DSC VHF Course

Well, after all the swatting and panicking for the last few weeks, it was the big day. Up at 7.30, showered, shaved & everything else! I had my cuppa and some toast & was out of the door by 08.15 , in the car & heading down to Portland.
Today was the day I was taking a short course & exam for my VHF users licence, All the way there I kept running through the things I had read that I remembered, & trying to recall other things from the books & DVDs that I hadn`t.
I got to Bluewater Horizons at 08,55 & met Chris, the other student, a lady on the course & ian the instructor. After introductions were over we all went inside, the two of us students were seated in a small room with the instructor & two VHF sets that were linked together.
After the first 20mins all the panicking & uneasiness just melted away as we both settled into the course. We were put at ease by the instructor & he went through everything that was on the syllabus, letting us know when he was talking about something that would be an important part of the test.
We practiced on the setup VHF sets & had a good laugh along the way as our instructor played the part of a coast guard & added a few twists & turns to our radio calls, along with a few cheeky laughs.
Later in the afternoon we revised what we had covered through the day & then came the exam!
This was the part all the worrying was about, It was a doddle! we both finished the paper in less than 20mins, The answers were all fresh in our heads as was the practice through the day.
There was no surprises & no need to worry.
I passed with 100% & distinction, My licence was applied for, When I got home I went onto the net & found the Ofcom site, registered my boat & radio equipment & received my ships licence, call sign & MMSI number.
All in all it was a really good day & so easy, If I can do it anyone can, So if you have a boat & havn`t done the course or fitted a VHF, Get off your bum & do it! you`l enjoy it & your VHF is the number 1 piece of safety equipment on your boat, with it you are never far from help, without it you could be in very serious trouble.
Don`t take a chance, Take a course!