OSS 112 — Fast Track® Powerboat Cruising Course
Learn Boating Skills on a Cruising Catamaran Motor Yacht and Enjoy Sea Life Too
Powerboating brings all kinds of joy, and learning to handle a live-aboard power 
catamaran is serious work, as well as a whole lot of fun. This photo was taken by Offshore Sailing School instructor, Brian Van Leeuwen. He and his students in the Fast Track® Power Cruising Course were close to the Sanibel lighthouse as they were cruising from the Pink Shell Beach Resort marina on Ft. Myers Beach, FL back to Tarpon Point Marina at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. *Note, the Power Catamaran Courses are currently only offered from The Moorings base on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
More Reasons to Take the Fast Track® Power Cruising Course at Offshore Sailing School
It’s not uncommon to think commanding a big power boat requires little more than the ability to turn a key. You need to know the Rules of the Road, how to handle a big boat when underway, docking, anchoring, picking up moorings, passing or overtaking other boats. Boat systems need constant checking and troubleshooting. Navigation skills and safety for all aboard is synonymous with having a good day on the water.
I found this training to be extremely helpful to fill in the knowledge that I didn’t know I needed. I will feel safer and more competent next time I am aboard any boat in the future.
Zulekha Ludwig – Newport, RI
Take Boat Handling Courses on a Twin-Engine Power Catamaran
Whether you have some power boat experience or not, our Fast Track® powerboat catamaran course (OSS 112) is a great way to fine tune your boat handling skills. If you are thinking about getting into power catamaran cruising, buying a power boat or chartering one with your family and friends, the Fast Track® Power Cruising course gives you the knowledge and confidence to take the helm with ease.
Learn to Power Cruise
888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
“The power cruising program was great! Most importantly was the confidence the course and instructor instilled throughout my participation. I’d recommend the program to anyone who questions their own skill sets.”
Dave MacDonald – Kingston, Ontario
Read more testimonials here
Learn in the British Virgin Islands
You can spend six fabulous days learning in the incomparable cruising grounds of the British Virgin Islands, on 37’ to 50’ twin-engine power cat from The Moorings, the pre-eminent charter company in the world. When you enroll in our Fast Track® OSS 112 powerboat training courses, the Start Powerboating Right! textbook is sent in advance to study. Each morning after breakfast and a “classroom session” in the main salon, you get underway and practice boat handling and seamanship drills while power cruising to your next destination. See the What You Learn tab below for everything you cover in our British Virgin Islands Fast Track® boating courses, and the Course Schedule tab for how our power boating lessons work.
I would like to express my appreciation for the excellent
instruction provided during our power yacht course in Tortola, BVI. Folkert Jongkind tailored each session to the students’ needs and worked to their different learning styles. He was patient, courteous, funny, and fun to be with. We had some trepidation about the size of the boat but at the end of the week we were confident and sure in our maneuvers. We can’t wait to return to rent a yacht on our own.
Bill and Karen Duggleby – Herndon, Virginia
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888-454-7015 ♦ 239-454-1700
Sail@OffshoreSailing.com
Earn Powerboat Cruising Certification
The Fast Track® Power Cruising course gives you US Powerboating Coastal Powerboat Cruising Certification. Using guidelines from the National Safe Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), our comprehensive boat handling courses were developed by the US Sailing National Faculty to fill the need for professional handling of powerboats – from small runabouts to large yachts – on inland and open waters.
International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) for Chartering Overseas
If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification credentials and an International Proficiency Certificate. US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the United States, will issue this certificate for a nominal fee for U.S. citizens who have achieved US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification or the US Powerboating Certification mentioned on this page. For more information, view this page on US Sailing and Powerboating’s website..
Six Days of Boating Instruction Boating Vacation Fun
Your instructor is with you throughout the first five days of the power boat course. On the last day of powerboat school your instructor has you go through “personal best” maneuvers. Then you take the certification exam, return to the base to drop off your instructor and set off on your own. You will return to the base Saturday morning with a real sense of empowerment.
The Greatest Classroom in the World!®
On-board Systems
- Electrical systems
- Generator operation
- VHF Operation
- Marine sanitation devices
- Fresh water systems
- Cooking aboard – proper and safe use of stove
- Emergency procedures
Steering
- Directed thrust – steering with throttles
- Rudder
- Prop walk
- Handling wind and wave conditions
Anchoring
- Holding ground and anchors
- Proper scope
- Current and wind considerations
- Tight maneuvering in crowded anchorages
Navigation Rules
- Safe speed
- Safe lookout
- Sound signals and lights
- Meeting situations
- Restricted visibility
- Traffic separation
- Crossing and overtaking situations
- Lights – how to identify, when to use
- Day shapes
- Rules of the Road
- Right of way rules for inland and international waters
- Differences between U.S. and European buoy systems
Docking
- Crew teamwork
- Approach in wind and current
- Tight maneuvering
- Proper radio contact for slip space
- Mooring pickup
- Knots, dock lines, spring lines
Coastal Navigation
- Reading charts, aids to navigation
- Tides and currents
- Plotting a course
- Determining ETA, time, speed, distance
- Taking fixes and knowing where you are
- Electronic navigation – reading and using a Chart Plotter
- Understanding weather and weather routing
Overboard Recovery
- Wind and current considerations
- How to approach
- Safety and retrieval procedures
- Use of LifeSling
Electronics and Safety
- Required safety equipment and best practices
- Emergency procedures
- Overboard rescue procedures and use of Chart Plotter
Engines
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Fueling techniques
- Safe operation
- Fluid checks
- Transmission checks
- Tail shaft coupling and packing glands
- Hydraulics
- Battery management
Prerequisite: No previous boating experience is required
Certifications: US Powerboating Level 1 & 2 Student Certification
Here’s what’s included in your 6-day Fast Track® Power Cruising course package:
- Five days of instruction aboard a Moorings Power Cat (BVI)
- Course textbook and Navigation Rules
- US Cruising Power Boat Certification testing and certification if tests are passed
- Overnight test cruise without the instructor aboard Friday afternoon to Saturday morning
- Breakfasts, lunches, snacks and three dinners while aboard (from Monday lunch to Saturday breakfast)
- Cruising tax, park fees and damage waiver
- Moorings fees while instructor is aboard in BVI
- Logbook
- Diploma
- Certification stickers for logbook, sent from US Sailing after completing course and passing certification test
- Sunday (arrival night) aboard the boat at The Moorings base in BVI
- Fuel consumed during course and mini-cruise
Not included:
- All air and shore travel and transfers (taxis and jitneys are available)
- Food bought during cruise other than provisions already onboard
- Beverages (which you will order in advance to suit your tastes)
- Meals ashore
- Moorings fees during mini-cruise without instructor
- Additional hotel nights before or after the course
Sunday
Arrival day – no instruction (stay aboard the boat at The Moorings base marina in Road Town on Tortola, BVI)
Monday
Breakfast ashore (not included in the package)
9:30 – Board yacht, stow gear
10:30-Noon – Discuss week’s itinerary, boat show and familiarization with systems, initial chart review
1:00-2:00 – Lunch aboard and continued discussion
2:00-500 – Instruction underway
5:00 Anchor – debrief, classroom time as necessary, dinner, anchor checks
Tuesday–Thursday
Sunup to 9:00 – Breakfast and free time aboard
9:00-5:00 – Classroom session aboard, instruction under way with lunch break
5:00 Latest – Anchor, Dock or Moor– debrief, classroom time as necessary, dinner, anchor/mooring checks
Friday
Sunup to 9:00 – Breakfast and free time aboard
9:00-1:00 – Classroom session aboard, course review
1:00-4:00 – Lunch break, personal best cruising with instructor as observer, certification test
4:00 – Drop off instructor, set out on test cruise without instructor aboard
Saturday
10:00 – Return boat to the base
10:00-11:00 – Debrief, boat check-in at slip followed by graduation celebration aboard
11:00 – Depart for flights home or stay ashore
Offshore Sail and Powerboat School knows we cannot thrive without great employees and products. All graduates are asked to fill out an evaluation. If you would like us to put you in touch with anyone featured below, please call 888-454-7015 or email info@OffshoreSailing.com.
What our graduates have to say about the Offshore Fast Track to Power Cruise Course courses:
I thought it was fabulous. There should be a course for any person of any age who gets behind the wheel of a power boat. Had I not taken the course, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to be out there. It’s worth the value and I would do it again in a heartbeat. My instructor was fabulous!
Sharon Caprio – Fort Myers, FL
Excellent experience, proud to have completed it with my 25 year old son.
Ray Chaput – Barrie, Ontario
The instructor went to extra lengths to make certain that I had a most positive learning experience.
Dr. Kenneth Teufel – New Braunfels, TX
Money well spent. Would do it again, but I don’t need to! After only 5 days of classroom and power cruising time, I feel confident that I can better handle my boat in a variety of situations.
Harry Belk – Spartanburg, SC
The power cruising program was great! Most importantly was the confidence the course and instructor instilled throughout my participation. I’d recommend the program to anyone who questions their own skill sets.
Dave MacDonald – Kingston, Ontario
Folkert was outstanding! Great instructor, taught us a lot over a relatively short period of time. Always patient and calm which helped build confidence. Would definitely take another course with him. Great experience, learned a lot, built confidence and was exactly what I was looking for.
Tom Shortell – Cold Springs, NY
Outstanding experience. Our instructor was excellent and focused on key points to make everything easy and understandable.
Harry Hink – Fairfax, VA
