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Rockley Owner and RYA Trainer Peter Gordon looks at how the RYA Dinghy Instructor course has evolved over the years, and how the ‘Rockley way,’ is to give students the tools to succeed.
If I may misquote CJ from the Rise and Fall of Reggie Perrin, “I didn’t get where I am today by not being an RYA Dinghy Instructor”.
I remember, vividly, doing my Dinghy Instructor course 'back in the day', when the minimum age was 18, you had to know how to splice, how to whip and the vast majority of candidates came from a sailing background.
I even remember having to do my lecture on a blackboard with chalk, describing various boat parts.
How things have changed. Minimum age of 16, no splicing, no whipping and the majority no longer come from a traditional sailing background. And technology!
The concept is still the same though. Candidates are learning how to teach people to sail whilst on a DI course. In a safe manner. Whilst making sure their students are having fun.
After that, you move onto the RYA Senior Instructors course, and then the heady heights of RYA Dinghy Trainer.
But all it all starts with the 5-day RYA Dinghy Instructor course, the hardest part of which, is probably the Pre-Entry test that you must pass before going on the course.
It’s a great course to be on, and a great course to run. You see your students evolve and understand the requirements of being an RYA Instructor.
My kids have always sailed, but that doesn’t make them better instructors than candidates that have spent less time on the water. It does, however, give them a better background knowledge. Perhaps this is one of the reasons the RYA took out things like splicing and whipping - to make the course more accessible.
We have also seen a change in the approach towards candidates on the course. In the good/bad old days, there was a mentality that we are going to make it hard for you to pass - we aren’t going to make it easy. There has been a subtle change. A good, change. The bar hasn’t been lowered, but now we are giving candidates the tools to succeed. It's about supporting and encouraging our future Dinghy Instructors.
I think that it is more exciting to see the ‘non-sailors’ be successful on a DI course. They generally have to work a little bit harder for it, as their sailing, whilst always good enough, might not come as naturally as it does for life-long sailors.
And once you are qualified? Well the world is, literally, your oyster. We have ex-staff and students all over the world working in the marine industry - some at the beginning of their career, others in the middle, and some retired. And it all started by being able to sail a dinghy around a triangular course, being able to do ‘follow my Leader’, sailing in tight circles and being able to perform Man Overboard. Then you can set sail……
Rockley runs many RYA Dinghy Instructor Courses throughout the season, starting in February. Whether you are a young sailor with your sights set on working seasons, or you are a seasoned sailor looking to help out at your local sailing club - check out our dates for 2026.