Sailing Barefoot » bareboat crusing http://www.sailingbarefoot.com Cuz you don't need shoes on a boat Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:48:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Sailing Certifications http://www.sailingbarefoot.com/2009/12/sailing-certifications/ http://www.sailingbarefoot.com/2009/12/sailing-certifications/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:48:54 +0000 admin http://www.sailingbarefoot.com/?p=14 While there are plenty of ways to learn to sail, perhaps the safest method is by taking one (or several) sailing classes and getting certified to sail in many of the situations you might encounter in your boat. US Sailing offers several different courses that can be taken at various accredited sailing schools across the [...]]]> While there are plenty of ways to learn to sail, perhaps the safest method is by taking one (or several) sailing classes and getting certified to sail in many of the situations you might encounter in your boat. US Sailing offers several different courses that can be taken at various accredited sailing schools across the country. While there is no “official” governing body for sailing in the States, US Sailing is generally regarded as the closest thing to it.

There are several levels of certification offered by US Sailing, and each level builds on what you learned in the previous course. You start out by learning to captain a small boat in daylight with favorable conditions, and gradually move your way to learning how to chart a course and sail to any spot on the globe. Let’s take a look at the courses offered by accredited US Sailing Schools.

Basic Keelboat – In this beginner course, you’ll learn to sail on a small (18′ to 25′) dayboat in favorable conditions. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Basic Cruising – The second beginner course will teach you how to sail and navigate on a larger sailboat, usually 23′ to 32′ in size. You’ll also begin to learn how to handle some mild adverse conditions. The Basic Keelboat course is a prereq for Basic Cruising.

Bareboat Cruising – In the Bareboat Cruising course you begin to learn to chart and select a course to take on your trip. You’ll also learn to pull in and out of docks and moorings, as well learn several techniques for anchoring. In addition, you’ll learn more bad weather techniques. Basic Cruising is a prereq for this course.

Coastal Navigation – The Coastal Navigation course focuses on teaching you to plot a course on a map and helps you become familiar with traditional navigation methods. You’ll also learn to integrate electronic/GPS data into your navigation. There are no prereqs for this course.

Coastal Passage Making – The Coastal Passage Making course prepares you to chart a course, and captain a ship, to any coastal destination, essentially meaning any destination you don’t have to leave sight of land to get to. You’ll also learn some necessary skills such as how to inspect a boat for wear or damage, spotting inclement weather, and charting longer sailing courses. Current First Aid and CPR certifications are recommended for this course, and Bareboat Cruising and Coastal Navigation certifications are required.

Celestial Navigation – This course teaches you to plot your position and desired course of travel on a map or chart with only the most basic of tools: a sextant and the stars. Coastal Navigation is required as a prereq.

Offshore Passage Making – The final course, Offshore Passage Making teaches you everything else that you need to know to be able to pick a spot on the globe and sail to it. Once you have this certification, you’ll be able to go anywhere you please, and will be able to handle just about any situation you encounter. First Aid and CPR certifications are required to pass this course, and Coastal Passage Making and Celestial Navigation are prereqs for taking it.

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