Pleasure Cruising's Skipper School

All new members joining the club must attend our skipper certification course. Our members have a wide range of expertise, from novices to the very experienced, so for our members safety we conduct a five hour introductory course which covers the topics below. The best reason for training however is that it will without a doubt, increase your confidence and your make your boating even more enjoyable. The course is a one on one hands on practical course on a Luxury Sports Cruiser.

The course provides a comprehensive overview of all boating topics including practical boat-work. It is designed for all levels of experience. The minimum age for participants is 22 years old.

The Course Covers

  • Basic Safety
  • Safety Equipment
  • Radio
  • Weather
  • Collision Regulations
  • Lights
  • Navigation
  • Responding to Emergencies
  • Boating in Port Phillip Bay
  • Fueling Procedure
  • Maneuvering in Confined Spaces
  • Coming Alongside / Leaving Berth
  • High Speed Boat-Work
Duration Elapsed Item
5 5 Welcome aboard
5 10 Introduction to the schedule
5 15 Items at the dock
10 25 Vessel overview
5 30 Cast off
10 40 Steam into Yarra river
20 60 Berthing at floating marina
30 90 Steam through the port to the bay and Beacon Cove
20 110 Berthing at a pylon wharf 6, line tie
30 140 Steam to Sandridge Beach, anchoring
30 170 Steam to St Kilda Breakwater pier close quarter manoeuver
20 190 Steam to Anonyma Shoal cardinal mark, ID
20 210 Steam to the Melbourne channel buoyage transit zone
30 240 Steam to Williamstown, fixed pylon mooring
30 270 Steam up Yarra to fuel barge, refuel technique
15 285 Steam home new quay
15 300 Office key box and sign off

Instrumentation
Fuel Gauge: Check the tanks are full before departing
Temperature
Trim Tabs
Switches
Boat Clears roll up

Safety Equipment
On Board: Flares, Fire Extinguishers, Life Jackets. Life buoy

Power Box
Understand all the power settings

Generator / Shore Power
Danger of leaving lights and appliances on

Toilet Operation
How to avoid blocked toilets. Responsibility for toilet choke: $250 Charge.

Marine Safety Book & Parks Victoria Charts
Member to receive chart with NO Go Zones marked up

Leaving the Dock
The blower, lines, all aboard, clear passage, slow departure

Underway
Practical application of rules inc Safe Loading, Buoyage in the Yarra River and on the bay. Speed limit in the bay and Yarra River: Awareness of speeding fines and Drink Driving rules:

Generally speaking, five knots is considered to be a fast walking pace.

A 5 knot speed limit applies within:

  • 50m of:
    • A swimmer
    • Another vessel
    • A wharf, jetty, slipway, diving platform, boat ramp, anchorage
  • 100m of an underwater diver
  • 200m of the water's edge
  • 300m of a whale or dolphin

Radio
Radio Distress: How to call for help! Report Position. Coastguard, Water Police channel 88 or 16, Harbor Master channel 12 (listen only), channel 77 boat to boat

Berthing
Different jetties, lines, fenders, tides, winds

Anchoring
As a rule of thumb, the chain paid out should be three times the depth of
water, increased to five times in rougher seas

Close Quarters Operation
Dead slow, watch for other vessels, identify wind speed and direction and adjust accordingly

High Speed Trims
Adjust slowly with multiple adjustments, use only one trim at a time, return to
home position once wind or directions changes.

Reefs Sandbars
NON operational areas mark up the charts

Channel & Transit Zones
Orientation from the bay

Weather
Strong Wind Warning 25 knots and up to 33 knots s
Gale Warning 34 knots and up to 47 knots
Storm Warning 48 knots or more

Re Fuel Procedures
The blower on for 4 minutes. Unleaded Fuel ONLY!! Fill up after use.

General Operation
Navigation Lights, No cruising after sunset, Night Training.

For reservations & Social Membership prices
CALL: 1300 132 565

Pleasure Cruising Club Inc. ABN:16751633781