RYA Training
Lochaber Watersports is a RYA
Recognised Training Centre for offshore yachting, powerboat and shorebased theory
courses
Yachting Courses
We are pleased to offer the entire range of courses from Competent Crew, Day
Skipper through to Yachtmaster Preparation. Our Courses usually run from Easter
through to September and all start from our Centre adjacent to The Isles of
Glencoe Hotel around 2000 on a Sunday evening and finish back at Ballachulish
the following Friday afternoon around 1600. All candidates have the complimentary
use of the Hotel's Leisure Centre including swimming pool, sauna, gym etc before
and after the Course.
Learning to sailing is meant to be fun and this is the basic philosophy behind
all our RYA courses and our Instructors and Skippers are picked with this in
mind. Every course is different but we would usually expect to visit Oban, Tobermory,
Coll etc as well as several quiet anchorages during the cruise.
Our fee for a 5 day course is currently £425.
This fee includes all food on board, instruction, safety gear etc. The only
extra would be if we decide to eat - or drink - ashore, then that cost is down
to you!
You will need to bring - Sleeping bag, waterproofs, soft shoes, sea boots -
if you have them - clothes appropriate to the weather - shorts and tee shirt
or jeans and jersey - washing kit, personal items etc. Pack everything in a
soft sailing bag and please do not bring excess kit as space is obviously limited.
Berths can be confirmed with a deposit of £100
each along with a completed booking form which can be downloaded from this page.
We are happy to accept payment by cheque or most credit cards. Detailed joining
instructions and a final invoice will be issued about 6 weeks prior to the course
start.
To see if there are berths available
on our yachts for your chosen dates, please click on Boat
Availability
Then click here to open our Booking Form as a Word document, complete it and return it to us with your deposit.
Powerboat Training
In the UK the RYA are the national governing body for this exciting activity
and in conjunction with the Department of Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency control the qualification of powerboat drivers. Lochaber
Watersports are one of the few RYA Recognised Training Centres in Scotland
and as such only use qualified Instructors and suitable craft which are regularly
inspected.
The Level II syllabus covers basic boat handling in some detail and theoretical
chartwork, meteorology, collision regulations, emergency procedures etc. The
Intermediate and Advanced syllabi also cover high speed navigation, night work
and SAR procedures etc. A commercial endorsement can be added to either a Level
II or Advanced (subject to external assessment) if appropriate.
The cost of all 2 day non-residential powerboat courses is £230
per person and there are significant discounts available if more than one candidate
is involved. You will need warm clothes, drysuit or good waterproofs, boots
etc. We supply automatic lifejackets, helmets with visors and a light lunch
each day. The 6.1 metre RIB we use is fitted with a Tohatsu 90 hp engine which
cruises around 35 knots as well as being highly manoeuvrable for pontoon work.
All our course are based at our Activity Centre in the grounds of the Isles
of Glencoe Hotel at Ballachulish where our candidates have the complimentary
use of the Hotel's Leisure Centre including swimming pool, sauna, gym etc which
can be most welcome after an arduous day on the water. Local accommodation is
available to suit all budgets and a list can be provided on request.
Places can be confirmed with a deposit of £50
each along with a completed booking form which can be downloaded from this page.
We are happy to accept payment by cheque or most credit cards. Detailed joining
instructions and a final invoice will be issued about 6 weeks prior to the course
start.
Theory Courses
Lochaber Watersports is also a RYA Recognised Teaching Establishment for shorebased theory courses at Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper/Yacht Master level. These are intensive 5 Day Courses which are held, subject to demand, throughout the year.
To find out what is covered in the Day Skipper Theory course, please click here.
