RYA Level II Power Boat Course

The level 2 Course was done over the weekend of the 30/31st January 2010 with 4 students in two boats. The weather on both days was forecast as NW 4 to 5 for both days with wintry showers. This meant that on both days a swell was coming into the bay along with some strong gusts of wind and made launch and recovery of the boats a bit tricky. The swell along the outer wall of the trailer park also tested the candidates when doing along sides and touch and go's much more interesting. However all the students learned much more than if the conditions had been calm.
A short trip to Bangor harbour on Saturday afternoon allowed some further practice in calmer water but students had to contend with gusts of wind within the harbour. Sunday saw a slight improvement in the weather with it remaining sunny for most of the day, and all exercises were completed in Ballyholme Bay. Securing the boats along side at lunch time was not proving easy due to the swell and wind direction and a good practical demonstration was done of making use of a kedge anchor to hold the boats of the walkway.
Everyone completed the course and agreed that they had learnt far more in the weather conditions than they would have if it had been calm.
It is hoped to hold another course in Late February or March.