PNB navigation training

Before leaving port, you learn to carry out the basic checks on the boat: the condition of the safety equipment, life jackets, bailing equipment, fuel level, batteries, the critical points of the hull and the maximum number of people allowed on board.

You also work on the engine and its main systems. The student learns to carry out checks before starting it, monitor the cooling, spot possible fuel, oil or water leaks and understand why fuel consumption matters and why an adequate fuel reserve must be kept.

Another part is devoted to ropework, learning to handle ropes correctly and some of the knots commonly used on board.

Then come real manoeuvres in port: leaving and coming alongside, going ahead and astern, turning in a confined space and manoeuvring with factors such as wind, current and the effect of the propeller in mind.

Anchoring is also practised: choosing the right spot, assessing the type of seabed and the weather conditions, working out how much chain is needed, using the anchor correctly and checking that the boat stays in position.

Finally, safety manoeuvres are carried out, including what to do when someone falls overboard: locating them, approaching and recovering them, including the use of the MOB function on GNSS equipment.

The aim is for the student not only to know the theory needed to pass the exam, but also to start developing the ability to make decisions and handle a boat safely.