The tender-driving qualification
The RYA Powerboat Level 2 — formally the National Powerboat Certificate — is the qualification yachts require before you can drive their tender. It’s the single most useful entry ticket for a deckhand, earned entirely on the water over two days off Antibes.
The course gives you the skills and background knowledge to go afloat safely and take charge of a powerboat by day, in a range of conditions.
What you’ll master
- Boat handling at low speed — coming alongside, leaving a berth, holding station and manoeuvring in close quarters
- High-speed handling — getting onto the plane, trimming, turns and stopping under control
- Man-overboard recovery — the drill you must be able to perform first time, in a swell
- Securing & seamanship — lines, fenders, cleats, knots and preparing the boat
- Anchoring — choosing ground, laying and recovering
- Launching & recovery — slipways, trailers and assessing sea conditions
- Rules & safety — the collision regulations (IRPCS), safety equipment and engine checks
The coastal endorsement
Your certificate includes the coastal endorsement, extending your qualification beyond sheltered water. It covers tides, the rules of the road, basic pilotage and the navigational and seamanship skills to keep you and your crew safe along the coast.
Course format
Two full days on the water, in small groups, with an RYA-qualified instructor. Minimal classroom time — you learn by driving, in real Mediterranean conditions rather than a sheltered marina corner.
Requirements
No previous experience is required. Complete beginners should take the Level 1 + Level 2 combo over three days and finish with the full certificate. You’ll need to be comfortable in and around the water.
Certification & pathway
On completion you hold the RYA National Powerboat Certificate with coastal endorsement. It can be commercially endorsed and is the basis for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) — the recognised standard for driving tenders professionally worldwide.