RNIYC Instructors
We are very proud of our skilled instructors at RNIYC and want to share more about our current Senior Instructors so you can learn more about them too!
Instructor Level Qualifications basic info - Instructors start with becoming an Assistant Instructor, (volunteering as a VI first). This is followed by the Dinghy Instructor and finally a more intense Senior Instructor course.
Instructor qualifications:-
Volunteer Instructor (VI):
To become a VI a cadet is required to have passed all RYA stages 1-4 along with one RYA advanced stage module. They will then be eligible to complete their RNIYC Assistant Instructor course. This can take from three days to five days depending on the courses completed. They will then become an AI after they have completed a week as a VI (volunteer). It is compulsory to volunteer for a minimum of one week either in the same year you attend the AI course or the following sailing season…
Assistant Instructor (AI):
Upon completion of the AI course and a week of volunteering, a cadet will be employed as an AI at the club. This qualification is bespoke to RNIYC and is a perk allowing Assistant instructors to get started on the road to the official RYA qualifications.
Dinghy Instructor (DI):
To become an RYA Dinghy Instructor, they must have a proficient level of sailing covered. The minimum age is 16 and they have to meet several prerequisites before they can commence the 5-day course. This is a widely recognised qualification.
At RNIYC our DIs work as part of the instructor team delivering RYA-recognised training under the guidance of our SI.
Senior Instructor (SI):
An SI is the highest recognised qualification to teach sailing and involves a series of courses before qualified.
The SI’s daily role is the running of cadet training and the instructors at RNIYC. They lead the instructors with activity and theory-based training which is delivered to the cadets.
We currently have four Senior Instructors at RNIYC. Marcus, Adam, Laura, and Sophie, they have worked with us for one season already and we are excited to work with them again this year!
Below is a brief outline of some of their accomplishments…
Meet our Instructors
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Marcus McEneaney: 23 years
Marcus became a Senior Instructor at the beginning of the summer 2022. He has worked as part of the sailing instructor team at RNIYC for the season and he is currently studying in Newcastle. We look forward to finding out more about his experience.
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Adam Lockhart: 21 years
Like most other young sailors progressing through the RYA stages, Adam started sailing on the RYA summer courses.
He began racing at 12 years old with RNIYC cadet racing, over his teenage years he was selected for the RYANI topper squad, 420 squad laser 4.7 and radial squads.
Adam has competed in both national and international events including the Topper World championships.
Adam worked as an AI at RNIYC for two seasons before attending his DI course at the age of 16.
Now at Herriot Watt University studying Biological Sciences he enjoys team racing for the Scottish Student team racing National Squad and Edinburgh Uni 1st team. Where he has competed in many events throughout his Uni years.
Last year Adam became an SI with Laura and Sophie and worked at the club alongside the other instructors sharing roles as SI and CI.
Adam recently came second at the Scottish team racing championships with Edinburgh's 1sts – well done Adam.
Adam says he is “excited for this season's courses and hope to help to progress the next generation of keen sailors!”
We are keen to see what Adam gets up to next!
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Laura Killiner: 21 years
Laura has been sailing for over 10 years and achieved her 1-4 RYA stages. Volunteering at the club she then became an AI at RNIYC. Her love for racing started in her laser age 14. Laura and her younger sister Sophie were selected for the RYA 420 dinghy squad. Laura as helm. They competed both nationally and internationally.
Laura went on to become a DI at 17, working and volunteering at the club during the COVID years.
Laura attended the women on water Regional Race Officer Course during lockdown with Sophie and has volunteered at some local events since passing the exam.
Laura joined the university sailing team at Queen’s University Belfast where she studies medicine, she enjoys getting out on the water.
Laura also became an SI attending the first course back since COVID began with both Adam and Sophie and worked as SI and CI over July and August 2022.
Now sailing her family squib on club race nights, she enjoys the different dynamics of keelboat sailing.
Laura is looking forward to getting back to instructing this summer and is hoping “the cadets really enjoy their time on the water”.
We wish Laura all the best in her sailing and look forward to seeing her around the club this summer.
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Sophie Killiner: 19years
Sophie has sailed many classes of dinghy with experience in competitive racing in Toppers and 420s from her time in the RYANI squads competing both nationally and internationally.
After completing the RYA stages 1-4, she volunteered weekly at pirates and sailing events when she wasn’t practising on the water herself! During this time, she became an AI age 13 with RNIYC.
Age 16 Sophie became a DI and has since worked and continued volunteering regularly at the club throughout COVID.
Sophie achieved her RYA Race Coach Level 2 in 2021, since she has been establishing and building race training for cadets at Royal North.
During lockdown, Sophie and her older sister Laura passed the RYA Regional Race Officer exam. Once the world got back to normal Sophie began volunteering at numerous events to gain experience.
At 18 Sophie completed the SI course with both Laura and Adam and worked in summer 2022 at RNIYC sharing the role as both an SI and CI with the other instructors.
Most recently in 2023 Sophie has become an RYA Powerboat Instructor and is looking forward to training new people.
When she gets time Sophie loves sailing her family squib Maximus at club racing nights.
Now on her year out before studying medicine at Uni, Sophie is helping and volunteering behind the scenes to get sailing ready for cadets.
Getting involved she “looks forward to seeing the cadet’s confidence and skills grow while they enjoy being on the water this season”
We look forward to following Sophie wherever sailing takes her next!