Judge Qualification Requirements

Race Officials

The RYA awards both Regional Judge (RJ) and National Judge (NJ) qualifications. The International Judge (IJ) qualification is awarded by World Sailing.

All RYA Judge qualifications are held for four years before the end of which time an application for renewal must be made. Applicants must be:

Age 18 or over for National Judge; 16 or over for RYA Judge
A member of the RYA
An experienced racing sailor
An email user with internet access
A UK passport holder (or principal residence in the UK)

The table below provides a summary of the Judge qualification requirements. For all qualification requirements in more detail, please view our competency document.

Requirement	Regional Judge		National Judge
	*Initial*	*Renewal*	*Initial*	*Renewal*
Course	RYA Regional Judge Course	Not required	RYA National Judge Course	Not required
Examination	Pass Regional Judge Rules Quiz & Exam (RJ standard or higher)	Not required	Previously passed RJ Rules Quiz and Exam	Not required
Hearings	4	4	4	4
Experience	2 events	4 events	4 major events	4 major events
References	1	Not required	2	Not required
VHF Certificate	Not required	Not required	Yes	Yes
Powerboat Qualification	Not required	Not required	PB 2	PB 2
Conference	Not required	Yes	Not required	Yes
Race Officials Safeguarding Course*	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

*see 3.2 h)

References must be from the events given on the application form.

Attendance at an RYA Judge Course is acceptable in place of conference or CPD workshop attendance.

RYA National Judges who are appointed as World Sailing International Judges (with MNA affiliation as GBR), will be re-appointed as an RYA National Judge without further application until their International qualification lapses. After it lapses, they will be re-appointed as a National Judge for one year (during which time they should apply for renewal to maintain the qualification).

The Judge application and reference form can be found here.