If you missed Part 1 be sure to check it out here.

The next level

Once fully qualified you might simply enjoy teaching and coaching people to windsurf and not wish to take your qualifications any further.

But if you have been bitten by the tuition bug, and want to have more influence in getting more people sailing through centre or club management and maintaining high standards, becoming an RYA Senior Instructor could be your next option

The RYA Senior Windsurfing Instructor course gives you the necessary knowledge, and provides the structure to assist in organising on-the-water centre management elements, including planning and logistics, instructor development and mentoring. You must also uphold the quality assurance expected in delivering RYA Courses such as ratios, teaching to the RYA methods and following the syllabus.

This qualification also provides the opportunity to start progressing into the realms of roles such as beach and resort management and centre management.

As Amanda continues: “SIs are really the people who keep the National Windsurfing Scheme vibrant, growing and up-to-standard across the whole network of RYA Training Centres, both here and abroad.

“With safety paramount, and strong leadership skills embedded in the course, SIs are key to the daily running of a centre and development of its staff.”

To become an SI requires a candidate to be at least RYA Start Windsurfing Instructor level with evidence of two seasons’ full-time instructing, complete with an RYA Training Centre Principal recommendation. An SI’s role is fluid so you should be interested in the management side of the industry rather than mainly coaching and instructing. But good, rounded skills in both are very beneficial.

Where next?

Where not! The beauty of being an instructor at any level is it gives you the chance to meet people who, in any other walk of life, you might never have met, develop knowledge and expertise in things you may not otherwise have been exposed to and travel to places and experience cultures you might never have ventured to.

The great thing about the watersports industry is its diversity and possibilities, often through the people you meet and doors that open. Event management, hospitality, kit and clothing design / development, test editing, retail, marketing and promotion, digital media, blogging, journalism, sport development, trade and importing, for example, these are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential windsurfing-related career pathways not directly linked to your instructor qualifications.

Meanwhile, race coaching further expands the opportunities with additional qualifications such as RYA Racing Instructor, Racing Coach Level 2 (club racing coach) and Racing Coach Level 3 (class racing coach) for those who love competition.

Amanda concludes: “A good instructor must have certain skills in listening, patience, communication, persistence, adaptability, enthusiasm and being personable. Just by going through the RYA Instructor pathway you will develop new and hone existing life skills not only relevant to instruction but getting along in the big wide world too.

“Windsurfing is one of the most sociable sports out there, with people from all walks of life spending their free time on the water so you never know just who is taking note of the way you conduct yourself while you are teaching.

“While you think something windsurfing-related might be where you want to focus your career in the future, you never know what other opportunities may come your way simply through being friendly and professional. These are the doors can swing open just when you least expect them and the world becomes your oyster.”

 For more information on the RYA Windsurfing Instructor pathway visit www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining