RYA Senior Instructor Course joining information
RYA SENIOR DINGHY INSTRUCTOR COURSE
8th, 9th, 29th & 30th October 2011
High & Low Wind alternatives downloads - click on each to download PDF:
Welcome and thank you for booking your SI course with Sail Laser, Weymouth!
The idea behind this page is to offer you some pre and background reading to aid you before and during your course, you may also find other useful information throughout this website and on the RYA Training website
Pre-course requisites:-
Minimum age: 18 years, RYA Dinghy Instructor certificate (at least 2 years part-time or 1 year full-time teaching experience), RYA Centre Principal's recommendation (signed off in your G14 logbook), Valid First Aid certificate, RYA Safety boat certificate (completed at a coastal location as this is a coastal course).
At the beginning of your course you will be asked to fill out a record car 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 & Timings:-
4 days (8th, 9th, 29th & 30th October 2011) 9am - 6:30pm on each day
Meeting place on first day:-
Sail Laser office, Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy, Osprey Quay, Portland DT5 1SA (Click here for a map)
Items to bring:-
Sailing kit - buoyancy aid, wet/dry suit, boots, gloves, towel etc ( when afloat you should be dressed to 'get wet' at all times)
Safety/teaching kit:- Knife, whistle, electrical tape, wet notes book.
Other:- Your certificates (as detailed in pre-requisites), RYA membership number, a note book and pen, SI course workbook and any other 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 through the course - RYA Youth sailing scheme syllabus & logbook (G11), RYA Advanced sailing handbook (G12), RYA National Sailing scheme syllabus & logbook (G4), RYA Start sailing handbook (G3).
Food/Drinks:- Drinks/snacks. Re: Lunch; there is a cafe on site but you may prefer to bring a pack-lunch as it gets very busy at weekends.
Pre-course preparation:-
1) Please complete the Senior Instructor course workbook prior to your arrival on the first day, please print off the completed copy, these will be collected in on the first morning by your coach for review.
You can download a PDF version by clicking here OR you can complete the interactive version by clicking here
2) Please download & print off a copy of the course program by clicking here
3) 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 Met office 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 & longitude, Measuring distance & bearings, use of a compass.
- Basic aerodynamic theory - How a sail works.
- Road rules (IRPCS) and basic racing rules.
- Terminology - Parts of the boat & sail. Points of sail.
- Basic rig set up & tuning
- Dinghy classes - What the right boat for your students?
- Planning a day sail - Considerations to make
- Anchoring
- Symmetrical & Asymmetrical spinnakers - rigging, set up, flying
Useful downloads:
Planning a day sail - click here
Session planning checklist - click here
Session planning template - click here
For a variety of other useful downloads linked to the SI course please click here
Possible course outcomes:-
If you come onto the course with a positive attitude, reasonable background knowledge, teaching experience and good sailing and teaching skills then there is no reason why you shouldn't pass. If for any reason however you do not meet the criteria set then the alternative outcome is that you may receive 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 SI certificate. These may be items such as brushing up on your background theory knowledge, gaining confidence (i.e. going away and assisting an existing SI with their role), improving your sailing skills etc.
Whatever the action plan may be, it will be personal to you, it will be discussed and agreed with you and every attempt will be made to make sure all the aims are achievable and reasonable.
Throughout the course you will receive constructive debriefs and input from your coaches; so there should be no point during the course where you feel unsure as to the level of your performance. There are two main 1:1 debriefs that occur mid-course and end of course. However, if for any reason you do feel unsure inbetween these main debriefs, then please feel free to approach us and ask for our input.
We are here to support you through every step of the process.
We look forward to meeting you on the 8th October at 9am.
Kind regards,
Candi Abbott
Test your background theory knowledge by taking our quiz - see below:
Books you will find useful for this course are as follows:
