Ask any first officer what a junior deckhand should hold besides STCW, and the answer is almost always the same: RYA Powerboat Level 2. Here’s why it’s so valued.
What it is
The RYA Powerboat Level 2 — formally the National Powerboat Certificate — is a two-day, on-the-water qualification. It covers:
- Low-speed close-quarters handling
- High-speed planing and turns
- Man-overboard recovery
- Basic coastal navigation and safety
Crucially, it can be commercially endorsed and forms the basis for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Why yachts insist on it
Almost every superyacht carries a tender — and someone has to drive it. Guests need shuttling ashore, toys need launching, and it all has to happen smoothly and safely. Yachts want proof you can handle their tender before they hand you the keys, and Level 2 is that proof.
Level 1, by contrast, is an introduction with no real hiring value. If you only take one powerboat course, make it Level 2.
Where you train matters
A pool or sheltered marina teaches the basics, but tenders work in real sea states. Training RYA Powerboat Level 2 off Antibes means you handle chop, wake and current — the conditions you’ll actually face alongside a yacht.
The deckhand who can bring a tender alongside in a swell, first time, gets asked back.
Never driven a boat? Take the Level 1 + 2 combo over three days and go from complete beginner to a hireable certificate.