Yachting Australia

Happy New Year to you all.

Over the break we have had a chance to reflect on some of the key priorities for the upcoming months and these include Training Centre Inspections and Instructor training.  Both activities are important elements in maintaining the high standards of our National Training Schemes.

In this edition of Nautical News we answer a number of questions regarding the differences between coaches and instructors and highlight some of the pathways that our schemes introduce people to.

Best of luck with your training

Chris, Sonia & Ali

Training News

Recently Yachting Australia has delivered a number of presentations on training and it has become evident that there are some key messages which we have not yet reached the wider sailing community.

1) What is the difference between an instructor and a coach?

We are regularly asked what the difference between an instructor and a coach is.  Essentially an instructor has been taught how to teach a specific scheme and teaches at an accredited Yachting Australia Training Centre. A coach is somebody who helps a sailor improve their racing skills.  See the following link to the updated page on our website.

2) What are the pathways available after first learning to sail or drive a powerboat?

Have you ever thought about what opportunities we are opening for people when they first attend a Yachting Australia Course? The number of people employed around the world as 'professional sailors' is vast and the National Training Scheme offers a gateway to a multitude of maritime careers from instructor to Yacht Racer to Master of a super yacht to name but a few.  For more information click on the following link

Keelboat Update

As previously advised the National Yacht Cruising Scheme will no longer be supported by Yachting Australia after 31 December 2010, with all Yacht Training to be delivered through the joint RYA Yachting Australia Yacht Training Scheme, and all small keelboat training delivered through the National Keelboat Scheme.

Overview: Keelboat Scheme overview

Syllabus: Keelboat Scheme syllabus

We will be writing to all schools that currently deliver the National Yacht Cruising scheme to invite expressions of interest and will then start the inspection process and scheme roll out. Changes and updates to myCentre are still required to allow us to facilitate the new course.

We will also be running instructor courses and conversion courses throughout the year so keep an eye on the website for more information. A pre-requisite for any instructor for the new National Keelboat Scheme is that they should be able to carry out all elements of the scheme.

myCentre Developments

As mentioned in the December 2009 eidtion of Nautical News we are making some ammendments to myCentre, the first of which has been completed which allows Training Centres to upload multiple students to a course using a csv file (effectively a spreadsheet saved as text file). The functionality was previously offered using a spreadsheet however challenges with versions and the use of macros made this unworkable. The new soultion utilises a csv  file which can be downloaded from the following link. A simple user guide is also available to facilitate the use of this functionality

Instructors 

Instructor Training Update

Our Training Centres and MYAs in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia were recently contacted and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding Instructor Training requirements at their Training Centre.  By increasing the participation of Instructor Training we will see our sport strengthen and the quality of training improve in general.

We would like to thanks to all the Training Centres and MYAs for your prompt response and we are currently using this feedback to build a healthy Training Calendar for the next 18 months. 

For details on Instructor Training please go to the Training Calendar under Events on our Homepage or Click Here.

If you didn’t receive the email/ letter or you would like to let us know of Instructor Training you would like to see happening in your area please feel free to download the form by clicking here, complete and return to your MYA or to Yachting Australia via: training@yachting.org.au

News from the RYA/Yachting Australia Yacht Training Scheme

Our New Year has begun with a new Training Centre recognised to deliver the RYA/Yachting Australia Yacht Training Scheme. We welcome Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club in Victoria which brings the recognised Joint Scheme Schools to 20 across the country.

NSW Maritime are now accrediting holders of the RYA/Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence when their qualification is commercially endorsed with STCW95.  Further information is available from our website.

For many of our RTCs this is a busy time with no shortage of people wanting to learn to sail but not always enough instructors to satisfy the demand.  The following Instructor Training will be held during the year.

Instructor Training – Please refer to our website for further information and course dates.  All courses are subject to demand.

Shorebased Instructor Course   Sydney,
Jan 28th – re-scheduled to March 2010

Yachtmaster Instructor Course  Moreton Bay, Qld
April 12-16th
Sept 20-24th

Yachtmaster Update Course    Moreton Bay
Sept 14-15th

RYA/Yachting Australia Conference  Hamilton Island
July 18-20th

If you’re interested in participating in any of the above or any other RYA/Yachting Australia Instructor Training, please contact sonia.robinson@yachting.org.au

Yachtmaster Coastal & Offshore Exams

Contrary to popular belief, it is not mandatory to take any formal training before taking either of the above exams – however you are far more likely to succeed first go if you have attended a course through one of our Recognised Training Centres and we strongly recommend this to anyone not already familiar with the RYA/Yachting Australia Yacht Training Scheme.

RYA/Yachting Australia Instructors Conference – proudly sponsored by RFD

This year  our annual Instructors Conference will be on Hamilton Island and is scheduled for July 18-20th 2010.  We look forward to extending the invitation to partners of Instructors and there will be plenty of activities on offer as well as our usual Conference line-up. We will have some interesting guest speakers which will include a visit from the RYA’s Training Manager James Stevens. Further information on the event will be published shortly on our website.

Online Shop

Yachting Australia training is supported by a vast array of training publications, these are great tools and allow students easy reference once they have finished the course. Please let us know if you know of a publication that you would like to see offered here.

YATCs:  Please remember to log on before you purchase books online to receive your discount.

Response to consultation regarding VHF radio licencing

There was a recent consultation document that Yachting Australia recommended people respond to regarding the low take up of VHF licences for recreational boaters. Yachting Australia forwarded a submission to this consultation which can be found at the following link 

Tell us what's happening!

We would like to take the opportunity to encourage readers to write in with stories or interesting news regarding training and participation.  Please let us know what works by writing to training@yachting.org.au

Good luck with your training!
 

Chris, Sonia & Ali

Yachting Australia Training

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