Cruising and Yachtmaster Instructors

COVID-19: There remains no requirement for these courses or revalidations to be residential. Cruising Instructor courses are at the centre’s discretion. Yachtmaster Instructor courses and Yachtmaster Instructor/Cruising Instructor revalidations will remain non-residential for 2021.

We are accepting applications for Cruising Instructor courses to be run at centres where local COVID restrictions allow. Courses can run with a minimum of two (with an additional crew member) and up to a maximum of four students.

It is suggested that a classroom or open area could be utilised for the duration of the course to allow for tuition and discussion that would normally happen inside the vessel to be carried out while socially distanced.

There is pre-learning for Cruising Instructor and Yachtmaster Instructor courses and revalidations which candidates will need to complete prior to attending.

Due to a lack of available trainers, Yachtmaster Instructor courses and Cruising Instructor/Yachtmaster Instructor revalidations are running, but only those organised by the RYA.

From May 2021 Cruising and Yachtmaster Instructors who are unable to get to an RYA revalidation due to COVID travel restrictions have an option to revalidate via an online method which would revalidate them once for two years from when their current ticket is due to expire.

Yachtmaster Instructor courses will run with a minimum of two and a maximum of three students. A YMI Sail course being four days and a YMI Power course being three days.

Yachtmaster Instructor and Cruising Instructor revalidations and reassessments will be run with a minimum of two and a maximum of three students and will be run over one day only.

This section is for people wanting to teach the RYA Yachtmaster Sail and Motor Cruising schemes.

The first step in teaching within the practical cruising scheme is to become qualified as an RYA Cruising Instructor, before moving up to the Yachtmaster Instructor qualification. Both qualifications can be taken in sail and motor cruisers, and the certificate will be endorsed accordingly.

Due to the short time available on the instructor course, there is limited opportunity to fill any gaps in knowledge. The course is a blend of assessing the candidate's knowledge, providing a structured framework to instruct, coach, observe and deliver constructive feedback, and ensure the structure and standards required of RYA courses are understood. Candidates must therefore ensure they have sufficient underpinning knowledge prior to attending.

An effective instructor must have credibility with students and a genuine interest and engagement with the subject is essential for this. Questions from students will often stray outside the core syllabus or be concerned with seeking advice about equipment or situations. Without enthusiasm and a depth of knowledge far above the RYA syllabus, this credibility could easily be lost. It is difficult to quantify in writing exactly what this means but without extensive practical experience of the subject, candidates are unlikely to be successful on an instructor course.

Due to the arduous nature of practical training afloat, an instructor certificate obtained or revalidated after the instructor's 67th birthday will require revalidation with effect from the instructor's 72nd birthday. An instructor certificate obtained or revalidated after the instructor's 70th birthday will be valid for a period of two years before an update is required. Cruising Instructor

Cruising Instructor

Yachtmaster Instructor