RYA Dinghy Instructor pre entry assessment

The pre-entry sailing assessment must be completed before attending the RYA Dinghy Instructor course. For 2024, the current date available is Saturday 7th September.

This full-day session provides time for some coaching and guidance to refine your skills. However, candidates should arrive well-prepared, having practiced all required skills and familiarised themselves with the relevant theory and concepts.

During the assessment, candidates are expected to demonstrate confident and controlled sailing at all times, with an awareness of the 'five essentials'—preparation, communication, approach, execution, and overall control. You should show good judgement and seamanlike behaviour throughout.

Candidates will be asked to complete tasks such as sailing a triangular course of at least 100 metres per leg using all normal boat equipment, including the spinnaker if fitted; sailing a tight circular course around a stationary boat with only one tack and one gybe; following a ‘follow my leader’ course behind another boat, which may include all points of sailing; and recovering a man-overboard dummy efficiently, usually in a single attempt.

You may also be asked to demonstrate additional skills, such as sailing without a rudder or with a loose tiller around a triangular course (not applicable to keelboat or multihull candidates), performing lee shore landings and departures, anchoring or picking up a mooring against wind and tide, coming alongside a moored boat in similar conditions, or recovering a capsized dinghy and sailing away (for dinghy candidates).

This assessment ensures that candidates are well-prepared and competent before progressing onto the Dinghy Instructor course.