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Home > Sailing > Sailing instructor
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Sailing

Sailing Instructor

On Friday 26th October, I became a dinghy and racing instructor.
At the beginning of 2007, I promised that I would try to become a sailing instructor. You could call that New Year resolution. Before attending a instructor class, there are three pre-requisite: RYA first aid certification, RYA Power Boat level 2 and a sailing pre-assessment. On Sunday 4th, I attended a RYA first course. Although about 8 years ago I did one for work, I learnt a lot of this course. The main reason was that the course was related to dinghy and sailing injuries. I strongly recommend anyone to do a first aid course. It is a very good idea. Further details will be available later on when I go through the process of becoming a sailing instructor
On Sunday 18th March, I did a RYA Power Boat level 2 training. It was to my point of view long overdue. I felt sometimes unsure last year when I was on safety duty. After that training, I am little more confident for the incoming safety duty. I learnt that day: man overboard, fast speed, emergency stop, towing alongside and stopping alongside a pontoon. In all, it was very tiring and I learnt a lot. I strongly recommend to do it if you wish to do a safety duty with confidence.
On Wednesday 4th April, I attended a dinghy instructor pre-assessment. I was quite nervous as I did not sail enough during the winter. I passed most things: sail with kite (although it jammed a few times), triangle course, coming along and coming to pontoon. However, although I got the technique right at the end, I need to practice Man Over Board, rudderless sailing and tight circle. I should be able to do most of them on my laser but I might have to practice in a double hander somewhere.
During the trip to Menorca, I practised Seamanship skills that are required for the pre-assessment: Man Over Board, rudderless sailing, dagger board less sailing, being towed, etc.
The pre-assessment at South Cerney was initially planned for the 13th October but was postponed for the 20th before being cancelled. The course went ahead on the 22nd October. Although the weather was quite mild and sunny, the wind was almost inexistent most of the week. With a group of 4 others, we went through the various topics including a presentation on weather for me, teaching method, child protection, sailability, Seamanship skills, racing training, etc. We also did the pre-assessment on the water. I was quite impressed with my coming along side, pick up a mooring and MOB. I learnt a lot during the week. However, it only paid off when I taught to a couple of army cadets. It was a hard week but very rewarding. Now, it is to practice those skills of dinghy and racing instructor.

On Saturday 7th June, I taught at Chew Valley Sailing Club. I was told that they required instructors as they were short of instructors. I did not take notes of the starting time and I had to arrive at the earliest time that I could. I helped initially the safety boat and CLADS. We took the group of 3 teenagers and three adults. We split them into two groups: adults on a Laser 2000 and the teenagers on Toppers. I was with the Senior Instructor with the teenagers. We started to rig the boats and did some simulation on tacking and gybing. We launched the dinghies and started coaching them. They went through a triangle course. In the afternoon, they were part of a racing training. Unfortunately, due to time constraint, we were unable to brief them properly. On the water, we coached how to go around the course. With the sailing conditions i.e. light wind, they made good progress. We carried on with a series of short tack-gybe by placing the rib near a buoy. This exercise was very tiring for them as it is a tough exercise. We finished by an initiation to Man over board. They did stop the boat but they did not follow the technique as they have not learnt. In all, it was a nice introduction to teaching dinghy sailing but it would have been better to do Sunday as well. However, due to some time constraint, I could only do Saturday.
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