Yachtmaster Instructor, a new career?

[PhillM]

That's a very interesting thought. I'll look into it but my "skillset" ( what a horrid word) is more "person centred" than "technical"

You would be surprised at how similar business, sales and teaching skills are. All require you to understand the people you are dealing with and give them appropriate information in a way they can easily absorb. Then you need to test comprehension and learning, and so on.

As a business manager I spend the majority of my time planning for and delivering training. After all, in most businesses you can only get results through others, so how you plan their work and educate to do it, is critical to success.

It was a surprise to me at how much passing my Day Skipper impacted on my business. It was the best management training I have ever had. It was the realisation that I could only extend my cruising time from a few hours to overnight passages by having a crew who I trusted with my life that did it. In my business I could only grow past a certain point when I had developed a management team whom I could trust with our shared livelihood.

So there is another potential job for you – “Management Guru”!
.

 

[alant]

You would be surprised at how similar business, sales and teaching skills are. All require you to understand the people you are dealing with and give them appropriate information in a way they can easily absorb. Then you need to test comprehension and learning, and so on.

As a business manager I spend the majority of my time planning for and delivering training. After all, in most businesses you can only get results through others, so how you plan their work and educate to do it, is critical to success.

It was a surprise to me at how much passing my Day Skipper impacted on my business. It was the best management training I have ever had. It was the realisation that I could only extend my cruising time from a few hours to overnight passages by having a crew who I trusted with my life that did it. In my business I could only grow past a certain point when I had developed a management team whom I could trust with our shared livelihood.

So there is another potential job for you – “Management Guru”!
.

Skippering is essentially crew management, so can be a skill transferrable to any field.

 

[maxi77]

Thank you all for the thoughtful and thought provoking replies.

I think I would agree that YM instructing is unlikely to provide an attractive full income and that it might be difficult to secure full time employment.

However it does sound as if it maybe possible to get some part time work to supplement the pension.

I do appreciate the suggestion of making the most of what leisure time one has but I'm not very good at doing "nothing": I like a plan or a project and trying to create a new part time career might fill the bill.

Claymore's point about seeking some consultancy or contract work is interesting but I think I may have done my bit when it comes to young people with very special needs and with local authorities that increasingly seem to have similar needs.. I think I need a "lifestyle change".

The responsibility question is challenging as is the growth in litigation. I spent an earlier part of my career as an outdoor education teacher, skiing, canoeing and wilderness type stuff. That really was a lesson in responsibility.

One "business model" I am considering is getting myself qualified then going into partnership with a friend/former colleague and the two of us buying a boat and creating a business together. We would take it in turn to run courses so the work would not be full time. Half the risk, half the workload and half the income.(Some hope!)

The threat to my job is not yet immediate but I would expect to be in "package land" by the end of next year so I have plenty of time to plan and prepare.

Chap I know took an early retirement package and ploughed the cash into a very nice sigma and now runs a very successfull one man sailing school, so it can be done.

 

[Fascadale]

Chap I know took an early retirement package and ploughed the cash into a very nice sigma and now runs a very successfull one man sailing school, so it can be done.

That sounds promising. Do you know if the "Chap" has a website? I know of a sailing school using a Sigma out west, far out west.

 

[nimbusgb]

Why not charter a boat for the duration of courses you offer? You can pick newer and well maintained and coded vessels without all the hassle. Worth a try until you have established a pattern!

 

[sailorman]

a local instructor has im told, taken up driving windcats out to so called windfarms. he is earning much more wonga & not wearing his boat out

 

[mjcoon]

... my "skillset" ( what a horrid word) ...

Yes, but words don't have to be run together; "skill set" is quite acceptable and means exactly the same.

On the other hand "mindset" (which I'm sure you don't have!) suggests to me a sort of congealing that is quite revealing!

Mike.

 

[mainsail1]

I have been a YMI for about 15 years. I have worked for sailing schools as a sub contractor and I have run my own sailing school, building it up to four yachts running RYA courses and corporate events.
My experience leads me to the conclusion that If I was starting again I would go sailing with friends that I like and find a proper job if I needed some extra money.

Even with full boats the overall financial return of a sailing school is very poor when all costs, such as depreciation of the assets is taken into account because the season is only 30 weeks if you are lucky. Add in the risk of an accident and with litigation as it is these days the whole idea is madness!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can run a sailing school on a part time basis. It just does not work for safety and financial reasons.
Sorry to be such a miserable sod but I tell it how I find it so you can make an informed decision.

 

[alant]

Seems to me that instructing is a very time consuming job. Will have you away from home for weeks on end. Not great for family life. Dare I say it that a lot of the instructors I have met are divorced or in-between relationships and seem to be looking for a lifestyle.

How about retraining in a boat assoiciated job? There seem to be a large number of semi-retired people around the marina doing seasonal jobs - everything from helping the brokers cover the sales office to repairing anti-fouling.

Or how about retraining as a boat surveyer? Seems to me that once you have the qualification its the sort of job you can pick and choose how long you want to work. The money seems reasonable (£500 for a couple of days work) and the overheards are low. I guess insurance will not be too cheap but it should not be prohibitive.

Boat Surveyor stuff -

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Kind regards

Ken Lovegrove
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Peel House
Upper South View
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England"

Hope it helps.
No connection to these, just get emails from them.

 

[alant]

I have been a YMI for about 15 years. I have worked for sailing schools as a sub contractor and I have run my own sailing school, building it up to four yachts running RYA courses and corporate events.
My experience leads me to the conclusion that If I was starting again I would go sailing with friends that I like and find a proper job if I needed some extra money.

Even with full boats the overall financial return of a sailing school is very poor when all costs, such as depreciation of the assets is taken into account because the season is only 30 weeks if you are lucky. Add in the risk of an accident and with litigation as it is these days the whole idea is madness!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can run a sailing school on a part time basis. It just does not work for safety and financial reasons.
Sorry to be such a miserable sod but I tell it how I find it so you can make an informed decision.

At least some sanity has arrived.

 

[alant]

Chap I know took an early retirement package and ploughed the cash into a very nice sigma and now runs a very successfull one man sailing school, so it can be done.

Really?

 

[Swg]

Would the N/S divide offer opportunity? How about sailing the yachts of the wealthy to the fanatics tuc cruising grounds you know so well, offering passage plans/ activities a la golf tours?
That way you have no capital outlay, tax deductible expenses and you get to do some passage making and cruising without twits on board the whole time. Could be helpful research for the prefect next boat!
You could combine with survey work?

Second thoughts, why don't I do it...

 

[Sybarite]

I have been a YMI for about 15 years. I have worked for sailing schools as a sub contractor and I have run my own sailing school, building it up to four yachts running RYA courses and corporate events.
My experience leads me to the conclusion that If I was starting again I would go sailing with friends that I like and find a proper job if I needed some extra money.

Even with full boats the overall financial return of a sailing school is very poor when all costs, such as depreciation of the assets is taken into account because the season is only 30 weeks if you are lucky. Add in the risk of an accident and with litigation as it is these days the whole idea is madness!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can run a sailing school on a part time basis. It just does not work for safety and financial reasons.
Sorry to be such a miserable sod but I tell it how I find it so you can make an informed decision.

I think you have indicated why the French sailing industry is healthier than the British.

A large number of yachts are sold for the charter market, the season lasting far longer in the Med than in the Channel. This means that the assets are employed more effectively.

Perhaps somebody who wants to live from sailing should set up in the Canaries where the annual range in temperature is 23-28°c. Offer a holiday in the sun and learn to sail at the same time.

 

[Seajet]

At least some sanity has arrived.

My thoughts exactly; I've always said blokes working in sailing get the same treatment as girls working with horses; 'you love it, so why should you be paid for your hard work, skills and responsibilities' ? !

 

[Daedelus]

This year local adult ed has cancelled Day Skipper theory classes due to lack of take up. Another nearby adult ed also local never bothered to advertise the course.

OK, that's not the practical side, but it may be a warning that the recession really is starting to bite.

 

[maxi77]

Really?

YES

It does piss one off that some people do disbelieve posts given in good faith, but the world must be full of thieves and vagabonds I suppose

 

[mcanderson]

That wouldn't be Guthrie and Stark by any chance?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Really?

A chap I know runs a very successful sailing school on the West Coast of Scotland. He is firmly a one man, one boat show. Has been established since 1990, replaced his original second hand 30' GRP Colvic hull with a custom built 36' steel yacht. He built the yacht over a few winters, learned to weld at night school in the preceding winters.

You are right about it not being a big payer, as simple arithmetic shows (about £50,000 per year, before deductions, if maximum berths for 20 odd weeks). However, being prudent with money and minimising overheads can make it a successful business e.g. boat maintained on mooring, low cost hard standing in the winter, good teacher, good food, hi levels of repeat business.

If one has low over heads it can work. The chap I know has low overheads.

 

[alant]

YES

It does piss one off that some people do disbelieve posts given in good faith, but the world must be full of thieves and vagabonds I suppose

You must provide evidence, not rumour, then perhaps you would be believed.

After many years in the business, in my experience, the only way most sailing schools make money, is when they sell the business onto another rosy cheeked optimist.

 

[Fascadale]

Fab job. Pants pay. Love it.

Chap I know took an early retirement package and ploughed the cash into a very nice sigma and now runs a very successfull one man sailing school, so it can be done.

I have been a YMI for about 15 years. I have worked for sailing schools as a sub contractor and I have run my own sailing school, building it up to four yachts running RYA courses and corporate events.
My experience leads me to the conclusion that If I was starting again I would go sailing with friends that I like and find a proper job if I needed some extra money.

Even with full boats the overall financial return of a sailing school is very poor when all costs, such as depreciation of the assets is taken into account because the season is only 30 weeks if you are lucky. Add in the risk of an accident and with litigation as it is these days the whole idea is madness!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can run a sailing school on a part time basis. It just does not work for safety and financial reasons.
Sorry to be such a miserable sod but I tell it how I find it so you can make an informed decision.

At least some sanity has arrived.

A chap I know runs a very successful sailing school on the West Coast of Scotland. He is firmly a one man, one boat show. Has been established since 1990, replaced his original second hand 30' GRP Colvic hull with a custom built 36' steel yacht. He built the yacht over a few winters, learned to weld at night school in the preceding winters.

You are right about it not being a big payer, as simple arithmetic shows (about £50,000 per year, before deductions, if maximum berths for 20 odd weeks). However, being prudent with money and minimising overheads can make it a successful business e.g. boat maintained on mooring, low cost hard standing in the winter, good teacher, good food, hi levels of repeat business.

If one has low over heads it can work. The chap I know has low overheads.

Interesting, we seem to have some disagreement here. That's a surprise on this forum.

A glance at the adverts a the back of the yachting magazines would indicate that there is still life in the sailing tuition business but I'm sure that many of you may be correct in saying that its not a business thats going to earn shed loads of dosh.

Perhaps like the horse industry analogy the sailing business is a "lifestyle choice"

I do think it is worth further investigation: the mortgage has been paid, the kids have all gone through university, the occupational pension will be sufficient but I will need something interesting and challenging to do, and if it earns an extra bob or two then excellent.