010406020305LONG-TERM TESTDAY 04
The final day of Urban Truant’s
three-day course is where you’re
let loose with everything you’ve
learnt. This might include sailing to
Cowes for fish and chips, popping
to a pub in Beaulieu, or playfully
bouncing off the wash of a Red
Funnel ferry. Sounds poetic, but
it’s a proper thrill. Only the real hard
work hasn’t happened yet...DAY 05
I can’t believe that in my hands is a
proper Powerboat Level 2 handling
licence. But as it stands, I still need
someone competent on the radio
to take me out to sea. That’s why
the VHF Short-Range Certificate
exam requires around 10 hours
of hard revision before sitting an
actual test. This includes knowing
what each channel is for, how to
raise distress signals and using the
phonetic language.DAY 14
The great thing about the radio
exam is that it can be taken
at centres around the country
nowhere near the sea – and to
prove it, I’ve just sat mine at Didcot
in Oxfordshire. A 60% pass mark
is required, and... well, that’s it. I’m
Captain Birdseye minus the cod.DAY 02
Before we’re allowed to bother Isle
of Wight ferries on Urban Truant’s
£35,000 Highfield Patrol 660 RIBs,
the course instructors take safety
seriously. We’re soon soaking up
a huge amount of knowledge: what
each buoy means, how to navigate
using plotters and charts, shipping
forecasts and tide times, which
radio channels to use and how.
Having a salty ex-Royal Marine
called Paul call the shots sets
my mind at ease, but it’s not long
before we’re on the water and
approaching 30 knots (35mph)
using Honda’s 100hp BF 100 XRTU
VTEC engines.DAY 03
Heading out to sea from the River
Hamble is nowhere near as scary
as I imagined – even when we are
flanked by car ferries. Sticking to
six knots is excruciating, but once
on open water I soon release the
throttle and realise how much the
theory lessons have stuck. I’ve
learned how to use the tide and
wind direction to my advantage
and how to carry out slow-speed
manoeuvres, as well as mastering
the trim and tilt of the engine
when changing speeds; but even
so, hurtling across the sea at over
20 knots shouldn’t feel this easy.STUFF SAYS
A bucket-list
entry that’s
affordable
whether you
want to own a
boat or just rent+++++
01 Honda’s ownership model
is easy and quite affordable
02 Courses are in depth and
fill you with confidence
03 No sinkings and no scurvy
equals a successful week04 Joining a boat club brings
costs right down
05 For a boat with real power
you’re talking car money...
05 ...plus potential insurance,
mooring and trailer costsDonut of Truth™
Engine
100hp 1496cc
Throttle range
Up to 6300rpm
Top speed
30 knots (approx)
Dimensions
6.54x2.49m,
740kg
Tech specs