Would you please tell me where and by whom I can get certified as a sailing instructor? I have been sailing for 30 years and would like to make my favorite hobby a source of income. (I live in San Diego, CA). Thankyou!
Dan Dickison responds:
Getting certified as a sailing instructor is a really a matter of who you regard as the highest or most acknowledged authority in the sport. Since you live in the US, you can take courses with US SAILING to receive that organization's blessing as a certified instructor at one of several levels and within various disciplines (keelboat, dinghy, sailboard). Or you can get involved with the folks at the American Sailing Association and get them to certify you as well. Also, there are also various independent contractors around the country that are affiliated with either ASA or US SAILING.
That pretty much covers the options in the US. In the UK, the Royal Yachting Association offers a comprehensive range of courses and exams in various disciplines as well. However, since sailing is such a fragmented sport, there are a lot of companies and organizations out there that offer instructor training, and some purport to offer certification as well. It just makes sense to go with the ones that are most readily recognized, essentially the ones I've already mentioned.
To get in touch with US SAILING, you can simply call them at 401-863-0800. Or you can get additional information on the web. Here's a direct link to their intructional programs: http://www.ussailing.org/training/. To find information on line regarding the ASA programs, follow this link: http://www.american-sailing.com/
Here's hoping this information gets you started in the right direction. Best of luck to you.
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