Is it RYA practical worthwhile if you did thoery and have expierience

[Uricanejack]

Thank you all for your replies. I see most of you found it worthwhile and had a positive experience. A few did not.
Instruction quality depends on the instructor Probably most are good with a few bad apples in every barrel.
I only instructed at a basic level and quite some time ago.
I never did see any point in stressing people. In practice I tried to do the opposite. I don’t think I ever failed anyone.
I used to regard the exam as an opportunity to see if the student had learned the primary objectives of the course and if necessary go over some bits again so they understood them better.
I used to think the exam was supposed to be enjoyable and build their confidence by showing me and themselves they could do it. And leave the student with a sense of achievement..
The Yacht Master is probably a higher standard or level than I used to instruct to. If I manage to find the time and opportunity I would be interested in taking the course and perhaps becoming an instructor.

 

[Uricanejack]

I very much doubt you would be failed for that - there is a clear reason for countermanding the request, and subtle follow-up, OK show me you're right afterwards. If your calculations proved that your earlier decision was totally wrong, it was a learning experience.

It is a well known instructor / examiner technique to request a candidate takes the boat into, say Lymington, at low water - it's 50 / 50 whether run aground unless they know the channel well, but with the safety of a rising tide. And what better way to demonstrate techniques for getting off the mud!

Only ever went into Lymington once. It was just before low water. Its the now the one and only time I have ever felt peculiar feeling of getting stuck in the mud. Lovely summer evening loads of spectators. Fortunatly going slow raised the boom everyone pushed out to starboard by leaning on boom. And we were able ot back off only our pride hurt.

 

[alant]

I very much doubt you would be failed for that - there is a clear reason for countermanding the request, and subtle follow-up, OK show me you're right afterwards. If your calculations proved that your earlier decision was totally wrong, it was a learning experience.

It is a well known instructor / examiner technique to request a candidate takes the boat into, say Lymington, at low water - it's 50 / 50 whether run aground unless they know the channel well, but with the safety of a rising tide. And what better way to demonstrate techniques for getting off the mud!

Must have a deep draft, to run aground then, cos the channel is 3m+ at chart datum.
Unless you take a short cut, having missed a green post.

 

[marklucas]

Must have a deep draft, to run aground then, cos the channel is 3m+ at chart datum.
Unless you take a short cut, having missed a green post.

But let's say I cunningly timed it so that we would be in the Bag of Halfpence as they passed - useful little test of co-existing with other traffic and also looking behind you!

 

[mcframe]

I very much doubt you would be failed for that - there is a clear reason for countermanding the request, and subtle follow-up, OK show me you're right afterwards. If your calculations proved that your earlier decision was totally wrong, it was a learning experience.

That was the gist of it - can you make a rough approximation (and err on the safe side), then back it up with accurate numbers when time for calculation allows?

It is a well known instructor / examiner technique to request a candidate takes the boat into, say Lymington, at low water - it's 50 / 50 whether run aground unless they know the channel well, but with the safety of a rising tide. And what better way to demonstrate techniques for getting off the mud!

<ahem>
Two-up, first time out on strange boat with uncalibrated sounder, pushed out of channel by new! bigger! ferry; an hour or so admiring the scenery - learning experience....

 

[mjcoon]

I very much doubt you would be failed for that - there is a clear reason for countermanding the request, and subtle follow-up, OK show me you're right afterwards. If your calculations proved that your earlier decision was totally wrong, it was a learning experience.

Like the dread words in a maths exam: "Show working"! (No good just guessing...)

Mike.

 

[alant]

That was the gist of it - can you make a rough approximation (and err on the safe side), then back it up with accurate numbers when time for calculation allows?



<ahem>
Two-up, first time out on strange boat with uncalibrated sounder, pushed out of channel by new! bigger! ferry; an hour or so admiring the scenery - learning experience....

One of the problems, particularly Lymington, is that the ferries stir up the bottom, so any depthsounder is totally confused, so extremely unreliable.
Can happen if too close to an aerated wake as well.