Finding The Right Boating Course Near Me
28/10/2025
Knowing where to start your Boating Adventures can be daunting.
Do you need to learn these skills in the area you wish to operate, sail or drive? No is the answer. Here at Solent Boat Training, we offer courses that are conducted in open tidal waters, providing some of the best training areas, environments and conditions available in the UK.
Firstly, where will you be boating? This will be a consideration for most, as learning to operate a boat safely and with confidence can be dictated by where you learn these new skills.
If you are going to be boating on lakes, rivers or inland waterways, then generally, the conditions might be better due the protection offered by the land. Shelter from the wind and the lack of tidal effect, usually offer calmer conditions. However there are some very large lakes, locks and inland waterways around the world, that offer similar challenges to coastal waters.
Coastal and Offshore waters provide some additional challenges, such as the effects of wind pushing you towards or away from the shoreline, both can be dangerous in certain circumstances.
Then there is the tidal considerations. Not only does the water become deeper or shallower in some areas, but the direction and strength of a tidal stream will determine whether or not it is safe to navigate in a particular area, at a specific period, during any given day.
Once you've decided to go sailing in a particular area, now there is the consideration as to what type of boat you will be in. Sailing vessels perform very differently to powerboats or motorboats and are also effected by the different elements (wind & tide), meaning that your intended direction might not be achievable.
Once those decisions have be made, now we need to think about who you will take with you? Your friends or family members (commonly known as the crew), might well be required to assist you at various points during your trip or journey. An untrained and unfamiliar crew, will only create an additional concern to you as the Skipper, especially as you are responsible for their and everyone else's safety and wellbeing.
Starting at the beginning is the obvious choice. The RYA's Start Powerboating, Start Yachting, Competent Crew (for Sailing) or the Helmsman Course (for motorboating) are all introductory courses and provide the basic understanding of safety and operation of a variety of different craft. These courses ensure that you are fully aware of the safety implications of operating vessels afloat, whether that be inland or on the open sea.
By learning in one of the busiest and more demanding boating waterways on the South Coast, you will be better prepared to operate in your chosen waters. Being subjected to some of the challenges faced in the Solent, under the guidance of a professional instructor, offers students a variety of experiences, but safe in the knowledge that your instructor is there to keep you safe.
For More Details of Our Beginner Courses, Click on the Links Above.
