In-house Instructor Training Programme

Runs Sundays 9.30am-5pm each day

• September 11^th, 18^th, 25^th
• October 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 23^rd, 30^th

A sailing assessment will take place on Monday 31^st October. At this stage, candidates who are unlikely to make the sailing grade will not be invited to continue the programme, and instead will be given an action plan to put into place to make the grade at a future date. This would likely involve waiting a year while focussing on sailing skills in this time.

The cost for module 1 is €315 per person.

Runs during the Halloween mid-term (Tuesday – Friday) from 9am-5pm each day and Sundays 9.30am-5pm each day

• November 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th
• November 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th

The cost for this module is €290.

National Powerboat Certificate: Runs from 9am-5pm each day

• Course 1: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December
• Course 2: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December

On Sunday the 4th of December and Sunday the 11th December, students undertaking the course on the alternative weekend will have a double handed day to work on rigging skills, as well as a final pre-Christmas sailing review (not assessment) with feedback.

Powerboat Practice: Runs on Saturday 10am-5pm

• Saturday 17th December

The cost for this module is €330.

• VHF Course 1: Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th January, 10am-5pm each day
• VHF Course 2: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th January, 10am-5pm each day
• First Aid Course 1: Saturday 7th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
• First Aid Course 2: Saturday 14th January (9.30am-4.30pm)

The cost for the VHF course is €199 and the first aid is €129. Students only need do one of each.

If your child already holds a first aid certificate, please email a copy to us and we can advise if it meets the requirements for the RYA Dinghy Instructor Course.

Runs Sunday 9.30am-5pm each day and 9am-5pm during the February Mid-Term.

• January     22nd, 29th
• February:    5th, 12th
• February Mid-Term: 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th

The cost for this module is €330.

External Examination of Sailing Ability – RYA Pre-Entry Assessment

Prior to an instructor course all candidates are required to be assessed by an RYA appointed assessor. Currently the date for this assessment is Saturday the 18th or Sunday 19th February. The assessment takes place from 9am-5pm and costs €59.

Please note, that in the case of bad weather we have scheduled the weekend of Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March as a back up set of dates.

This is a pass/fail exam. Attendance at training session will undoubtably help a student prepare, however, they may not be at the required standard to become an instructor. If they are unsuccessful, they will be unable to continue on the programme.

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.

You 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.
• Lee shore landing and departure
• Anchor or pick up a mooring – wind against tide (if appropriate)
• Come along-side a moored boat – wind against tide (if appropriate)
• Recover a capsized dinghy and sail away.

Prior to the instructor course we’ve a couple of tailored training dates, designed to iron out any challenges on the instructor course. These sessions run 9.30am-5pm each Sunday. Theoretical components of the syllabus will also be covered in depth.

• February 26^th
• March      5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th
• April         2^nd

RYA Dinghy Instructor Course

• Course 1: Monday 3^rd to Friday 7^th April
• Course 2: Monday 10^th to Friday 14^th April

Candidates need only attend one of the above courses, running over the Easter break. The cost for the pre-course training and instructor course is €499.