RYA Dinghy Instructor Course

If you’ve got a passion for dinghy sailing, why not train to teach others the exhilarating sport? As a dinghy instructor, you’ll need to be a competent, experienced dinghy sailor who’s able to communicate with a diverse range of people.

Course Requirements

  • Minimum age 16

  • RYA powerboat level 2 certificate - find a course here

  • Valid one day first aid course, preferably the RYA first aid course - find a course here

  • Online Safe and Fun course completion certificate

  • Successful completion of a sailing skills pre assessment - See below for further details and booking

About the course

This course will enable you to teach the below courses under the supervision of a senior instructor at a RYA recognised training centre:

  • RYA Youth Sailing Scheme Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • RYA national Sailing Scheme Levels 1, 2 and 3

  • Day Sailing

  • Seamanship Skills

  • Sailing with Spinnakers (if suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor)

The course will involve practical and theory sessions afloat and ashore.

You will be trained in the teaching techniques of the RYA schemes.

The course is Run by a RYA Trainer and moderated on the final day by another RYA Trainer who has not been involved in the candidate's training.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in course preparation, delivery and management, as well as customer liaison.

Full joining instructions will be sent out nearer the course time. In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact heidi@wfyc.co.uk

Dates

The course will take place on the following dates.You must attend all days. Some days are likely to be early morning starts whilst others are likely to include evenings. This is dependent on tides, weather and course progress.

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March 2024

Friday 29th March through to Monday 1st April 2024

RYA pre skills assessment

Required before you take your dinghy instructor course. Can be completed up to one year before your course.

Candidates should be able to complete tasks such as those listed below, sailing at all times with an awareness of the 'five essentials', and confirming they can sail in a controlled and confident manner, showing consideration for preparation, communication, approach and execution, at all times.  

During the assessment the candidate will be asked to complete the following:

  • Sail around a triangular course of 100m (minimum) legs to the best of their ability using all the boat’s normal equipment, including spinnaker if carried.

  • Sail a tight circular course around a stationary boat, making only one tack and one gybe.

  • Sail a ‘follow my leader’ course behind another boat.  The course may include all points of sailing and may be behind another sailing dinghy or behind a powered boat.

  • Pick up a man overboard dummy; the boat to be stopped and more than one attempt should not be needed.   

The candidate may also be asked to complete some of the following:

  • Sail without a rudder, or with the tiller on a loose elastic, around a triangular course.  You will be expected to make good progress around the course in a seamanlike manner (not applicable to keelboat or multihull instructor candidates).

  • Lee shore landing and departure

  • Anchor or pick up a mooring - wind against tide (if appropriate)       

  • Come alongside a moored boat - wind against tide (if appropriate)

  • Recover a capsized dinghy and sail away (not keelboats)

Full joining instructions will be sent out nearer the course time. In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact heidi@wfyc.co.uk

Dates

10th March 2024