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NETWORK

Who teaches what

What qualifications do you need

The tables below show the minimum instructor qualifications required for each course, working with supervision as shown in the guidance note (see Practical Centres or Shorebased Centres sections as appropriate), and subject to recognition being held for the course and type of craft.

Dinghy, Keelboat and Multihull

Course

Minimum instructor qualification

Youth Sailing Scheme Stages 1 to 4
Sailing Scheme Levels 1 to 3
Seamanship Skills
Day Sailing

Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft

Sailing with Spinnakers

Advanced Instructor, or Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft who is suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor

Start Racing

Racing Coach Level 1 who is also a Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft

Club Racing

Racing Coach Level 2, or Racing Coach Level 3 who is also a Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft and who is suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor

Regional Racing

Racing Coach Level 3 or Racing Coach Level 2 who is also a Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft and who is suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor

Performance Sailing

Advanced Instructor who is also a Dinghy/Multihull/Keelboat instructor as appropriate for the type of craft

Foiling

Dinghy Foiling Instructor. The level to which you can teach is determined by the Principal or Chief Instructor and based on your foiling ability.

Windsurfing

Course

Minimum instructor qualification

Youth Windsurfing Stage 1 and 2;
Start Windsurfing

Start Windsurfing Instructor

Youth Windsurfing Stage 3;
Intermediate non-planing

Intermediate non-planing instructor

Youth Windsurfing Stage 4;
Intermediate planing

Intermediate planing instructor

Advanced

Advanced Windsurfing Instructor

Start Racing

Racing Instructor (windsurfing)

Intermediate Racing

Racing Coach Level 2 or Racing Instructor who is also suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor.

Advanced Racing

Racing Coach Level 3, or a Racing Instructor/Racing Coach Level 2 who is suitably experienced and approved by the Principal or Chief Instructor

Foiling

Windsurf Foiling Instructor. The level to which you can teach is determined by the Principal or Chief Instructor and based on your foiling ability.

Wingsurfing

Course

Minimum instructor qualification

Learn to Wingsurf and Improve Your Wingsurfing

Wingsurfing Instructor

Wingfoiling First Flights and Wingfoiling Sustained Flights

Wingfoiling Instructor

Powerboat

Course

Minimum instructor qualification

Level 1 and Level 2

Powerboat Instructor

Tender Operator, Intermediate and Advanced

Advanced Powerboat Instructor (commercial endorsement needed for teaching Tender Operator and Advanced courses)

Safety Boat

Powerboat Instructor who holds the Safety Boat certificate

Personal Watercraft

Course

Instructor qualification

PW Proficiency Course and Introduction to PW Safety

Personal Watercraft Instructor

Inland Waterways

Course

Instructor qualification

IW Crew Course and IW Helmsman Course

Inland Waterways Instructor

Yachtmaster

Course

Minimum instructor qualification

Sail:
Start Yachting
Level 1 Start Sailing
Competent Crew
Level 2 Basic Skills
Day Skipper

Cruising Instructor Sail

Motor:
Start Motor Cruising
Helmsman
Day Skipper

Cruising Instructor Motor

Advanced Pilotage (motor only)
Coastal Skipper
Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore preparation courses

Yachtmaster Instructor Sail or Motor, as appropriate

Navigation

Course

Instructor qualification

Essential Navigation and Seamanship

RYA Shorebased Instructor; or
Yachtmaster Instructor or Powerboat Trainer if qualified before 1 March 2019.

If supporting the online course, the instructor must complete the online course themselves.

Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore

RYA Shorebased Instructor; or
Yachtmaster Instructor if qualified before 1 March 2019.

Yachtmaster Ocean

RYA Shorebased Instructor; or
Yachtmaster Instructor if qualified before 1 March 2019.

Both must also hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence.

Specialist Short Courses

Course

Instructor qualification

CEVNI

RYA practical or shorebased instructor who is familiar with the CEVNI rules.

If the RTC offers the test online, the instructor must have taken the online test themselves.

Diesel Engine

RYA Diesel Engine Instructor

First Aid

RYA First Aid Instructor

Marine Radio

RYA SRC Assessor.

If supporting online courses, the Trainer must complete the online course and knowledge check themselves. 

Professional Practices and Responsibilities

Commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Instructor or Advanced Powerboat Instructor who holds the PPR certificate.

Radar

RYA Radar Instructor

Safe and Fun

  • Practical RYA instructor qualification;

  • Safe and Fun certificate;

  • Relevant experience of working with children and/or vulnerable adults in an RYA context, complying with an organisation's safeguarding policies and procedures;

  • Experience of instructing RYA courses for children.

Due to the above requirements, the nominated instructor is likely to hold a criminal records check, although this is not a requirement.

Sea Survival

RYA Sea Survival Instructor 

Offshore Personal Survival

RYA/World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival Instructor;

OR a combination of:

  • an RYA Sea Survival Instructor for the Basic Sea Survival element including pool session,

  • an RYA Offshore Safety Instructor for the additional heavy weather, emergency procedures and offshore special regulations elements.