the basic rules for using onboard communication equipment

You will have the opportunity to communicate by radio when managing evolving risks, such as dealing with an injured or unconscious person on board… it will be up to you to make the right decision, with your instructor there to guide you.

- Respecting buoyage and identifying obstacles in the area

It is absolutely essential to anticipate during navigation and to be able to assess in advance the various buoyage systems encountered in your navigation zones.

- Being responsible for the crew and the vessel

You will take on the role of skipper, making important decisions in delicate and highly degraded situations.

- Using distress equipment

To signal your position first by radio and then by actually activating a handheld pyrotechnic flare to make yourself visible to other users.

- Mastering deck and helm maneuvers

Whether following alignments, setting courses, performing avoidance maneuvers or changing tack, as well as harbor maneuvers with or without current, with or without wind…

- Mastering the use of paper and electronic navigation charts

You will not get lost, and even in the event of an electronic failure on board, you will learn how to read a paper chart from the French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) for your navigation area.

- Mooring to a buoy and anchoring

Mooring to a buoy with crew or solo… And because situations sometimes require it in the event of engine failure, you will learn how to mark your position and anchor. And if the wind increases even more, do you know about emergency anchoring? Anchoring is an integral part of safeguarding your vessel, especially when addressing the concept of a safe haven that allows a vessel and its occupants to be secured.

- Recovering a man overboard

Man overboard, or the art and method of recovering a crew member who has fallen overboard… During this second day, you will work with an aquatic rescue mannequin that weighs 80 kg once soaked (filled with water)!!! Learn to adopt the correct method… and what if the man overboard were you!!! We will of course cover life-saving actions in this scenario… especially if your man overboard is no longer breathing!!!

Day 3 of boat SAFETY license training – La Rochelle

This 3^rd and final day is focused on “real-life breakdowns” with 100% practical training.

- You will recover real people overboard,

Depending on the situation, you will have to choose the best option, and once your victim is on board, you will still need to contact the CROSS or CCMM to receive instructions after completing your medical assessment. Your man, woman, or child who has fallen into the water could quickly become unconscious if you lose visual contact! But have you really thought about how to bring them back on board? Would a boat hook really be sufficient? It is often easier to return to the man overboard, but more difficult to get them back on board…

- You will experience a steering failure,

You will therefore need to know where the emergency tiller is located and how to use it… And what if you did not have an emergency tiller on board?

- You will have a water ingress,

What is the first reflex in the event of water ingress? You will use the VHF radio to report your onboard incident in order to receive the appropriate instructions and know what to do if your vessel is sinking.

- You will have a fire on board,

One of the fire detectors will start sounding, smoke will fill the cabin, creating a highly stressful situation that may or may not cause you to lose control, especially if one of your crew members is suffering from respiratory distress due to toxic smoke inhalation. Do you know how long it takes for the contents of your vessel to burn completely? Remember, in the first minute, using a fire extinguisher is crucial for saving the crew and protecting your vessel.

- You will evacuate your vessel,

You will have to evacuate your vessel because you are certain it will sink… you will find yourself in the role of a castaway for long minutes. If you have a life raft, it will be time to deploy it on the correct side of your vessel and cl