VHF (SRC) RADIO COURSE – FURTHER QUESTIONS
Our training courses run from different locations, so it is important to check the information in the email you were sent. Our VHF courses are usually run from our Parkstone Bay Marina site. Directions to our main two sites are given below:
Directions to Parkstone Bay Marina, Turks Lane, Parkstone, Poole BH14 8EW (Please note we use the Harbour Sea School room)
Directions to Port of Poole Marina, New Harbour Road, Poole BH15 4AJ (Please stop at security gate to obtain pass)
Course times are usually 9am – 4.30pm for teaching, the assessment will then take place and you should anticipate finishing around 6.30pm (may be earlier depending on course numbers)
Our VHF radio courses are usually run by either Dom, our Chief Instructor or Sarah, our Training Centre Principal. The assessment will probably be carried out by whichever of us didn’t teach the course or occasionally we bring in other instructors who are well known to us.
The course is aimed at all watercraft users. You might use sail boats, powerboats, kayaks and canoes, paddleboards or PWC ‘jetskis’ for example.
It does not matter whether you are skipper or crew, on a big boat or single person kayak.
You might have used radios before or be completely new to the water.
You are all welcome and we’ll adapt the course to suit the participants.
The kettle will be on for tea or coffees throughout the day. If you bring lunch with you then you are welcome to stay indoors to eat or wander around the site. If you wish to buy lunch, there are the following options:
• Courses at Parkstone Bay: South Deep Café/Restaurant or shops within a 5min drive.
• Courses at Port of Poole: Truckstop café or shops within a 5 min drive. Please do check opening hours in advance!
• Passport sized photo
• Application Form
• Course Book
• Glasses if needed
• Notebook/pen
• Lunch or Money for lunch
The day is very much focused on using the radios. We will look at the simple radio settings found in the menu and then practice making calls. We will cover information at the beginning of the day looking at which channels we can use, the differences in channels, ensuring our information is registered correctly on the licenses, setting up our radios and the structure of calls. You will each be allocated a training radio to yourself for the day. The radios are training radios so you can try all the functions of the radio and even press the red button! Please note you must not practice this on a live set!
During the day we will look at making routine calls and Mayday calls, but we will also look at how we can use the radio to ask for simple assistance or receive safety information. Receiving calls is just as important as sending information. The day is spent indoors but we will factor in plenty of breaks. There is some information presented on the screen but much of the day will be ‘playing’ on the radios. The information we give is comprehensive, but we try to have a lot of laughs along the way.
By working with small groups everyone gets to practice all the calls and the group gets to know each other. We are allowed to have 12 on the course but we limit our scheduled courses to just 4. We work hard to provide a friendly environment and find our biggest feedback point is that people found it comprehensive but fun.
This is a formal course so we’d be wrong to downplay the importance of the assessment. However, we try to conduct this in as relaxed a style as possible. We want you to leave being both competent and confident using the radio. At the end of the assessment most people are pleased we’ve completed it fully, as it proves how much you have learnt and reinforces the points covered. Most are proud to have obtained their qualification.
There are two parts – the first part is mostly multiple choice. You will be asked questions on various parts of the syllabus and asked to tick the relevant box. You don’t need to get full marks, but we find most of our students score highly. You are also likely to have to write out a Mayday call. Don’t worry we are not interested in handwriting or spelling! We would like to see the correct order of information though. The second part will be making a few calls on the radio just as we will have practiced during the day.
Any concerns with reading or writing please just contact us ahead of your course and we’ll chat through how we can support your learning. More than happy to help.
If for any reason you don’t feel ready to take the assessment on the day, we are happy to arrange another time. If we don’t think you’re ready, we’ll let you know early too! Honestly, whilst the term ‘assessment’ seems to put some people off, I promise you we’ve guided many people through the process 😊 Don’t let it put you off having a fun day of learning.
