For the second time this year, Port Calanova hosted the BOOTE driving course. Following the Spring event in Mallorca In October, 21 participants came together to practise under the guidance of experienced skippers. Together with our partners Boats in Polch, the OnWater Sailing School, the WeBoat Club and Pantaenius Over the course of three days, they were offered a varied programme of lessons.
Numerous manoeuvres on five boats
Unlike at driving school, the focus was not on a single test. The participants were encouraged to practise manoeuvres until they felt more confident on board: mooring and casting off, harbour manoeuvres, knots and anchoring. With temperatures of 27 degrees, a cloudy sky and choppy waves, the participants also learnt how to navigate the waves correctly. The groups rotated between the boats over the three days. This allowed them to test how differently the various models felt when steering and manoeuvring.
The fleet included an Axopar 25 XT, a Axopar 29 ST, a Axopar 38 XC as well as a Nimbus T9 and a Nimbus T11. In the first edition of the Driving courses on the Moselle Practising on different boats was part of the programme. On the inland waterways, the focus was on passing through locks.
The participants’ varying levels of prior knowledge were evident. Matthias Stienen from Bottrop says: “I only got my recreational boat licence in Palma at the start of the year.” He came across the training course whilst searching for a charter boat at the WeBoat Club. As he visits Mallorca regularly, he would like to sail there more often himself in future. Others were attending for the second time, including one participant who brought his wife along this time. One participant’s main aim was to gain more experience at the helm and dispel stereotypes about women on board. Two brothers with sailing experience also used the course to familiarise themselves better with motorboats.
Finding your bearings in the dark
The night-time cruise has now become an integral part of the three-day programme. Alexander Dirschinger, who sails an Axopar 29 himself, highlighted not only the view of Palma at night but, above all, the learning aspect: distances and wave patterns appear different in the dark. The participants practised identifying maritime traffic using radar and nautical charts. For one participant in particular, this trip was unusual because a day charter normally ends before nightfall.
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Why the Preparing for a night-time trip by motorboat It soon becomes clear out on the water that there is more to it than just glancing at the chart plotter. The instruments help with navigation, but they do not relieve the crew of the need to keep an eye on other vessels.
Video: Night-time driving
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Try out Pantaenius’s rescue equipment
During the safety training session, Ole Pietschke from Pantaenius explained what is important in the event of a maritime emergency or a fire on board. Two participants demonstrated how to inflate a lifejacket. A life raft was then launched into the water and participants were shown how to respond in such an emergency. A volunteer, wearing a lifejacket, tried out what it feels like to board the liferaft. Two skippers demonstrated how to set off signal flares, rounding off the programme.
After the Pantaenius expert had explained the different types of fire extinguishers and how to use them, the participants were given the chance to have a go themselves. In a small basin, Ole Pietschke repeatedly set the fire alight so that volunteers could learn the correct way to extinguish it. Many of the participants had never held a fire extinguisher before, which is why this part of the programme also became a highlight of the BOOTE driving course.
To round things off, the whole fleet set off on a trip to Cala Blava, followed by a group lunch on board the boats. “Informative, great fun and, to be honest, an unforgettable experience,” said participant Alexander Dirschinger, summing up the BOOTE driving course.
Video: three days of BOOTE driving training in Mallorca
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Further dates and information on the BOOTE driving course
- 8 to 10 April 2027: Port Calanova, Mallorca; cost per person: 1,100 euros; maximum of 25 participants
- 2 to 4 July 2027: Traben-Trarbach/Moselle, cost per person: 700 euros, maximum 15 participants
- 30 September to 2 October 2027: Port Calanova, Mallorca; cost per person: 1,100 euros; maximum of 25 participants
- Accommodation available on request
- For information and bookings, please visit: bootefahrtraining.de
Leonie Meyer
Editor News & Panorama