Follow the Leader - US Powerboating

Purpose-Value:

Practice and develop the boat handling skills of turning and making speed adjustments while staying in formation.
Helps beginning operators bring the boat to a planing speed by having the reference of a boat ahead of them.
Helps develop operator comfort in crossing wakes by having the reference of a boat ahead of them.

Boats start from a position dead in the water or at dock near the trainer’s boat.

On signal, all boats form a single line astern of the trainer boat at pre-briefed separation.
Trainer leads boats through a series of figure-eights at varying speeds.
Each boat switches operators when signaled by trainer and when dead in the water, or at the start of an on-water session.

Before conducting this drill, the trainer will have stressed the problems encountered by different hull designs while turning in a seaway or cross a wake.
Do not dawdle in semi-displacement speed. Start out slowly, but when transitioning to a plane do so smartly.
Trainer ensures a system of hand signals is in place in order to tell operators when the trainer boat is slowing down. Have them repeat the signal until all boats are repeating it.
This drill can often be accomplished when leaving the docking area and proceeding to the drill area.

Allowing boat to change heading during transition to planing speed.
Hesitating in transitioning to planing speed and remaining in semi-displacement speed for an extended period of time.
Failing to remain directly behind the boat ahead and winding up in its quarter wake with resulting difficulty in steering.
Having a misperception that staying in the prop wash of the boat ahead risks excessive turbulence and could cause steering difficulty, but it does not.

Safe Powerboating Handling On-Water Skill Standards 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.10 and their rubrics
Start Powerboating Right! textbook pp. 48, 53