This placement would suit...

Anyone looking to combine education (with professional qualifications) optional employment, travel, adventure and fun.

We run this course at both our sail and boards sports centres - Vassiliki, Greece between May and September, and Sydney, Australia between September and April.  The Basic Traineeship is designed to allow plenty of time for personal skills development on the water. See also our Dinghy Sailing Instructor Pro Traineeship, which matches the Basic course and adds six weeks of post-qualification professional development.  We also offer dinghy training combined with windsurfing in Dinghy Sailing/Windsurf Instructor Traineeships.

The course is suitable for beginners and early intermediates who are happy to accept a steep learning curve.The first two weeks provide intensive foundation training.  We teach you how to sail effectively, and we provide essential courses in first aid and rescue boat driving. The middle two weeks are the core of the skill-building programme. You sail under the guidance of expert coaches who guarantee to improve your performance on the water.  You are working towards passing the RYA's 'pre-entry' assessment, a test of your sailing skills.  The final two weeks are devoted to instructor training and assessment, focusing on the coaching skills needed to train beginners and improvers in single and two-handed sailing dinghies. 

You will develop an imaginative approach to teaching safe and efficient sailing, as well as the theory that underlies it.  We make sure you have time to learn and practise the necessary teaching techniques before being examined. 

To gain the instructor qualification you need to demonstrate good communication skills, an understanding of the training scheme, in-depth theory knowledge, group management ability, safety awareness and an effective coaching style.

Our Users Say...

"I made the decision to spend part of my gap year getting qualified as an instructor as I intended to teach sailing and windsurfing during uni breaks. I now don't have to worry about what to do for summer holidays and how to pay for them as I'm doing something that's really good fun AND getting paid for it! The Fish course was great - it really helps you to deal with people and gives you the confidence to talk to anyone. As for working at Club Vass - being here is better than a holiday!" - Denise Briggs