RYA Personal Watercraft Proficiency (PWC)

The personal watercraft course is a one day course available from the age of 12 years, which gives the RYA Certificate of Competence for Personal Watercraft. After a short theory session, the rest of the day is spent on the water covering aspects such as fast speed manoeuvring, anchoring, towing, coming alongside pontoons and safety.

To use a Personal Watercraft in Gwynedd there are Local Authority Regulations. These include:-

Every Personal Watercraft that uses/crosses Gwynedd Council owned or managed coastal areas, shall register the craft with Gwynedd Council;

To obtain registration, a fee shall be paid, and proof of identity and insurance will be needed;

Having correct Insurance Cover, where the minimum Third Party is £1 million;

A wakeless speed is compulsory within 50 metres of another PWC, boat, dock, skier, swimmer or angler and that the maximum speed is 4mph within a 100 metres of the coastline;

No one under the age of 12 years can operate a Personal Watercraft;

You can operate a Personal Watercraft between the ages of 12 to 14 but must possess the RYA Certificate of Competence, and operate under direct adult supervision. The definition of "supervision" is such that the adult is present on the craft;

You can operate a Personal Watercraft between the ages of 15 to 17 but must possess the RYA Certificate of Competence;

You must be at least 18 years of age to operate a Personal Watercraft without any qualification.