RYA Courses Offered

RLSS Poole Lifeguard is also a recognised RYA training centre and can offer courses at significantly reduced prices to its members and members of Lifeguard Clubs across Poole Bay and further afield upon agreement by the club executive.  As a non-profit member club all courses are run at cost and all instruction is carried out on a voluntary basis.

The RYA training Centre under which our recognition is held is RLSS POOLE which is authorised to deliver following courses:


Click on this link to open the Course Application Form
Course Application Form

Power Boat Level 1               (£75 per person)

We do not presently undertake to deliver this course although we offer experience and training on our 2 vessels to club members throughout the season through normal beach training as events.


Power Boat Level 2               (£150 per person)

This is a 2-day (16 hours) course running from 0900-1700 each day and starting and finishing at the Beach Compound at Sandbanks.  It is designed as an entry level course that provides the skills and background knowledge needed to drive a powerboat and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).

It focuses on low-speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed and collision regulations.  The course can be taken at an inland or a coastal location.

The Course is mainly Practical with a small time dedicated to theory on the second day. 

It has a maximum ratio of 3 students to 1 instructor and a minimum age of 12 however, the club has agreed to only deliver to students aged 14 and above.  This is mainly due to the size of the boat we train on and the lack of space for an appropriate adult to be present for our younger members.

The practical elements of this course will be delivered on board LEGACY and the theory will either be delivered in a classroom within the Royal Motor Yacht Club or from within the garages at Sandbanks.

Students will be provided with all materials required to complete the course and this will include a RYA “Start Power Boating” book, a Powerboat Logbook and writing materials.  Upon successful completion of the course a certificate is issued which is valid for life.

For more information please speak directly to a club trainer or get in contact with the Centre Principal via rya@rlss-poole.org.uk Following the course successful candidates are expected to carry out safety patrols with a club Coxswain to consolidate and improve their skills whilst supporting the club.


First Aid                                (£30 per person)

This is a 1-day (8 hours) classroom-based course designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for all those who go afloat, on inland waters or up to 60 miles offshore. There is no minimum age for the course. 

The syllabus is based on the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.  It is not too different to the skills that members practice throughout survive and save training.  This course is delivered at a suitable local indoor venue which is arranged by agreement for each course.  Upon successful completion of the course a certificate is issued which is valid for 3 years however annual refresher training is recommended.


Cancellation Policy for Courses

On occasion RLSS Poole may have to cancel or postpone courses.  For example, due to weather, sickness or other outside influence out of our control.  Should this occur then the applicant / member will either get a full refund or have the course moved to another date at no additional cost.

Should the applicant have to cancel attendance then we would ask that you give as much notice as possible.  In most circumstances this again will result in no cost to the applicant as we will simply postpone the course or invite another member to complete the course in their place.

In extreme circumstances we may retain a proportion of the monies paid to cover any non-recoverable costs.  I would stress that this is extreme and would extend to cover circumstances such as hire of a venue if this was the case.

Should late cancellation be as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and compliance then a full refund will be provided to the candidate.


Feedback / Complaints Form

Please note that all club activities are provided voluntarily and by our club members in their spare time, this includes the provision of all RYA course activities and subsequent training and assessing, as such whilst we will endeavour to respond to your feedback /complaint as soon as we can, please allow us time to deal with it outside of our normal work activities.

If you have any feedback or complaints in relation to any of the courses mentioned above, then please use our Feedback / Complaints Form which can be found at the following location.

The Feedback/complaints form can be found on our “Contact Us” page under the “About Us” Menu Option or just click on the link below:

https://www.rlss-poole.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/