Qualification Process

In order to become a RYA/Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Instructor, Cruising Instructor or Shorebased Instructor, you must hold the RYA/ Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence with MCA Commercial endorsement*.  You may then apply to attend either a 5 day liveaboard Yachtmaster Instructor Course, a 3-5day Cruising Instructor Course or a two day Shorebased Instructor Course. *Shorebased only instructors are not required to hold the MCA Commercial endorsement.

Candidates with the best success record are usually those with substantial offshore sailing and previous instructional experience.  Futher information is available from the Instructors Handbook G27 and it is recommended that all candidates familiarise themselves with this publication before attending any Instructor Course.

In order to become an RYA/ Yachting Australia Cruising Instructor, you must also hold the RYA/ Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence as a prerequisite, then (depending on your experience) you may be accepted attend a 5 day Yachtmaster Instructor course as above or first attend a 3-5 day Cruising Instructor course held at a RYA/ Yachting Australia Centre or be trained in-house by the principal/chief instructor of a RYA/ Yachting Australia Training Centre.

RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence

As the RYA/ YA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is a prerequisite to becoming an Instructor, you will need to update your Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Qualification if you haven't already done so.  (This is done by taking the RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination).  Once awarded you will be issued with a dual branded RYA/ Yachting Australia Certificate which is eligible for MCA endorsement subject to completion of Sea Survival element of STCW (or SSSC) and a current Medical Fitness Certificate.

RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore Examination

Please contact Yachting Australia or an RYA-YA Training Centre to arrange and examination.  A list of examiners is available from here.  Examination costs $465 including GST. The examination application form is available to download below.  Further course information and exam requirements are available from the Sail Cruising & Yachtmaster Scheme Logbook G15 and Motor Cruising and Yachtmaster Scheme Logbook G18, plus read 'How to Pass your Yachtmaster'.

RYA/YA Yachtmaster Instructor Course

Yachting Australia normally holds two Yachtmaster Instructor for Sail courses per year for Sail and will also run Yachtmaster Instructor for Power course on demand.  The Yachtmaster Instructor for Sail course fee includes five days food, onboard accomodation, fuel, tuition and one examination.  Should you be unsuccessful after the course examination, you may be required to undertake a futher examination which will be charged seperately. 

The Yachtmaster Instructor for Power course is 4 days long and candidates are not required to liveaboard.  Much of the course content and information is available in the Scheme Logbook G15 (Sail) and G18 (Power) and Instructor Handbook G27.  You are strongly advised to obtain a copy of these prior to the course.  They are available from our online bookshop www.yachting.org.au/shop

Course Date Location Availability Closing date
Yachtmaster Instructor Update August 13-14th Pittwater, NSW Completed 15/07/2011 
Yachtmaster Instructor for Power September 14-16 Brisbane, QLD Postponed 17/08/2011
Yachtmaster Instructor for Sail October 24-28th
Moreton Bay, QLD
 Completed 26/09/2011
Shorebased Yachtmaster Instructor January 23-24th Sydney, NSW Available 23/12/2011
Yachtmaster Instructor for Sail  July 02 - 06 Moreton Bay, QLD Completed 04/06/2012
Yachtmaster Instructor Conference June 6-7th Adelaide, SA Completed 20/04/2012
Yachtmaster Instructor for Sail Sept 17-21st Moreton Bay, QLD Available 17/08/2012
Yachtmaster Instructor for Power April 2nd-5th Brisbane, QLD Available 02/03/2012

To book, please complete the application form at the bottom of this page and submit to sonia.robinson@yachting.org.au 

Own boat tuition
If you have 4 staff requiring examination, and are interested in arranging an own-boat course at a time and location more suited to you, please contact Sonia for further details.  The vessel needs to meet RYA/YA Training Centre standards (be between 7 - 15 metres long and capable of going offshore, meet State Maritime Authority requirements and be equipped according to standards and requirements set by RYA/YA.)  Unfortunately, many locations around Australia are not suitable for the instructor course as there is insufficient tidal stream - this includes Sydney.

Yachtmaster Instructor / Examiner Update

For existing Yachtmaster Instructors who's qualifications are due to expire (or have already expired), the next Yachtmaster Instructor Update will be held in Adelaide on June 4-5th 2012. 

RYA/YA Cruising Instructor Course

 A Cruising Instructor is eligible to run practical training only up to Day Skipper.  Should the Cruising Instructor wish to deliver the shorebased courses, they must complete one of the Shorebased Instructor courses (see below).  Like the Yachtmaster Instructor, this qualification is valid for five years - afterwhich the Instructor must either be re-tested or take a Yachtmaster Instructor Qualifying Course.  To be sucessful, a Cruising Instructor needs to be able to demonstrate all aspects of the Yachtmaster Offshore syllabus, whilst also having enough capacity to be able to teach it.  Unless they are exceptionally talented, this preculdes candidates who have only recently passed their Yachtmaster exam.

At present, Principals and Chief Instructors have responsibility for training Cruising Instructors.  Training is delivered 'in house', either on dedicated CI courses or on an individual basis.  This allows Training Centres a great deal of flexibility in the way in which they can bring new instructors into the scheme.  To book a course, contact your local RYA/YA Training Centre or contact training@yachting.org.au for details of scheduled courses.

RYA/YA Shorebased Instructor Course

This two-day course is primarily for those who are new to teaching the RYA/YA Shorebased courses, although experienced instructors are also welcome to attend.  All candidates should hold the RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence, be active cruising or offshore yachtsmen / yachtswomen and have successfully completed the Yachtmaster Shorebased Certificate in the last five years - however we will also accept applications from holders of other qualifications which are outlined below. 

 Qualification     +     Qualification   

Upon sucessful completion of  SBI course can teach...
RYA Yachtmaster Coc  +  RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory OR Master V All Shorebased Theory courses up to CS/YM
YA Yachtmaster  +  Master V  All Shorebased Theory coruses up to CS/YM
YA Yachtmaster  +  RYA Shorebased Theory*  Essential Navigation & Seamanship
RYA or YA practical Instructor  +  RYA Day Skipper Theory* OR Master V Essential Navigation & Seamanship

Candidates knowledge should be well in excess of the Yachtmaster Shorebased certificate and are advised to work through the Shorebased papers that are sent out prior to the course.

  
What can I teach as a Shorebased Instructor?
The Shorebased Instructor course is for anyone wanting to teach the RYA/YA Shorebased Navigation and Seamanship courses -Essential Navigation and Seamanship, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean.

To teach the Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course only:
You should hold either a YA or AYF Yachtmaseter Coc or an RYA or YA practical instructor certificate and at least a RYA Day Skipper shorebased course certificate. Your knowledge should be well in excess of the Day Skipper shorebased certificate and you are advised to work through the shorebased papers that are sent out prior to the course. RYA /YA Yachtmaster Instructors and existing Shorebased Instructors can teach this course without further training.

To teach all Shorebased courses up to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore:
You should hold either the RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence and have successfully completed the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course in the last five years OR hold a YA or AYF Yachtmaster Coc plus Master V. Your knowledge should be well in excess of that level and you are advised to work through the Shorebased papers that are sent out prior to the course.

To teach the Yachtmaster Ocean course:
You need to be either an RYA/YA Yachtmaster Instructor or Shorebased Instructor and hold the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence.
  

Other Instructor Courses

To teach Radar :You need not hold a RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate; however you must have successfully completed the Radar Instructor course or Master V Radar module with practical experience of operating small craft Radar.  Your level of knowledge must far exceed that of the course syllabus. 
 
To teach Diesel Engine Maintenance: You need not hold a RYA/YA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate; however you must have successfully completed the Diesel Instructor or MED course or be a Diesel engine mechanic with practical experience of small craft marine diesel engines.  Your level of knowledge must far exceed that of the course syllabus.

Training must be carried out at a Recognised RYA/YA Shorebased or Practical Training Centre that is registered to deliver these courses.  All RYA Practical Instructors may teach the Essential Navigation &  Seamanship Shorebased Course at a suitably recognised RYA/YA Centre. RYA/YA Yachtmaster Instructors can teach BNS without further training.

 

Other Links
 RYA/ Yachting Australia Exam Application
 RYA/ Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Instructor Course Application
 Application to attend Shorebased Instructor Course Training