Chieftain Training

RYA & STCW Courses – Sail, Power, Super-Yacht & Workboat

Keelboat Instructor Joining Instructions

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RYA KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR COURSES

These Joining Instructions cover;

  • RYA Keelboat Instructor Endorsement (for existing Dinghy Instructors)
  • RYA Keelboat Instructor Pre Entry
  • RYA Keelboat Instructor
  • RYA Keelboat Racing instructor

WHERE

 Southampton Water Activities Centre (SWAC)

MEALS

  • Tea and coffee is included.
  • Lunch is not included, please bring a packed lunch (there is a fridge, microwave and kettle available).

PREREQUISITES

All Instructor courses have prerequisites, they are requirements. If you are unsure what they are please check back against the relevant course description (links provided above) that you used when booking the course with us.

OUTCOMES & CERTIFICATION

There are three possible outcomes/results to an Instructor Course. They are;

  • PASS (You pass the course and the trainer recommends to the RYA that you become an Instructor).
  • ACTION PLAN (You pass some sections of your course and the Trainer sets an action plan for you to complete within a certain time period (often 1, 2 or 3 months) before you then qualify. An action plan may include re assessment of certain skills.
  • FAIL (You will need to improve certain skill areas and then retake the course when you are ready).

At the end of your course your trainer will give you a full debrief and inform you of his/her decision. Some RYA Instructor courses are moderated by a second Trainer who will also be involved with the course debrief. Successful RYA Instructor candidates receive their certificate by post from the RYA within a few weeks of completing their course.

PERSONAL BUOYANCY

Life Jackets are provided; you are of course welcome to bring your own but it must be a minimum of 150N

WHAT TO BRING

  • Passport photo of yourself
  • Note pad and pen
  • Packed lunch each day
  • Warm clothing and a change of clothes
  • Waterproofs / wet weather gear (or hire ours for £5/day, capped at £20 for courses that are 4 days or longer)
  • Cap/hat, gloves, sunglasses, suncream
  • Wellies or footwear that can get wet
  • Whistle
  • Sailing Knife
  • Publications- Scheme specific books listed in the Essential Pre Course Reading sections below
  • Any teaching resources you think will be useful
  • First Aid Certificate
  • Any certificates listed within the prerequisites for your specific Instructor course
  • RYA Membership Number

TIMINGS

  • Start Time – 0915
  • Finish Time – 1700-1715

ACCOMADATION

Accommodation is NOT included on any of our courses.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Please scroll down to the relevant course title below for course specific information.

RYA KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT

Pre-Requisites

Essential Pre-Course Reading

  • RYA Instructor handbook
  • RYA NSS Syllabus and Logbook

Other Useful Reading

  • RYA Competent Crew
  • RYA Advanced Sailing (G12)

Pre-Course Preparation

Look through the RYA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Seamanship and Day Sailing syllabi and prepare some ideas on how you would teach keel boating differently from dinghy sailing. Also ensure your sailing and supporting knowledge is at pre-entry standard.

Description and Assessment

You will be sailing onboard our Sonar keelboats. Over the two-day course, you will discuss how to adapt your existing techniques to these larger boats and how to run Keelboat courses.  The trainer will want to see that you can perform to pre-entry standard as well as deliver sessions.

RYA KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR PRE ENTRY

Pre-Requisites

• Minimum Age 15
• Experienced & competent Keelboat Sailor above RYA Seamanship Level
• RYA Membership

BOOKS

There are 2 books you will 100% as a Keelboat Instructor so it will pay to source them now.

  • The most urgent one is the RYA National Sailing Scheme Instructor Handbook (G14).
  • the 2nd book is the RYA National Sailing Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G4).

Other useful but non quite so essential books are (in order of importance)

  • RYA Start Sailing (G3)
  • RYA Advanced Sailing (G12)
  • RYA Competent Crew
  • RYA Youth Sailing Syllabus

Useful Pre Course Reading for the Pre Entry

  • Seamanship section of the Advanced Dinghy Handbook
  • Pre Entry Section of the Instructor Handbook

Pre Course Preparation

  1. Check your background knowledge includes everything within the RYA Keelboat Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Seamanship course syllabus contained in the RYA National Sailing Scheme Logbook
  2. Practice the manoeuvres in the Seamanship syllabus
  3. Complete the Pre Entry”,  online quiz to test your knowledge and establish where there might be weak areas. Once you hit submit, we will be able to see your answers. This is an open book test so we hope you will score close to 100%.

Description and Assessment

This assessment is required before you start the Keelboat Instructor Course. Day 1 is devoted to seamanship skills coaching, day 2 to the assessment.

  • We expect candidate to score close to 100%onn the online open book test (above), which you can complete in advance in your own time! An open book test is intended to be far less stressful than a written test on the day. If there is an area you are not sure about read up on it.
  • Seamanship skills will be tested afloat and may include
    • Picking up a mooring (wind with and wind against tide)
    • Coming alongside a pontoon or RIB
    • Reefing afloat
    • Rudderless Sailing
    • MOB
    • Anchoring
    • Sailing backwards
    • Follow my leader
    • Tight circles
    • Sailing Efficiently

Clearly there is not time to teach all of this from scratch; you should be above RYA Keelboat Seamanship standard before the course starts. The craft used are likely to be our Sonars.

RYA KEELBOAT INSTRUCTOR

Pre-Requisites

  • Minimum age 16 (by last day of course)
  • RYA Keelboat Pre Entry (passed within the previous year)
  • RYA First Aid or equivalent
  • RYA Safe & Fun (short online course)
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2
  • RYA Membership

Pre-Course Reading

  • RYA National Sailing Scheme Instructor Handbook (G14
  • RYA National Sailing Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G4)

Other Useful Reading

  • RYA Competent Crew
  • RYA Start Sailing (G3)

Pre-Course Preparation

  • Read G14 thoroughly.

Description and Assessment

Candidates must be familiar with the RYA scheme and the contents of the Level 1 and Level 2 syllabuses (contained in G4). You will be expected to demonstrate sailing skills to a high standard and to deliver short onshore talks. G14 gives plenty of advice on teaching styles and techniques. This course is based on continual assessment and is moderated on the last day by a second Trainer

While we will be checking that your sailing skills are still at pre-entry standard and your background supporting knowledge is relevant, we will primarily be teaching you how to instruct, coach and de-brief (we will teach you these skills on the course, although you will need to have read G14 before you attend the course).

Successful candidates will become qualified to teach the RYA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Seamanship and Day Sailing  Courses at RYA Training Centres.

RYA KBI REVALIDATION

Pre-Requisites

  • Expired RYA Keelboat Instructor
  • RYA First Aid or equivalent
  • RYA Safe and Fun
  • RYA Powerboat level 2
  • RYA Membership

Essential Pre-Course Reading

  • RYA National Sailing Scheme Instructor Handbook (G14
  • RYA National Sailing Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G4)

Pre-Course Preparation

  • As for Keelboat Instructor Course (above)
  • Prepare one of the following talks
    • Digital sources of meteorology in Coastal Waters (Level 2)
    • IRPCS (Seamanship)
    • Digital Sources of tidal heights information (Seamanship)
    • Rise, fall and the Rule of Twelfths (Seamanship)
    • Interpretation of charts (Day sailing)
    • Use of GPS (Day sailing)

This talk should be pitched at the relevant standard. Your audience will be the rest of your course candidates and the Trainer. Talks should be kept to a maximum of ten minutes, but if the subject can be covered in less time, then keep it shorter. The group may ask you one or two questions at the end of your talk. Resources available include OHP, Whiteboard, Multi Media Plasma Screen and PowerPoint Presentation PC . This talk, however, does not have to take place in a formal classroom environment; it is up to you to choose how to deliver the talk.

Description and Assessment

The Trainer will ask you to teach both a practical and onshore session from the Level 2, Level 3, Seamanship or Day Sailing course, so please ensure you are familiar with all subjects on the syllabus.  You will also be tested on your general theory knowledge and sailing.

RYA KEEELBOAT RACING INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Pre-Requisites

Pre-Course Reading

  • Racing Instructor Section of RYA National Sailing Scheme Instructor Handbook (G14
  • Start Racing section of RYA National Sailing Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G4)

Other Useful Reading

  • RYA Advanced Sailing (G12)

Pre-Course Preparation

  • Prepare at least one of the short shorebased talks listed below

Description and Assessment

Candidates must be familiar with the RYA Start Racing Course syllabus and have a wide experience of Club Racing. Your day with us will be a mix of sessions ashore and afloat. You will have the opportunity to participate in and run sessions from the Start Racing course afloat. The Trainer will also expect you to deliver a short shorebased session (maximum 10 minutes, shorter if possible) on one of the subjects listed below; you will need to prepare this in advance. Your session will be delivered to a small group (3-5 sailors), so try to make it interactive and practical. The session should be aimed at competent adult sailors who are new to club racing.

  • Start line bias
  • Racing rules
  • The start sequence
  • Keelboat clubs and classes
  • Upwind tactics
  • The Finish