How many instructors do I need for an RYA course?
6 min read · Updated 6 October 2026 · Written for Principals, Chief Instructors and centre managers
The short answer
Divide the number of students by the student-to-instructor ratio your operating procedures set for that course, round up, then make sure a Senior Instructor is on duty to supervise. On most teaching sessions the instructors drive the safety boats themselves, so there's no separate driver to add. The ratio itself depends on the discipline, the boats, the students and the conditions, so it comes from the RYA guidance for that scheme and your Principal's judgement, not from a single number.
Start with the ratio for that course
Every RYA scheme comes with guidance on how many students one instructor can teach safely, and your centre's operating procedures turn that into the ratio you actually use. It is usually tighter for children, beginners, single-handed boats and open water, and can be looser for experienced adults in crewed boats in sheltered water. Check the current RYA guidance for the scheme and your own operating procedures before you rely on any figure, including the defaults in any software.
The calculation
- Take the students booked on the session.
- Divide by the ratio for that course (for example, 6 students per instructor).
- Round up: 13 students at 1:6 needs 3 instructors, not 2.2.
- Decide whether assistant instructors can count towards that number. That depends on the RYA rules for the scheme and your operating procedures, so don't assume they can.
- Make sure a Senior Instructor is on duty to supervise assistants and newer instructors. The instructors drive the safety boats, so check each holds the powerboat qualification your procedures need.
| Session | Students | Example ratio | Instructors | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Start Sailing | 6 | 1:6 | 1 | Senior Instructor on duty |
| Youth Stage 2 | 8 | 1:6 | 2 | Senior Instructor on duty |
| Five-day summer camp | 12 | 1:6 | 2 | Senior Instructor on duty |
| Powerboat Level 2 | 3 | 1:3 | 1 | — |
| Keelboat, instructor aboard | 4 | 1:4 | 1 | — |
What changes the number on the day
- Wind and sea state: a forecast that's fine for improvers may need tighter ratios for beginners.
- Ability and age: a mixed group is staffed for its least experienced members.
- Boats: single-handers spread out; crewed boats keep students together.
- Sailability and additional needs: plan extra support in advance.
- Distance from base: open-water sessions need more cover than a sheltered lake.
Plan the week, not just the session
Instructor numbers matter most on your busiest day. Add up the sessions running at the same time and compare the total with the qualified staff who are actually free. If the busiest slot needs every instructor you have, you have no spare for illness, so either move a session or line up cover before the week starts.
Tip: Record the ratio you used and why on the course itself. If someone later asks how a session was staffed, the answer is in one place.