Chieftain Training

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

RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor

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RYA DINGHY SENIOR INSTRUCTOR COURSE AIMS:

Becoming a RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor (SI) is a natural next step if you already enjoy instructing and want more responsibility, recognition, and impact within a sailing centre. Here’s why it’s worth doing:

  • Step into leadership ashore and afloat

    • As an SI you move beyond day-to-day teaching. You help lead the instructional team, mentor Assistant and Dinghy Instructors, and support the Chief Instructor with standards, safety, and delivery. It’s ideal if you enjoy guiding others and shaping how courses are run.
  • Improve standards and safety
    • Senior Instructors play a key role in maintaining consistent teaching standards, safe operating practices, and good decision-making on the water. You become someone others look to when conditions are marginal or when things don’t go to plan.
  • Develop coaching and people-management skills. The SI qualification builds confidence in:
    • Coaching instructors, not just students
    • Giving constructive feedback
    • Managing groups, timetables, and changing conditions. These are transferable skills valued well beyond sailing.
  • Greater responsibility = greater employability. Many centres actively look for Senior Instructors to:
    • Act as duty senior / deputy chief
    • Lead busy courses or peak weeks
    • Help with instructor development and sign-offs
    • Run Day Sails
    • Train RYA Assistant Instructors
  • A clear pathway to Chief Instructor
    • If you’re considering becoming a Chief Instructor, SI is an essential stepping stone. It demonstrates that you can, take responsibility for others, think beyond a single boat or group and support centre operations as a whole
  • Recognition within the RYA system
    • The qualification is recognised nationally by Royal Yachting Association and shows commitment to professionalism, quality instruction, and continuous development.
  • Make a bigger difference to sailors
    • As an SI, your influence multiplies. By improving other instructors, you indirectly improve the experience of dozens or hundreds of students, from beginners to improvers.

In short

If you are an experienced RYA Dinghy Instructors and you want to lead, mentor, and raise standards, not just teach sessions, becoming a RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor is one of the most rewarding steps you can take in your sailing career.

For  who will be managing larger fleets or several courses at once. This is the minimum qualification required by a RYA Centre’s Chief Instructor. It also qualifies you to train RYA Assistant Instructors. Larger centres will have several Senior Instructors. Smaller centres and Clubs need at least one RYA Senior Instructor to maintain their RYA recognition.

RYA SENIOR INSTRUCTOR COURSE DURATION:

Four Days – 0915 to 1730 with some evening study and some pre course preparation. The course can be run over two weekends or four consecutive days

SENIOR INSTRUCTOR (SI) PRE REQUISITES:

COURSE CONTENT:

Time is spent both ashore and afloat in double and single handers. The course will address fleet management, instructor management, improved coaching, improved de briefing and safety.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • Pre course SI workbook
  • 4 days Instruction
  • Use of our dinghies
  • Loan of a buoyancy aid
  • Tea & Coffee
  • Free parking on site

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

  • Wetsuit and spray top (£5 a day to hire from us)
  • Footwear/wetsuit boots
  • Lunch