Dinghy Instructor course information
RYA DINGHY INSTRUCTOR COURSE
25th-29th October 2010
Welcome!
The idea behind this page is to offer you some pre and background reading to aid you before and during your RYA Dinghy Instructor Course, you may also find other useful information throughout this website and on http://www.ryatraining.org
Pre-course requisites:-
Pre-entry passed, Valid First Aid certificate, RYA Powerboat level 2 certificate.
At the begining of your course you will be asked to fill out a record card with the details above, in addition you will either need your RYA membership number, or if you are not a member to pay a certificate fee (it is cheaper to become a member!). Click on the link below to join or renew:-
Course duration:-
5 days, the last day will be your moderation, this is carried out by your coach and an external moderator. The idea of moderation is two-fold 1) To make sure that the final desicion is fair and that there is no bias & that you are up to the RYA standard. 2) To offer you more 'top-teaching tips'
See RLYC INSTRUCTOR COURSE PROGRAM for more information, course timings etc under useful downloads below.
Items to bring:-
Sailing kit:- including buoyancy aid, wet/dry suit, boots, gloves, towel etc. - (when afloat you should be dressed get wet at all times)
Safety/teaching kit:- Knife, Whistle, electrical tape & perhaps a wet notes book may be beneficial.
Other:- Your certificates (as detailed in pre-requisites), RYA membership number, Drinks/snacks, a note book & pen, any pre-course work you may have completed.
Books:- At a minimum a copy of the RYA Dinghy Coaching handbook (G14), you may also find the following publications will aid you; RYA Youth sailing scheme syllabus & logbook (G11), RYA Advanced sailing handbook (G12), RYA National sailing scheme syllabus & logbook (G4), RYA Start Sailing handbook (G3).
Click on the link below to purchase the books listed above from the RYA shop:-
Pre-course preparation:-
1) During your course you will be expected to have a certain amount of background knowledge, this will be checked through general teaching, presentations and perhaps a quiz. The items you may be asked about (though are not limited to) are as follows:-
- Tides - How tides occur. Reading & interpreting a tide table. Tidal streams. Springs & Neaps. Rule of twelfths.
- Weather - Sources of weather information. Interpreting a MetOffice inshore forecast.
- Beaufort scale. Weather patterns including cold & warm fronts. Sea breeze.
- Navigation & Chartwork to Day Sailing standards - including planning a route, chart colours, drying heights, symbols, variation, latitude & longitute. Measuring bearings and distance. Use of a compass.
- Basic aerodynamic theory - How a sail works
- Road rules (IRPCS)
- Terminology - Parts of the boat & sail, Points of sail
- Basic rig set up and tuning
- Dinghy classes - Whats the right boat for you?
- Planning a day sailing trip
- Anchoring
- Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Spinnakers
2) Prepare a 10 minute presentation on the subject marked with your name. Pitched to the level stated alongside (for more info, see the RYA logbooks & handbooks):-
- Basic aerodynamic theory (how a sail works) - Level 2 - David Smethurst
- IRPCS (road rules) - Seamanship - Jane Cook
- Anchoring - Seamanship - Jenny Bennett
- Meterology (weather)- Day Sailing - Laurence Doll
- Tides - Youth stage 4 - Naomi Reading
-
Buoyage - Youth Stage 4 - Victoria Leen
3) Take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire, click here record your results and bring them along to the course with you.
Possible course outcomes:-
If you come onto the course with a postitive attitude, reasonable background knowledge and good sailing skills then there should be no reason why you shouldn't pass. If for any reason you do not meet the criteria set then the alternative outcome is that you may recieve an action plan; this will be written and give clear guidance on the items you are required to complete prior to being issued with your instructor certificate. These may be items such as brushing up on your background theory knowledge, gaining confidence in a teaching environment (i.e. going away and assisting on some sailing courses or maybe just a little work on your personal sailing skills). Whatever the action plan, it will be discussed and agreed with you prior to being written to make sure the aims are achieveable and reasonable.
Throughout the course you will recieve constructive debriefs and imput from your coach; so there should be no point during you course where you are unsure as to the level of your performance. We are there to support you through every step of the process.
Useful downloads:-
RLYC Instructor Course Program
Video tutorials:-
Measuring distance on a nautical chart
Measuring bearings on a nautical chart
Reading & Interpreting a tidal diamond
Books you will find useful on this course are:
