The course is a combination of teaching and work experience and covers aspects such as fleet management, organising instructors and practical problem solving. Levels of experience and pre-requisites are described in the RYA Dinghy Coaching Handbook. PSC will sponsor club members able to pass on their racing skills to others on an external 2 day RYA Club Racing Coach course. Papercourt Optimists operate Saturday morning training from May to October. The helms are divided into four groups depending upon ability, which ranges from beginners to regulars on the open circuit.
Training uses the IOCA scheme with the helms achievements recorded in their logbooks.
The average attendance is about 60 helms. Instruction is by Papercourt members on a voluntary basis, made up of parents and teenage sailors who have graduated out of Optimists provide instruction. Within our pool of trainers we have a number of RYA Instructors and one National Coach. The Thames Valley and Southern Region organize this jointly. Parents supplement the training on a voluntary basis and some club and individuals provide ribs for safety boat cover, particularly on tidal locations.