Thames Boating Cerrtificate

[Andrew_Fanner]

I see this is being rolled out this year. Anyone planning on doing it or becoming a trainer? I'm thinking it over on both counts, having taken on the position of Sailing Captain at MTYC I ought to start knowing more about it than I did Saturday last

 

[pheran]

How does this differ from the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate which is long established and widely recognised?

 

[Brayman]

How does this differ from the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate which is long established and widely recognised?

I think that can only really be answered by the ATYC, who thought up the idea, and did have difficulty explaining it last year.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I think that can only really be answered by the ATYC, who thought up the idea, and did have difficulty explaining it last year.

And why I didn;t pay much attention previously. The only bit I picked up was some implication (possibly unfair, I don't know) that the RYA one was intended more for narrow boaters/barge crews. Certainly had to be pursuasive to the Bruce Trust about experience for later this year when Father in Law hires one of their disabled access craft for a week and SWMBO and I take the helm as we neither have that specific RYA ticket.

 

[Captain Coochie]

If the training involves letting people drive your boat and they buy you a pint at every pub then ive been training them for years

 

[boatone]

I was one of the very first group to be granted Inland Waterways Helmsman Instructor Certificates back in 1995(?) following a day at Bisham Abbey run by Roy May and another guy from the RYA head office.

It was definitely not just for NB and Barge types. Two groups of 4 each spent half the day on a NB and the other half on a cruiser - a nice new EA Launch actually.

It was the first time I had ever been through a lock on the Thames and it was Marlow - I think we went through it 4 times in all that day.

The format of the course was innovative, I thought. Each boat was helmed by a complete novice - both middle aged ladies who had never been on a boat before. We were each given various tasks to carry out such as mooring, leaving a mooring, transiting the lock, man overboard etc. We had to do this by instructing the helmsman as to what they should do and how they should instruct the others who acted as crew. We were not allowed to touch the helm or the throttles - or lose our temper ! Try it sometime

 

[Captain Coochie]

Yeah but Man over board on the Thames is everyone laughs thier ass off and then spends all day fishing with magnets looking for his car keys . Thats not really training is it !

 

[teddington_lock]

I agree with B1 , the RYA course is a very good course.

All the EA lock staff have the RYA inland helm qualification. 2 very interesting days spent on the river , driving a cruiser , a NB and a barge ( to give you an appreciation of how each handles ).

Taking the dutch barge into Temple lock was interesting .

 

[apollo]

I see this is being rolled out this year. Anyone planning on doing it or becoming a trainer? I'm thinking it over on both counts, having taken on the position of Sailing Captain at MTYC I ought to start knowing more about it than I did Saturday last

As much as I support the ATYC in other things, I have to say that I find this the biggest waste of time and energy.

As others have said, the RYA courses already exist and are fine for peeps to build their boathandling skills at places like Bisham, why create another one with all the admin and time that will go into running it.

Rant over, back to my morning coffee now.

 

[GrantK]

As much as I support the ATYC in other things, I have to say that I find this the biggest waste of time and energy.

As others have said, the RYA courses already exist and are fine for peeps to build their boathandling skills at places like Bisham, why create another one with all the admin and time that will go into running it.

Rant over, back to my morning coffee now.

It all depends on how one looks at the subject of training. The scheme is purely voluntary.
It has the backing of the RYA, EA, PLA. It is complementary to RYA training schemes and is not intended to replace them. It is Thames Biased, that's why it's called the Thames Boating Certificate.
The TBC syllabus has been designed for the various types of boat in use on the river Thames. Trainers will instruct on a particular type and the person being trained will later be examined on that type of craft and will receive recognition for that type only. E.g. train on a twin diesel cruiser and be certifictated on that type. Buy a Dutch barge and retrain for that type. All ATYC clubs have had the opportunity to apply for training status and to recommend three trainers. All trainers will be assessed before being let loose on the club members. Club members will not be forced into taking the training. Trainers will not be paid, and the scheme is not open to Commercial interests. A very helpful and comprehensive Log Book is available from the ATYC. Participation in the scheme can only help to improve boat handling on the Thames. I have no vested interest as I was not involved in the planning or implementation of the TBC. But, as a boater of many years, qualified to RYA Coastal skipper (practical) I believe that the scheme deserves our support.

These are my personal views and have not been approved by any of the Boating Bodies.