Watch out…the Assistant Instructors are coming!

This weekend (8/9 Aug) saw the NCSC training section running a full formal two day 'Assistant Instructor' course. In planning the course, both George Stanton and Charles Ferrar admitted to being a more than a little surprised to learn that there is a lot more to it than the title suggests, and the role is certainly a lot more than just a boat rigger and launcher.

The clue comes from the RYA recommended 'instructor to student' ratios for level 1-2 courses, when Assistant Instructors have the same weighting as the full blown Dinghy Instructors. The course involved a blustery Saturday in Toppers on the main lake, and a very gusty Sunday in Stratos on the training lake. In recognition of the RYA requirements, the course also included each student planning and running one of the sessions, either on the water or in the classroom.

Despite the challenge and responsibility of the task in hand, a good time was had by all. For me personally the key memories are the expression on the face of Lizzie's MOB in her excellent MOB briefing, Clare's repertoire of involuntary exclamations, Katy's ability to look fully in control whatever was going on, Dave rising to the challenge of the centre main, and the smiles created when Peter and Sam started doing what they do best….going for speed.

We hope our new Assistant Instructors will be appearing soon at a course near you, and we very much hope this will include them running at least some of the sessions so that they can practice and develop their undoubted instructing skills.

The very worthy recipients of the RYA Assistant Instructor qualification are:
Peter Baldwin
Dave Barker
Sam Buchan
Clare Ferrar
Katy Gard
Lizzie Hubbard

Congratulations! Charles Ferrar