The SRC course is conducted according to the procedures of the British Royal Yachting Association. This includes the exam being held at the end of the course.
Courses are conducted with a maximum of 6 people. This is to your advantage, as it increases the learning effect. Course duration, including exams, is two full days, which is also to your advantage. Besides the theoretical subjects, you get plenty of practical experience on the VHF sets, which you cannot achieve with a 1-day course. We start at 09:00 ending about 17:00 on both days. Courses are normally held at weekends. English is generally accepted as the international maritime language used at sea. Therefore, you will need to have a fair command of the English language, in order to participate in our SRC courses.
If you are not sure if your English is good enough for the course, then why not try a "taster session" This means you can participate in a SRC course and find out for yourself.
Course book The SRC course book is sent to you by post after the course fees have been paid. It has been compiled specially for this SRC course and contains well over 70 pages. It is used in preparation for the course and exam.
If any of the course dates or venues are unsuitable for you, then please contact us.
We take pride in being a very flexible training centre, so can offer you the following:
- A course in your vicinity, on a date that suits you.
- A course in your sailing club.
- A one-to-one SRC course, either in your vicinity or here in our training centre.
Finally, here is an offer to all ex- SRC participants:
If you believe you still need a bit of practice with a VHF set, e.g. just before your next sailing trip, why not join us for the next course and participate, free of charge, of course. Please contact the training centre first.
The basic idea behind this offer is that you go to sea with a secure feeling, knowing how to use the equipment, which channels to use and what to say properly. This is important, as you will be using the same channels as the professionals.
If you have any further questions regarding the course, price, venue, etc., please do not hesitate to contact us by phone fax or email.
The theoretical subjects of the course are presented using a laptop and video beamer.
These include:
- GMDSS
- Requirements and regulations
- VHF channels & frequencies, simplex & duplex
- Routine communication
- Urgency communication
- Distress communication
- Safety communication
- EPIRB, SART, Navtex, Inmarsat
The practical part of the course is conducted using proper VHF Marine-Radio sets (SIMRAD RD68), with one VHF-set per person. We do not use simulation programmes.
You will become very familiarised with the sets, because you will be using it regularly throughout the 2-day course. All the sets are connected to each other, so that communication becomes very realistic, as if you were really at sea.
The following subjects are practiced with the VHF-sets:
- Controls and functions
- Phonetic alphabet, typical procedures, Pro-words
- Routine communication
- Urgency communication
- Distress communication
- Safety communication
The exam consists of a practical and theoretical part. These are conducted immediately after the course.
- General set-up and use of the DSC VHF set
- Sending a Distress Alert and message
- Routine communication with other vessels
During the practical part, participants will be examined using the DSC VHF sets. Typical subjects are:
The theoretical part of the exam consists of:
- 16 questions which have to be answered within 30 minutes.
- 11 of the 16 questions are multiple choice
- 4 of the 16 questions have to be answered in writing, e.g. set-up of a typical distress message.
Successful participants receive the Short Range Certificate about two to five weeks after the exam, by post from the Royal Yachting Association. It is an internationally recognised certificate.
