For some, the RYA Pre-entry Assessment is be the most daunting of the RYA Dinghy Instructor pre-requisites, but with the help of Rockley's highly experienced Coaches and Assessors, we will do our best to get you through it! Read our top tips to help you get prepared for the course!
The RYA Pre-Entry course is designed to ensure all candidates are able to sail to a good standard, demonstrating their sailing skills and background knowledge. The practical assessment is essentially you demonstrating a number of manoeuvres with good RYA Seamanship Skills and RYA technique. The Dinghy Instructor course can then concentrate on providing you with the skills needed to teach rather than how to sail properly. Racing skills will not be assessed as these skills are not part of an RYA dinghy Instructor’s remit.
PREPARATION
Preparation is absolutely key when it comes to passing the course. Here are our top tips:
- Sail regularly after taking an RYA Seamanship Skills course is a good place to start
- Read the G14 RYA instructor handbook and the G12 Advanced handbook will assist your background theory knowledge
- Be comfortable sailing any dinghy. The assessment is generally done in a double-hander that is not too performance orientated, such as Wayfarer, Laser 2000, Hartley 15
ASSESSMENT
You must be aware of the 5 Essentials at all times:
- Sail setting
- Balance
- Boat trim
- Centreboard
- Course made good
You will be asked to demonstrate four exercises of the list below:
- Sail around a triangular course
- Sail a tight circular course
- Sail a follow the leader course
- Pick up a man overboard
You may also be asked to demonstrate other skills too such as
- Rudderless sailing
- Lee shore departure and landing
- Picking up a mooring or anchoring
- Coming alongside a moored boat
- Capsize recovery
PLANNING
Using a PAME sequence of planning will help you demonstrate a structured approach to sailing.
- Plan – your manoeuvre in advance of your
- Approach – the area where you will make the
- Manoeuvre – using your sailing skills before
- Escape – a plan B in case your approach or manoeuvre goes wrong
Remember the assessment is measuring your competence so you may have to demonstrate the skills a number of times showing that luck didn’t play a part in your success of completing a manoeuvre. The assessor will be looking to see that you can sail in a controlled manner and that you communicate well with any others in your boat. They are also there to support you and to give you the best opportunity of passing the assessment.
DON'T FORGET YOU WILL ALSO NEED....
As well as the RYA Pre Entry Assessment the other pre requisites required are:
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- RYA (or other accepted) First Aid
- RYA Safe and Fun Safeguarding
- Be aged 16 years+
HERE TO HELP
There's nothing we want more than to see you pass and it's our job to help you get there. If, during the course, you find that you are struggling with anything in particular then please come and chat to your one of your coaches and we will do our best to give you the confidence to succeed! Don't forget that as well as the 1 day RYA Pre-entry Assessment, we also offer the 2 day RYA Pre-entry Training and Assessment. This is perfect for those of you who want a day to get used to sailing unfamiliar dinghies in an unfamiliar setting. Alternatively, we offer a 5-day RYA Pre-Entry Assessment Week which includes four days of training followed by an assessment day on the fifth day.
Following your successful completion of the RYA Pre-Entry Assessment, you will then be ready to take attend the RYA Dinghy Instructor course - a qualification that could take you around the world, sharing your passion for sailing with others.