In-house Instructor Training Programme

RYA Dinghy Instructor

Our Instructor Training programme is unique and unrivalled in Ireland. Our course ensures all students sailing are at the level required for the Royal Yachting Association pre-entry assessment. Our programme concentrates not only on sailing ability but on other key aspects necessary to be a successful instructor including presentation skills, interpersonal skills, risk analysis and on the water safety.

Mandatory Pre-Requisites

Candidates to this programme must satisfy the following criteria:

  1. Have acted as an assistant instructor with us during the Summer programmes
  2. Be 16 years of age on Friday 5th April 2024 – there is absolutely no room to manoeuvre on this and is a requirement laid down by the Royal Yachting Association.
  3. Be available on Saturday 17th or Sunday 18th February, or indeed a rescheduled date if needed for weather reasons, to undertake the RYA Pre-Entry Assessment.

 

Programme Outline

The programme is broken into a number of modules which are outlined below.

Important Information…

Please note that success on this programme is not guaranteed. Unfortunately it is not possible to assume that students will pass the programme and we want to highlight this at the earliest possibility.

Runs Sundays 9.30am-5pm each day

  • September 10th, 17th, 24th
  • October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th

A sailing assessment will take place on Monday 30th 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 focusing on sailing skills in this time.

The cost for module 1 is €360 per person.

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

  • October 31st, November 1st, 2nd, 3rd
  • November 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

The cost for this module is €320.

National Powerboat Certificate: Runs from 9.30am-5pm each day

  • Course 1: Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December
  • Course 2: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December

On Sunday the 3rd of December and Sunday the 10th 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 16th December

The cost for this module is €380.

  • VHF Course 1: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th January, 10am-5pm each day
  • VHF Course 2: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th January, 10am-5pm each day
  • First Aid Course 1: Saturday 6th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
  • First Aid Course 2: Saturday 13th January (9.30am-4.30pm)

The cost for the VHF course is €250 and the first aid is €125. 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     21st, 28th
  • February:    4th, 11th
  • February Mid-Term: 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th

The cost for this module is €360.

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 17th or Sunday 18th February. The assessment takes place from 9am-5pm and costs €100.

Please note, that in the case of bad weather we have scheduled the weekend of Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 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 25th
  • March      3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

RYA Dinghy Instructor Course

  • Course 1: Monday 25th to Friday 29th March
  • Course 2: Monday 1st to Friday 5th 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 €550.

Call us on 01 2844195 or email sailing@inss.ie of you have any questions.

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