Women powerboat instructors in the Midlands gear up for summer season

An RYA Midlands programme designed to build skills and break down barriers for women has seen its latest group of aspiring powerboat instructors qualifying in time for the summer season.

The initiative provides on-water sessions to help women develop their confidence and knowledge in preparation for taking the RYA Powerboat Instructor course.

Six participants – taking the total to 12 over the last two years - have now qualified as instructors, enabling them in turn to help more people gain RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificates to support activities at their clubs and centres.

Programme coordinator and RYA Midlands Sailing Developer Sallie Bowd said: “Women often feel overlooked or that men take the lead in powerboating, and the upskilling days are designed to give them time on the water and the confidence to do an RYA Powerboat Instructor course.

“It enables them to form friendships and go through the pathway together, so they feel empowered to ask questions and practise their boat handling, without any concerns about what people might think, in a supportive and encouraging learning environment.”

Teamwork

Participants attended one or more days on the water over winter to build on their existing RYA Powerboat Level 2 skills ahead of a pre-assessment day and then taking the RYA Powerboat Instructor course.

Among those who qualified with the most recent cohort was Chloe Kinsella, an RYA Dinghy Sailing Trainer who works at clubs and centres across the Midlands.

Chloe said: “I’m used to going on courses with a group of men and although I’ve been doing powerboating for a long time, I’ve always really been a sailor, so I wanted to enhance and broaden my skills with likeminded people with similar experience.

“There’s definitely a different atmosphere with a group of all-women. It feels less judgemental when something doesn’t go according to plan, which makes it less nerve-racking. Everyone was keen to praise and help each other and press each other forward. It was a case of ‘let’s help you make that better’, so we were all enhancing each other’s experience. Everyone was in it for everyone!”

Opportunities

Also qualifying as an RYA Powerboat Instructor was Sarah Peel, Centre Manager at Carsington Sports & Leisure, who said: “I was a powerboat instructor in the late 1990s but my qualification lapsed as I moved into a senior role and found I was spending more time in the office.

“I’ve spent 30 years in the industry and I’m used to working in a male dominated environment, so I joined the programme because it was too good an opportunity to miss rather than because it was a women’s initiative, but actually it was really enjoyable to be part of an all-female group.

“We all supported each other along the way and we were all in it together, with a nice atmosphere in which people were comfortable to share things, and it was very much a team effort. We all wanted each other to pass the course – and we did!

“As a full-time working mum, the programme also made it achievable. It was broken down into steps which made it possible for me to get on the water and regain my confidence. It was very much about ‘let’s make this manageable’ so we could fit it in around busy lives.

“Now I’m a qualified instructor again, I can train staff and our younger support crew to get their RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate, which supports what we do and is a reward for them and opens doors for young people to other opportunities and qualifications.”

Sign up

RYA Midlands also recently hosted a free Women on Water Development Day at Burton Sailing Club, providing a welcoming space to develop sailing skills on the water and explore pathways into dinghy instructing and race coaching.

RYA Midlands Regional Manager Ben Hodgson said: “Our projects in the Midlands are a really good way to encourage women who may not otherwise come forward, providing additional resources for clubs and centres and also female role models for the future.”

The aim is to now host further Women on Water days and continue the powerboat programme to get a new group course-ready to qualify for the 2025 season.

Registration is open for two RYA Midlands upskilling days this autumn for aspiring female powerboat instructors:

• Saturday 28th September at Carsington Sports and Leisure
• Saturday 12th October at Draycote Water Sailing Club

Book your place and for further information about these or the women’s development days, please do feel free to get in touch to find out more or register your interest.