Instructor Dinghy Sailing

Dinghy Instructor Courses

SailCork are the leading providers of instructor courses in Ireland. Head trainer, Eddie English, has been training instructors for over 30 years and has trained nearly 600 instructors. Eddie ran the successful Marine Leisure Management Course for over 15 years - training over 100 sailors for a place in the marine industry. Eddie's graduates now run sailing schools, chandlerys, brokerage firms, boatyards and skipper boats of over 100' amongst other marine related jobs. Graduates Justin Slattery completed the Green Dragon Round the World Volvo campaign and has several world records under his belt, Johnny Mordaunt has been involved in the management side of the Round World Race and several "big" boat campaigns.  Former Instructor Barry Hurley competed successfully aboard "Dinah" in the OSTAR transatlantic and many other graduates of SailCork have made a name for themselves in racing and training afloat.

The Dinghy Instructor Course is an intensive course training you how to teach ISA National Scheme sailing, with an external examiner moderating or involved in running the course with Eddie English. You learn how to organise a fleet and teach on the water, to make a presentation in the classroom, the importance of understanding your student, how to communicate and much much more. Courses at SailCork are progressive - we move forward with each course - striving to improve standards and the overall experience. Our course is not just an instructor course - it is a course in life skills! It is at the pinnacle of all our courses and we are very proud of what we do and believe that it is the best instructor course available. 

You will be trained and prepared for the role of the Dinghy Instructor - which is to deliver (teach) Levels 1 and 2 and Improving Skills of ISA Small Boat Sailng Scheme in sailing dinghies. The course at SailCork is run over 5 days by ISA dinghy trainers Eddie English  - our aim is to make the course both informative and enjoyable. Whilst a lot of time is spent in the classroom we go afloat every day for one or two sessions on the water. The course is run at our base at East Ferry Marina with comfortable classrooms, full onshore facilities and great sailing waters afloat.

Dinghy Instructor Revalidation

 All ISA Instructor qualifications are valid for a fixed period of time after which they have to be revalidated. The period of validity and the date of issue are printed on the certificate. Eddie and the team at SailCork specialise in revalidating ISA Dinghy Instructors. Revalidation takes just one full day and takes the format of a briefing with Eddie English before working as part of the teaching team running 2 sessions afloat. You will be updated with the ISA Small Boat Sailing Scheme, learn new tips on the best practices for training afloat and have constructive criticism of your own teaching afloat. Please contact Jo English at 021 4811237 for details.

 

 Instructor Resources Page   This page is designed to help all instructors. You can download resources like special tips, videos, session planners etc. We will be adding more resources to this page on an ongoing basis. If you have any resources you want to share with other instructors please let us know by contacting SailCork

Dinghy Instructor - We only run 3 courses this year book your place now on the best Dinghy Instructor course in Ireland!

Course fee: €495

Easter 2012 (April 2-6) and  Summer 2012: June 11-15  October 29 - Nov 2

Dinghy Instructor Pre- requisites:

Minimum age 17 years.
• Recommendation from Club Officer or Centre Principal.
• Dinghy Instructor Pre-entry assessment* completed within last 12 months.
• Valid First Aid Certificate. • SRC VHF Radio Certificate.
• ISA National Powerboat Cert (Level 2) (cert endorsed for tiller & console controls + 20 hrs power-boating logged following cert.)

Pre-Entry Course and Assessment  2012 Short course + assessment:  Feb 14+15

The whole process of becoming an instructor begins with the pre-entry course and at SailCork we run special courses to ensure you are up to the standard required and full prepared so you can get the best from your instructor course. The course prepares you afloat and ashore for the pre-entry assessment and also for the instructor course. The assessment ensures that you have the pre-requisite skills and knowledge necessary to teach up to Improving Skills of the National Dinghy Scheme ashore + afloat. Skills Assessment:- scroll to  bottom of this page for full details

Some of the things that you do on a SailCork  course:

 

 

 

Advanced Instructor Courses:

3 days for one discipline on its own or 5 days for 2 together          

Adventure Sailing Instructor

Role - Deliver Adventure 1, Adventure 2 + Advanced Boat Handling

Course Duration: 3 days. Certificate valid: For 3 years from date of issue.

Pre-requisites: • ISA Sailing Instructor (Dinghy, Keelboat or Catamaran).            
• 20 days teaching on ISA courses            Recommendation from Club Officer
• Advanced/Adventure Instructor Pre-entry assessment (within last 12 months)
• Emergency Care Cert.          • ISA Safety Boat Cert.        • SRC VHF Radio Cert.
• ISA Coastal Navigation for Small Boats or equivalent.  

 

Kites & Wires Instructor

Role - To deliver Kites & Wires 1, 2 +Advanced Boat Handling courses.

Course Duration: 3 days. Certificate valid: For 3 years from date of issue.

Pre-requisites: • ISA Sailing Instructor (Dinghy, Keelboat or Catamaran) 
• 20 days logged teaching on ISA SBSS courses
• Recommendation from Club Officer or Centre Principal.
• Advanced/Kites & Wires pre entry assessment (within last 12 months) 
• Valid First Aid Cert     • SRC VHF Radio Cert       • ISA Safety Boat Cert

 

Club Racing Instructor 

Role - To deliver Go Racing 1 and Advanced Boat Handling.

Course Duration: 3 days 

Pre-requisites: 
• Recommendation from Club Officer or Centre Principal.
• Advanced Instructor Pre-entry assessment (within last 12 months)
• Valid First Aid Cert    • SRC VHF Radio Cert    • ISA Safety Boat Cert
• ISA Sailing Instructor    • 20 days logged teaching on ISA courses.
 

Senior Instructor (Sailing + Powerboating) - Spring 2012

Valid ISA SBSS Instructor certificate or equivalent. Minimum age 19 years. Recommendation from Club Officer or Centre Principal. Recommendation from Senior Instructor. Valid First Aid Certificate from approved course SRC VHF Radio Certificate (Modules 1 & 2). ISA Safety Boat Certificate.

Logbook: At least 50 days working as an ISA SBSS Instructor teaching SBSS courses spread over 2 seasons in 2 or more different organisations

New Senior Instructors must attend the five day training programme consisting of; Core Skills Sport Specific Skills (either SBSS, Windsurfing, Powerboat or IW Motorboat) This programme will be orientated around no more than 2 disciplines. Where 2 disciplines are being covered / included on the one course, the Instructor Trainers running the course must have, between them, the qualifications required to run Senior Instructor training courses in each discipline being included. Participants with the necessary pre-requisites may be offered the opportunity to qualify in more than one discipline on the one course. However, where this is the case the course duration for all participants must be extended to 6 days.

 

Powerboat Instructor Courses

Click here for details on: Powerboat Instructor Pre Entry, Powerboat Instructor Course, Safety Boat Instructor, Recreational Powerboat Instructor, Advanced Powerboat Instructor Powerboat Senior Instructor 

Dinghy Instructor - Pre-Entry Assessment -skills assessement 

In order to qualify for entry onto an ISA instructor-training course you must successfully complete the appropriate Instructor Pre-entry Assessment This assessment ensures that you have the pre-requisite skills and knowledge necessary to teach up to Level 3 in the ISA Small Boat Sailing Scheme. The assessment itself reviews those skills and knowledge covered in The Improving Skills course (Level 3) and The Advanced Sailing Skills Course (Level 4) of the Small Boat Sailing Scheme.

The assessment has two parts. Part 1 being an assessment of your sailing skills and Part 2 being an assessment of your background knowledge.

The assessment must be conducted by an ISA SBSS Instructor Trainer Eddie English. The assessment must be conducted in a minimum wind speed of 11 knots and must be undertaken in a sailing dinghy, catamaran or keelboat depending on the type of instructor course that it is required for. When undertaken in dinghies the assessment will be conducted in a three sail dinghy with trapeze. When the assessment is undertaken in keelboats spinnakers must be used if conditions permit.

Part 1 - Skills Assessment You will be asked to complete the following tasks. While doing so you should demonstrate the ability to apply the Five Essentials ie. sail setting, balance, trim, centreboard and course sailed, to each task. The Assessor will be seeking to confirm that you can sail competently and confidently. Through this section the term on the first attempt should not be taken to mean that you cannot make a seamanlike decision to break off at a reasonably early stage and try again. It means that once you have become a committed to a task, it should be successfully completed. The assessment must be conducted in a minimum wind speed of 11 knots and must be undertaken in a sailing dinghy, catamaran or keelboat depending on the type of instructor course that it is required for.

Sail around a triangular course You will be asked to sail around a triangular course. Each leg of the course will be at least 400 meters long. During this you will be expected to; Demonstrate that you can apply the five essentials at all times.Demonstrate that you can closely round a mark without touching it. Demonstrate that you can allow for any tide / currents if present. Demonstrate that you can use all of boats equipment to best advantage including spinnaker if conditions are appropriate.

Sail around Triangular course without a rudder (dinghies & keelboats only) You will be asked to sail the same course as previously, but without a rudder. During this you will be expected to; Demonstrate that you can sail the boat around the course without noticeable difference from sailing with a rudder. Demonstrate that you can maintain proper control of the boat on all points of sailing as well as while tacking & gybing. Demonstrate that you can make the necessary adjustments to sail area, sheeting arrangements, & centreboard position. Demonstrate that while sailing without a rudder, that you can maintain proper awareness of other water users and take proper avoiding action if necessary. Note that you will not be penalised for reefing the boat if conditions are such that it would be seamanlike to do so.

Sail a tight circular course. You will be asked to sail a tight circle around a stationary but free-floating boat. The circle should be as small as you can safely make it. However, the assessor will accept that in doing this, you may have to leave the centreboard in one position. During this you will be expected to; Demonstrate that you can sail a smooth circle within a radius of three boat lengths of the assessors boat. Make only one tack & one gybe during the circle. Maintain appropriate sail trim and boat balance / trim at all times.

Sail a follow my leader course The course may include all points of sailing and may be behind another sailing boat or behind a power-boat. During this you will be expected to; Maintain a constant distance of approximately one boat length between you and the boat in front.

Pick up a Man-Overboard dummy You will be asked to drop off and then pick up an MOB dummy. The dummy will be of sufficient weight so as to represent a person in the water. During this you will be expected to; Stop the boat dead in the water when you pick up the dummy. Pick up the MOB at the windward shroud. Not tack while you pull the MOB on board. Not need more than one attempt to pick up the MOB.

Lee-shore landing and departure (dinghies & catamarans only) You may be asked to demonstrate a lee-shore landing & departure. During this you will be expected to; Use the correct sail plan (jib only if necessary) Land in a controlled fashion. On departure, clear the shore successfully in a controlled way on the first attempt.

Anchor / pick up a mooring wind against tide. You may be asked to either anchor or pick up a mooring in a wind over tide situation. During picking up a mooring you will be expected to; Use the correct sail plan Stop the boat dead in the water next to the buoy. Pick up the mooring on the first attempt. Keep the boat under control once the buoy is on board. During anchoring you will be expected to; Use the correct sail plan Anchor in the area designated by the Assessor. Anchor successfully on the first attempt Keep the boat under control once you have anchored.

Come alongside a moored boat, wind against tide You may be asked to come-alongside in a wind against tide situation During this you will be expected to; Maintain complete control of the boat during the approach. Stop alongside the boat at the first attempt. Remain in control of the boat once you are alongside.

Recover a capsized dinghy and sail away (dinghies & catamarans only). You will be asked to recover a capsized dinghy and then sail it away. During this you will be expected to; Successfully right the dinghy without external help in a calm and controlled manner. Need only one attempt to recover the boat. Recover the crew and yourself into the boat and sail away while maintaining control of the boat at all times.

Reducing sail while underway You will be asked to change headsails and reef the mainsail while underway. During this you will be expected to; Maintain control of the boat at all times. Reef the sails in a manner that allows them to be set to best effect. Ensure the safety & security of crew. Execute the changes in a timely and efficient manner.

Part 2  Assessment of Background Knowledge This part of the Instructor Pre-entry assessment will assess the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to become an Instructor teaching up to Improving Skills in the ISA Small Boat Sailing Scheme. Method: The assessment may be in the form of; 1) Aural interview with the Assessor. 2) Written answers / calculations done during the assessment. Original copies of RYA Training Chart 1 will be used be used for all of the assessment / calculations where a chart is required. Tables used will be the RYA Practice Navigation Tables. Sailors must be informed of this prior to the assessment to allow them to familiarize them selves with the chart.

Sail & mast controls Using a three sail boat normally fitted with a trapeze the sailors will be asked to identify any of the boats sail & mast controls, describe how it might be used, and if possible, demonstrate on the boat the effect that control has. Main sail- Halyard, Cunnigham, Out haul, Vang, Battens, Main-sheet, Traveller Telltales. Jib - Halyard, Sheets & Sheeting angles, Telltales. Mast - Rig tension, Spreader length & angles, Mast ram / chocks, Rake.

Compass The sailor will be asked to; Take a course to steer from a chart and apply it to a compass Having been given two points on a chart the sailor should be able to plot a course between the two points onto the chart, Convert this course to a course to steer by applying the appropriate variation and deviation from the compass card provided. Plot a magnetic bearing onto a chart Having been given three compass bearings the sailor should be able to plot a position fix onto a chart.

Chart symbols The sailor will be asked to identify a number of common symbols and features from a chart. Latitude & longitude, Depth contours, Tidal diamonds, Rocks, Drying areas, Port & Starboard Lateral marks, North, East, South & West Cardinal marks, Special marks, Isolated danger mark & Safe-water mark.

Tides For a primary port, the sailor will be asked to either; Predict the depth of water at a given time and place. Given a position on a chart, a time and a set of tide tables for a primary port the sailors should be able to calculate the depth of water at that point. Predict the time at which the water will reach a particular depth at any given time or place. Given a required depth at a position on a chart and a set of tide tables for a primary port the sailors should be able to calculate the time at which the water will be at the depth given. For a position on the coast or in a channel adjacent to a primary port the sailor should be able to estimate the time and direction of maximum and minimum tidal flow. Given a position on a chart, a set of tide tables and a set of tidal charts the sailor the sailor should be able to estimate the time and direction of maximum flow and time of minimum tidal flow.

Collision Regulations Using either an aural interview, written questions or models the sailor will be asked to; - From colour pictures, identify a number of common navigation day marks and descried their relevance to sailors. Port & Starboard Lateral marks, North, East, South & West Cardinal marks, Special marks, Isolated danger mark & Safe-water mark - Correctly identify who has priority and correct action by stand on vessel in a number of simple scenarios. Sail v sail Port / starboard, overtaking, windward / leeward Sail v power meeting vessels, overtaking, restricted manoeuvrability Power v power meeting vessels, overtaking, towing.

Weather During an aural interview; The sailor will be asked to describe the prevailing weather patterns and effects for a period of 2 days prior to the assessment. The sailor will be asked to provide a synopsis of the expected weather for the day of the assessment and describe how it might be expected to affect the sailing area used for the assessment. The sailor will be asked to describe the cause of, effects of and features of at least two common weather conditions / features. Sea breeze, Radiation Fog, Sea Fog, Thunderstorms, Line squalls, Warm front, Warm sector, Cold front, Cold sector, Occluded fronts, Depressions, Anti cyclones. The sailor will be asked to identify two types of cloud from colour photographs Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Altostratus, Altocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Nimbostratus, Fractostratus, Stratocumulus. The sailor will be asked to describe identify the prevailing wind speed and direction.

Ropework The sailor will be asked to tie and describe the appropriate use for three knots Reef Knot, Bowline, Clove hitch, Round turn & two half hitches, Sheet bent and Rolling hitch, Figure of eight. 

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