RYA MOTOR CRUISING INSTRUCTOR AIMS
Train and qualify existing Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence holders to deliver the RYA Start Motor Cruising, RYA Helmsman’s and RYA Dayskipper Motor courses at RYA training centres.
RYA CRUISING INSTRUCTOR (POWER) COURSE DURATION
Four Days, with an evening “night exercise” on one of the first three evenings.
RYA MOTOR CRUISING INSTRUCTOR PRE REQUISITES
- Minimum age 18 years
- Experience of boat handling with modern leisure craft
- Hold a commercial RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (Motor)
- In date RYA First Aid or STCW Elementary First Aid
- RYA Membership
- RYA PPR Certificate (Professional Practices & Responsibilities)
- Have passed the online RYA Cruising Instructor online pre course knowledge check*
- Working knowledge of radar and diesel engines
- RYA Radar (reccomended)
- RYA Diesel (reccomended)
* This is a free online course on learning how to teach. There are 2 open book online tests. Part 1 checks you have learnt the contents of the short course on learning styles, Part 2 confirms your supporting knowledge level is still at Coastal Skipper. You can complete the short online course and tests after you have booked but they should be done before your courses starts with us.
RYA CRUISING INSTRUCTOR POWER COURSE CONTENT
Much of the course is spent teaching you how to teach and debrief other students. The trainer will show you some of the tricks of the trade. Those who have experience of instructing in other disciplines will find that some of that experience is relevant, however a good Motor Cruising instructor is, without exception first and foremost, a good skipper. You will have the opportunity to practice teaching various parts of the Start Motor Cruising, Helmsman’s and Day Skipper Motor Courses with regular feedback from the trainer. Day 4 of the course is moderated by a second trainer. The syllabus is as broken into five areas:
- Session and course planning
- Structuring a lesson
- Identifying achievable tasks/transferable method
- Identify key teaching points
- Pre-requisite knowledge
- Logical order of delivery
- Course planning, particularly location and time management – planning vs. opportunism
- Use of teaching aids
- EDICTS as a benchmark to discuss, but not restricted to using this model
- Self-review 
- Teaching and learning theory
- How students learn
- Learning Styles
- Stages of learning
- Simple coaching models and their uses and limitations
- Barriers to learning
- Comfort / Stretch / Panic
- Questioning techniques
- Structuring feedback
- Observation skills
- Prioritising feedback– safety-learning-fun
- RYA orientation
- Overview of RYA recognition
- Role of: Cruising Instructor, Chief Instructor for cruising recognition and Centre Principal
- Operating procedures/Centre policies
- Dealing with complaints
- Registering and issuing of certificates
- ICC – issuing and assessing
- Catastrophe clinic
- Learning from accidents/incidents
Assessment is continual throughout the course, however we will be looking at you closer in the latter part of the course once you have had a chance to practice the skills we are teaching you. Assessment is based on
- Knowledge
- RYA Start Motor Cruising, RYA Helmsman’s and RYA Day Skipper Motor courses
- RYA program of courses
- Levels of competence required for award of certificates
- Instructional Technique
- Set up tasks and teaching sessions appropriate to individual students
- Brief clearly
- Ensure tasks are undertaken safely
- Debrief students and agree an achievable plan for improvement
- Demonstrate any part of the Start Motor Cruising, Helmsman’s and Day Skipper Motor courses
- Explain practical application of any part of the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course
WHAT’S INCLUDED ON THE RYA MOTOR CRUISING INSTRUCTOR COURSE?
- 4 days use of our motor cruiser
- 4 days of instruction (including moderation)
- Diesel and on board consumables
- Lunch, tea/coffee and snacks on board
- An evening meal on board for the night excercise
- Berthing at the home port
- Loan of a life jacket
- Free car parking (on street)
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED ON THE RYA CRUISING INSTRUCTOR POWER COURSE
- Wet Weather gear (£5 per day to hire from us)
- Accommodation and meals ashore