The Dinghy Pre-Entry Assessment Day
Dates / 23rd January 2016 or 30th January 2016Time / 9.30 – 4.30
Price / £25 (includes Lunch and G14 Dinghy Coaching Handbook)
Equipment Needed / Normal winter sailing gear.
Pen and paper to write notes on.
Recommended Equipment / RYA Wet Notes Book
RYA Beginners sailing handbook
RYA Improvers Sailing Handbook
Coach (s) / Paul Jenkins () – 07751 888158
Before being accepted onto a dinghy instructor course all candidates need to pass this assessment of their sailing skills. We are also going to use this day to assess people who are ready to do the assistant instructor course in place of one of the advanced modules from the RYA National Sailing Scheme.
The day will consist of a morning of training in RYA methods followed by the assessment in the afternoon.
The assessment can be carried out in a boat of the candidate’s choice but it has to have a Portsmouth yardstick of less than 1230. The club boats are available but it is highly recommended that you be comfortable with the boat you choose. The assessment will be carried out by an RYA Coach/Assessor. The minimum wind strength is recommended to be 11 knots, however this is not essential. Ideally you should find yourself a crew that you are happy to sail with, this does not need to be someone being assessed, although you may be able to ask other candidates.
The candidate should be able to complete the following tasks, sailing at all times with an awareness of ‘the five essentials’ i.e. Sail Setting, Balance, Trim, Centreboard and course sailed. The assessor will be seeking to confirm that the candidate can sail competently and confidently.
1. Sail around a triangular course
a. Each leg of the course will be a minimum of 100 metres
b. Close mark rounding
c. Allow for tide if appropriate
d. Use all the boats equipment to best advantage including spinnaker if carried
2. Sail a tight circular course
a. Circle less than three boat lengths radius around a stationary(free floating) boat.
b. Make only one tack and one gybe
c. Sail trim and boat balance/trim suited to the manoeuvre.
The circle should be as small as you can safely make it, but the assessor will accept that, in doing this, you might have to leave the centreboard in one position.
3. Sail a follow-my-leader course
a. On all points of sailing
b. Speeding up/slowing down(up and down wind)
c. Maintain a constant distance (1-2 boat lengths)
4. Pick up a man overboard dummy
a. Boat must be stopped dead in the water when you pick up the dummy
b. Pick up at the windward shroud
c. Do not tack while you pull it aboard
You may also be asked to complete some of the following
1. Sail rudderless, or with rudder in place and the tiller on loose elastic(class dependent)
a. Sail a triangular course
b. Demonstrate effective sail trim/boat balance
c. Modifications to sail area, sheeting purchase and centreboard setting are permitted during the exercise
d. Consider other water users and apply the ‘Rules of the road’
2. Lee Shore landing and departure
a. Use correct sail plan, jib only if necessary
b. Land in a controlled fashion
c. On departure, clear the shore successfully in a controlled way on the first attempt
3. Pick up a mooring or anchor
a. Correct sail plan
b. Boat should be stopped next to the buoy
c. Pick up buoy first time
d. When mooring buoy is on board, the boat should remain under control
e. Anchoring to take place in the area designated by the assessor
f. After the anchor has held the boat should remain under control.
4. Come alongside a moored boat
a. Approach under control
b. Stop alongside on the first attempt
c. Remain in control thereafter
5. Recover a capsized dinghy and sail away
a. Recover the dinghy on the first attempt
b. No external help permitted
c. The recovery should be controlled and seamanlike
d. Ensure that the boat and the candidates are fully prepared for the event.
The coach/Assessor will use an appropriate selection of these exercises to make a judgement of the candidate. Throughout this section the phrase ‘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 merely means that once you have become committed to a task it should be successfully completed.
At the end of the day we are looking for new instructors and will we form an action plan based on the decision made to help you through.
If you meet all the requirements to complete the dinghy instructor course you will be sent information about it and further courses that you may need. If you don’t meet all the requirements for the dinghy instructor course you will be invited onto our Assistant instructor course which will be run by one of the senior instructors at the club. If your sailing skills are not up to speed we will arrange for a seamanship skills course to be run in advance by one of our dinghy instructors to make sure that you are ready.
If you wish to take part please complete a course application form and return it to the club as soon as possible. You only have to do one of the days on offer.
If you have any questions then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Paul Jenkins
RYA Coach Assessor