While injuries from using PWCs and other watersports equipment are rare, they do sometimes happen. I’ve seen it myself: On assignment several years ago aboard a megayacht charter, I watched as the photographer accompanying me fell off the Jet Ski he’d been zipping around on and, in the process, hit his foot so hard that it swelled up like a balloon.
Now, the crew had instructed him on how to operate the watertoy, so no one was at fault. But even with that, incidents like this, plus concern over proper operation and the potential danger involved, have led officials in parts of Europe and the United States to require PWC users to become licensed. As you can imagine, this poses a particular challenge for charter yachts, where the watertoys are among the main reasons why people book the boats. Then add the fact that the captain and crew need to take extra time for training, and another set of challenges arises.
Thankfully, the Royal Yachting Association, the national governing body for all types of recreational and competitive boats in the UK, recognizes superyachts as approved training centers. As a result, there’s a company that will send a team to the yacht, regardless of where it is, and train up to a dozen people at a time using the boat’s own equipment. The result is a qualified instructional staff (a.k.a. the yacht’s crew) who can issue the proper licenses to charter guests on the spot–and, by extension, the knowledge that even if an accident does occur, it’s not out of negligence or indifference on the part of the captain or crew.
The company, Blueprint Watersports, has thus far worked with megayachts such as Anastasia, Solemar, Lady in Blue, and Lady Dahlia. Chris Eades, the company director, says the benefits extend beyond supplying a solution to the licensing issue. “We believe we can not only create a better-trained and safer environment but also assist with crew retention,” he explains. “Through our crew-development and personal-watercraft programs, megayachts can quickly get up to speed on best practice in the smaller watersports, stopping any issues of unlicensed drivers as well as providing a more customer-service-focused environment.”
The first step in the process involves Blueprint Watersports’ team visiting the yacht to prepare written operating procedures, a training manual, and other documents vital for the RYA Centre Recognition application. Once the application is accepted, Blueprint Watersports sends a PWC instructor to work with up to six people at a time onboard; even though U.S. and European regulations don’t require licenses for other watertoys like windsurfers and water skis, Blueprint Watersports will provide training for these as well, if so desired. The last step in the process: ensuring the crew can demonstrate proper operation and understanding of their responsibilities and RYA requirements when it comes to the toys.
Blueprint Watersports additionally will work with yacht crews to prepare PWC operations manuals, which, among other things, spell out steps to take in various emergencies.
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