Dinghy Instructor Course 2027. Pre Assessment. Part 1 of 3

• A.RYA Dinghy Instructor Pre-Assessment

Candidates must successfully complete this one-day assessment of your sailing skills before starting the RYA Dinghy Instructor course. We recommend that you complete this with SGBA, but if you cannot make the date, you can also complete it with another RYA Training Centre.

This will be held at SGBA on 13 March 2027. In the case of poor conditions, we will move the date to 14 March 2026. Please ensure you are available on both days. Times are as per the SBGA calendar.

During the day you will be assessed on;

• Picking up a man overboard efficiently and safely.
• Sailing tight circles around a safety boat.
• "Follow my leader" exercises to show boat handling precision.
• General boat handling skills across a variety of points of sail.
• Confidence and control in both light and stronger winds.

For a full breakdown of the required skills, please refer to the RYA Instructor Handbook (G14).

• B.RYA Dinghy Instructor Course.

This five day course develops your teaching skills, communication styles, and practical coaching methods, both afloat and ashore.

This will be held at SGBA on 28 to 30 March 2027 and 10 and 11 April 2027. Times are as per the SBGA calendar.

Throughout the course, you will be guided by an experienced RYA Coach and supported in learning how to deliver safe, enjoyable and structured sessions. On the final day, a separate RYA Assessor will moderate the course to ensure consistent standards are met. By the end of the course candidates will have gained the tools and confidence to run sessions, manage groups, and provide quality instruction under the RYA schemes.

What to expect;

• Training in teaching techniques afloat and ashore.
• Developing effective communication styles.
• Course preparation, delivery, and session management.
• Coaching to the RYA syllabus for youth and adult sailors.
• Managing groups safely and efficiently.
• Customer liaison and professionalism.
• Continuous feedback, guidance and final moderation.

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 16.
• RYA Dinghy Instructor Pre-Assessment, as above.
• RYA Powerboat Level 2.
• RYA Safe and Fun.
• RYA First Aid certificate.
• RYA full membership (youth if appropriate).
• RYA Safe & Fun safeguarding certificate (one option is here https://www.seasports-sw.com/safe-and-fun-safeguarding )
• Passport sized photograph (digital will do).

Please bring proof of the above on the first day of the RYA Dinghy Instructor course.

Required Publications.

• G14 Dinghy coaching handbook (mandatory)
• G4 National sailing scheme syllabus and logbook (mandatory)
• G11 young sailors logbook (mandatory)
• G3 Start sailing (knowledge of at least)
• G12 Advanced handbook (knowledge of at least)

You can buy these from the RYA and other websites.

Candidate Equipment.

• Clothing for sailing single handers and double handers.
• Foul weather clothing for outside ashore.
• Note pads and pens/pencils.
• Packed lunch.

Pre-Course Questionnaire.

You will be issued a questionnaire to complete before you arrive on the course. It is designed to give you an idea of the theoretical knowledge required for this course.

The Course.

The course start and finish times are as per the SGBA calendar, depending on weather. We recommend allowing an hour after the finish time in case we run over. The last day might have a later finish, but we will confirm this at the start of the course.

Please appreciate that there is a lot to cover. Bringing a packed lunch will ensure no time is wasted. There is access to a kettle with tea and coffee available during breaks.

Elements Covered.

• Introduction
• The RYA scheme
• The role of the instructor
• The RYA method
• Communication skills
• Instructing single handers
• Land drills
• Instructor presentations (given prior to course start)
• Powerboat handling
• Seamanship level coaching
• Coaching skills
• Assessment skills
• Group management skills

Presentation Skills.

During the course you will be asked to give a presentation on one of the below topics. The exact content you need to include for these topics can be found in the book NSS Syllabus and Logbook (G4) in the sailing theory section of each Level. Please pay attention to the "level" your presentation needs to be aimed at.

Topics;

• Clothing and Equipment (aimed at level 1 & 2 students)
• Meteorology (aimed at level 1 students)
• Coastal waters (aimed at level 2 students)
• Sailing background. How a sail works and How a sailing boat moves (aimed at level 2 students)
• Introduction to racing (aimed at level 2 students)
• Sailing background. Basic rules of the road (aimed at level 1& 2 students)

You should come prepared with notes & visual aids suitable for you to deliver your presentation (PowerPoint is allowed, but please make it interesting). At the end of your presentation, you may be asked more detailed questions so research your subject well. The presentation should be delivered to level 1 and 2 students, so only deliver the topic to the standard required. Please come with handouts on your topic for the students, & copies of your preparation notes so that the other instructors may benefit from your preparation, & you theirs. More information about how to give a presentation can be found in G14

Remember, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail!

Assessment.

On the last day, an RYA Assessor will be brought in. Their role is to;

• Check that the training coach has done a good job.
• Work with the training coach to form the final assessments.
• Give candidates some alternative views and ideas.

You will be assessed on;

• Presentation Skills; See below. This is a 10-minute presentation on a given topic. You will be assessed on preparation, visual aids, introduction, presentation, content, communication, & summary.
• Written Exam Paper; to show knowledge of the sport.
• Land drills and demonstrations. You will be assessed on demonstration, voice projection, group positioning, fault finding & correction.EG centre mainsheet tacking and gybing. Seamanship manoeuvres
• Sailing Skills; Demonstration of manoeuvres.
• Coaching Skills; Awareness of the principles of coaching. Briefing and debriefing
• Group Management; Safety of groups on water, & effective group control of single-handers.

COURSE COST

SGBA are still finalising the cost of this course. We expect that this will be substantially less than commercial centres. We expect that the cost will be finalised by the end of November 2026.

If you require information further than the detailed information provided above, please contact;

• SGBA Chief Instructor Sail. Bryan Watt ChiefInstructorSail@SGBA.org.uk
• RYA Coach, who will be delivering the course; Stuart jones on 07790804081 or stuartjones6464@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Last updated 3:30pm on 25 October 2026