RYA Dinghy Instructor pre entry training and assessment weekend

The pre-entry sailing assessment must be completed before attending the RYA Dinghy Instructor course. This two-day programme combines training and assessment, with the aim of signing off candidates on their pre-entry assessment by the end of the course.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate confident and controlled sailing at all times, keeping the ‘five essentials’ in mind—preparation, communication, approach, execution, and overall control. The course ensures that you can sail safely, efficiently, and with good judgement.

During the assessment, 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 a 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, typically in a single attempt.

Candidates may also be asked to demonstrate additional skills, including 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, and recovering a capsized dinghy and sailing away (for dinghy candidates).

This course provides a comprehensive preparation and assessment experience to ensure candidates are fully ready to progress onto the Dinghy Instructor course.