The Dinghy Instructor (DI) course includes the elements of safety cover that are appropriate to the Instructor level. The Dinghy Instructor award has the Power Boat Level 2 (PBL2) as a prerequisite for the course and the Dinghy Instructor course includes safety cover and support of single-handed craft.
At an RYA recognised sailing school, a DI can provide cover for single–handed sailing craft under the supervision of a Senior Instructor. Where there is no Senior Instructor (SI) on-site, for example at a non-RYA recognised centre, a DI may provide safety cover for single-handed craft as long as they have gained sufficient experience and have been approved by a technical advisor. The technical advisor should normally hold the SI qualification or above. Written confirmation of this approval should be obtained. NB the Safety Boat Award is the more appropriate, stand-alone award for this situation.
The DI qualification does not cover fleet management of crew boats. The SI qualification is the appropriate award for this situation. A SI must hold the Power Boat "safety boat award". This is the next level above PBL2.
For windsurfing, the same applies - PBL2 is a prerequisite, then in the Instructor course the relevant elements of providing safety cover and support for supervising windsurfers are included.
Within an RYA school, the Level 1 windsurfing instructor can provide safety cover for windsurfers under the supervision of the school Principal (a Level 2 instructor). In a non-RYA centre, the Level 1 instructor should obtain verification of their competencefrom a technical advisor or obtain the RYA Safety Boat Award.
The minimum qualification is PB L2 together with craft and site-specific training and assessment. The appropriate stand-alone award is the RYA Safety Boat Award.
