On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 02:32:40 -0800, "Ron Rowan"
wrote:

I'm looking for a mentor and/or feedback from other sailing instructors on
what it takes to reach this goal.


I am a Canadian Yachting Association Advanced Cruising Instructor and
International Sail and Power Association Yachtmaster Offshore
Instructor. I teach on larger (20 to 50 foot) boats, rather than
dinghies.

Some of what I went through for Canadian Yachting Association
certification. I had to have each level as student before seeking the
instructor status

Sufficient experience as a skipper.
Written exams
- Colregs - 90% (this one can be nasty)
- Coastal Navigation - 90%
- Basic Cruising - 90%
- local knowledge

Single handed sailing
- docking and leaving dock
- anchoring
- mooring buoy
- MOB
- reefing

Demonstrated ability to teach
- classroom theory
- on the water skills

After that I was able to teach Basic Cruising. After 300 hours of
teaching Basic, I went through the same process to get my Intermediate
instructor qualifications. And then after teaching and getting the
requisite night hours, I got my Advanced. I was invited to join
International Sail and Power Association with parallel standards. I
am required to re-certify every three years with CYA. I must develop
my sailing and teaching skills to maintain my ISPA certification.

Good sailors do not necessarily make good instructors. Poor sailors
never make good instructors. You must be very patient with your
students. Live-aboard course can be great or they can be quite a
trial.

I was a teacher (grade 7-12). I loved teaching and wanted to continue
after retirement, and I love sailing. Being a sailing instructor
combines those two.

As an sailing instructor, you will not actually be sailing much. You
will be an a boat, but your students are not paying to watch you sail.
I will practice MOB with them and I may dock the boat once. They are
on the helm and the winches.

As for a mentor, you should talk to your own instructors. They should
be able to point you to your goal. Our sailing school has a policy of
mentoring new instructors.

Jack

__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
__________________________________________________