Like Night and Day

Driving a boat during the day is relatively straightforward. Visibility is clear, hazards are easier to spot, and navigational markers, land features, and other vessels can be identified quickly with the naked eye. For many new crew members, their first practical boat handling experience happens in daylight, often in calm and familiar conditions.

At night, however, everything changes. Distances are harder to judge, and previously obvious navigation marks can become confusing or disappear entirely. Lighting from other boats, shorelines, and marinas can create visual distortion. The ability to safely navigate in darkness — especially when carrying passengers — requires heightened awareness, confident decision-making, and a thorough understanding of light patterns, electronics, and safe pilotage.

Operating a tender after sunset is not just a continuation of daytime driving — it’s an entirely different skill set. It involves navigating without visual references, interpreting navigation and vessel lights, managing passenger comfort and safety, and often performing under greater pressure. These are not skills taught in the RYA Powerboat Handling Level 2 (PB2) course, which was originally designed for recreational users, not professional crew.

RYA Tender Operator Course with Seascope France

PB2 remains a valuable starting point, but it is an entry-level qualification. It introduces boat handling and basic navigation, but does not cover the real-life scenarios faced by tender drivers on a superyacht — especially when operating at night, in unfamiliar ports, or with VIP guests on board. As such, it leaves a significant training gap for those expected to take on these responsibilities confidently and safely.

The RYA Tender Operator Certificate was created specifically to address this gap. Designed with input from the Professional Yachting Association (PYA), the course focuses on the practical challenges of tender work within the yachting industry. It builds on the PB2 foundation and adds critical skills, including day and night pilotage, passenger safety, communication with mothership (superyacht), towing, and emergency procedures.

Unlike PB2, which is aimed at general powerboat users, the Tender Operator course is tailored to the realities of superyacht operations. It is not just about driving the boat — it’s about handling guests professionally, navigating complex marinas, and delivering consistent, high-standard service in all conditions. It equips crew with the tools and confidence to carry out one of the most high-pressure duties on board with greater skill and safety.

As yachting continues to grow and evolve, so too must its standards. While the Tender Operator course is still relatively new and not yet a formal requirement across the industry, it represents a significant step forward. With time — and as more captains, managers, and training providers recognize its value — it has the potential to become a new benchmark for professional tender operations in the superyacht world.