Advanced instructors course

I did mine a few years ago.

The performance sailing module is not too taxing nowadays, not as hard as old level 5 I dont think (although may well be wrong).  You are only teaching the basics of trapezeing, and spinnaker work, so the boats used are often not that high performance, much of a weeks course might be in a stratos or something and move into maybe a buzz at the end.

Probably the hardest part about the course (it goes through teaching spinnakers and trapezing so you need to be reasonable at them, both sym and assym) was the stuff on boat tuning, how the dynamic controls(kicker cunningham etc) and static controls (spreaders, shroud settings) affect the sail shape.  On my  course I already knew the basics although I found turngin a fully battened rigged boat on its side and playing with the controls v enlightening.  There were some people there who were learning that stuff from scratch, we all got through.

So in conclusion I am sure you will get through.  Although I am a reasonable sailor and can deal with assymetrics fine, as well as trapezing and syms (crewed Laser 2 for 3 years) I would not put myself down as a performance sailor! (your 14 would indeed eat me for breakfast)  But I am pretty confident I could teach the bare basics in simple boats.  Remeber to go on a performance module course nowadays you only have to have achieved your level 2! 

Pieces of paper generally mean nothing.  It is far more important in teaching situations that people know their limitations and dont take things on they cant handle.

Many thanks for you replies guys; very helpful.

There seems to be a huge overlap between the 'performance sailing' couse and 'sailing with spinnakers'. I guess the spinnaker course is there for people who don't want to learn trapeze stuff. I've taught a few spinnaker courses since you can do it with just the DI qual. as long as your SI thinks you are up to it.

I really need to spend some time learning symmetrical spinnakers since I have only ever used asymmetrics  plus maybe another season in the 14 or something.

Regarding qualifications, I got fed up last summer with pushy parents booking their kids on stage 1-3 in a week period or asking which course they should put their kids on next. Why the paper chasing? To show off at dinner parties? I always explain that I prefer that the kids enjoy sailing and will stick with it above everything else. Personally, the only RYA course I have been on it my dinghy instructors course!

Very true. A centre I worked at I saw one of the instructors tacking a laser facing backwards and getting tangled up while teaching his course. On my pre assessment most of the people on it didn't know the difference between aft and centre mainsheet.

Many instructors seem to get their qualification and never do any personal sailing themselves which I think is sad. Some get hooked on the power trip of being 'the teacher' too. Experience and time on the water and in different classes makes you a much better instructor.

The staff at PGL get paid depending on how many qualifications they have. This doesn't help!

Well I have just finished my DI course and I agree the standards varied. There were a couple of surprise passes and some action plans.

If anyone is going to do the DI course get sailing different boats. I struggled because I am so used to my Contender and have sailed little else for the last 5 years.

Just imagine me in a Pico with 2 reefs (I know but we were told to!!) and winds gusting 35 knots - great fun until they stopped us and forced us to get a tow home.