RYA Alternatives

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tangomoon

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Having just read the RYA training courses at a Watersports Centre - I am (what ever superlatives you want to put in)

To become a dinghy instructor, you need

Recognised first aid certificate £095
Pre-entry training and assessment £175
Pre-entry assessment £095
Power boat level 2 £275
Dinghy Instructor £335

PLUS! travel PLUS accommodation PLUS food and it's suitable for 16 y.o. !! Rich ones of course!

So does anybody know if there is an alternative to the stranglehold the RYA is beginning to have that sucks money in faster than owning a boat.
 
Look about the Marina's in your area or ask at your local technical college, the prices you are quoting seam high to me. I'm sure there are independent instructors out there who should quote better rates.
 
Re: Look for local clubs...

Try and get involved with local sailing clubs. My childrens club runs a full set of courses every year for a donation and the cost of certification.
 
Re: Look for local clubs...

Ah I think many have missed the point that you want to be a qualified instructor for dinghies. I can tell you that the power boat handling qualification, the first aid cert. and the actual training course for the instructor are similar in Australia. (AYF) You then become an assistant instructor, then instructor, then sailing master. The latter not to be confused with Yacht Master Cert.
The various levels are achieved by actual experience in a sailing school, the sailing master being the qualification to run the school.

It is not an activity where you might get a qualification then put a shingle out for one on one teaching although that is possible.

My wife and I ran a sailing school for 12 years at our local Yacht Club.
We had 10 sailing dinghies so 20 students. For that we had 3 RIB tenders and minimum 5 qualified instructors and additional helpers in RIBs.
It is a very interesting science teaching kids to sail and it is quite different from being a good sailor your self. We got some of the 16 yo would be drop outs from regular racing and got them qualified as assistant instructors. They actually had more sympathy for kids who struggled to manage the boats than the experts.
It can be a huge challenge for kids 9yo up to manage a small dinghy in a breeze. We had many who really didn't get it after 10 x3hr lessons. It is so easy to scare them off. On the other hand we had somme brilliant successes.
One of the main things you must be on top of is assessment of weather and changes expected. So you can protect the kids from difficulties. You must also be prepared in a wet suit to get in the water with the kids when they capsize.


Anyway good luck in your quest but I strongly recommend you get involved with an existing sailing school. The school may even sponsor your training. There are things you must learn which don't come from books. olewill
 
"that sucks money in faster than owning a boat."

Agree, one course often seems to breed another 'must have/do' certificate,
bit like PADI - 'Put Another Dollar In'.

Also seems to be little cross-referencing of the certificate 'basic' stuff from one to another.
 
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