To comply with the MCA requirement for on-going training, every skipper and crew member is required to attend a briefing session at the start of each season, before they are allowed to skipper or crew that season.
If you miss the briefing sessions and do not crew that year, you will need to attend another training session before you can crew again.
Dates for this season's briefings are posted on the 'Forthcoming Events' page.
In addition, there will be occasional spot-checks during the season - don't panic, we're not trying to catch you out. This is to ensure that we offer a consistently good service to our passengers, and maintain the highest safety standards at all times. Click here (pdf) to see the operations audit form that is used.
First Aid courses are usually held in the winter. We will also be holding other fire and water safety courses, as required by the MCA. Courses are normally held in the Loxwood Church Room, opposite the Onslow Arms.
For any of you who need to renew your BML next year and do not have the Fire Safety and Water Safety courses please let Mike know at your earliest convenience so that arrangements can be made to do the courses before next season.
Crew training days in 2012 will be Saturday 17th March and Sunday 25th March, running from 9am until about 4pm. Further training days may be arranged during the season according to demand.
If you would like to attend any of these sessions (as a new or existing crew member), please contact Pat Crawley (see Crew list, or email Training [at] waelboat [dot] co.uk).
Skippers, when your Boatmaster's licence expires, you will need to renew it. When the time comes (or preferably a couple of months beforehand), contact Pat Crawley (see WAEL Officers) for an MCA renewal form and medical form. Pat will also give you the contact details of our friendly doctor in Horsham. After you've passed your medical, send off all the forms with the renewal fee, and you should get your new licence in a month or so.