A different kind of driving test

 I don’t remember exactly when it was now, but back in the early noughties, I took myself off to the UK to follow a boat handling course which also involved taking a short theory test on the CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies de la Navigation Intérieure or European Inland Waterway rules) to qualify me for the RYA (Royal Yacht Association) inland waterways’ helmsman’s certificate, valid in Europe as well. I did the course on a narrowboat on the Thames, then I took the theory test. It involved maybe a dozen questions on the rules, but that was it. I passed both, but I somehow never felt I was really qualified for navigating Europe’s waterways. I just had that feeling something important was missing.

For a start, driving a narrowboat on the Thames, upstream of the tidal stretch, in fine weather, didn’t seem like sufficient preparation for driving my Dutch barge with a wheel, not a tiller, on a very busy commercial and tidal river in windy, often bad weather in the Netherlands. The two just didn’t relate. Secondly, the theory test seemed skimpy to say the least. Since then, and because of my lack of confidence  in the training I received (not their fault at all – the situation was just too different), I have generally left all the steering and manoeuvring to Koos. He was born on a barge and to him it is as intuitive as breathing. It wasn’t difficult to accept that his skill would always be greater in all and any situation.

However, and this is the thing, I stupidly let my English RYA license lapse, and it’s now too late to renew it. As a result, and because I can’t always guarantee Koos will be available to be my skipper when necessary (of course, he’s always willing, but you never know), I decided to study for the Dutch waterways’ permit, known here as the Klein Vaarbewijs (certificate for operators of pleasure craft). There are two parts to this license and I’m aiming to do Part 1 only as I have no intention of cruising on wide waters where there might be waves. Big ones. I do not do the sea or its equivalent. I get hopelessly sea sick and that would never do if I were taking on skipper’s duties, so Part 2 is one I deem to be unnecessary for me. It also means no one can ever ask me to cross the Westerschelde estuary, my big horror. Smart, eh?

Anyway, I’ve been at it now for a few months and I am staggered by the amount I need to learn and know. It is so much more involved than the somewhat meagre CEVNI rules test I did, which amounted to knowing what a few lights, boards and symbols meant. Now, I need to understand the theory of manoeuvring with both a right and left turning propellor, what effect a bow thruster has (which we don’t have) and what the right of way rules are for sailing boats, both in relation to other sailboats and to motorboats. There is also technical stuff to understand about diesel, petrol and electric engines, both inboard and outboard, as well as regulations for the Dutch waterways and those rivers that are part of the Rhine system. The BPR (the Dutch rules) are often different from the RPR (the Rhine rules) as regards who has right of way in different situations. 

I have to say my brain is spinning with all the different information I am having to retain and I’ll be very happy if I just scrape through the exam. I’ve booked it now so for the next few weeks, I’ll be practising during the countdown. Wish me luck and some nice easy questions! 😄

In other news, spring sprung and then slumped back into winter mode again. So far, March has been cold, wet and none too encouraging, but my forsythia is doing a great job of blooming with enthusiasm and we are getting one or two jobs done on board when conditions allow.

Here are a few photos to give you the idea that the world is waking up.

A sunny afternoon today

Our village

Commercial barge on our canal

My beautiful ship

Typical March. Undecided. Should it rain or 
shine?

Have a lovely weekend allemaal and I wish you all a peaceful, pleasant week. The world might be about to implode, but as long as the sun rises every day, we can have hope.