INTERMEDIATE CRUSING STANDARD (Coastal Skipper)
Course Fees : $1250. + GST per person , with discounts for families with groups of three or more (with spring and fall discounts offered).*
Price Includes 5 days 4 nights accommodation, bedding and towels, 8 healthy meals while on-board (5 breakfasts beginning Monday morning , 5 lunches & 5 dinners (the first one being Sunday eve).
Also included are all learning materials including home-study book, log book, CYA certification fees. PCOP traning and certification can also be included (at no extra cost_. We can provide you with foul weather, but would prefer if you could bring your own...
Other Rate Options: If you can orgnize a group of three to four persons we can work around your dates (and provide a discount).
COASTAL NAVIGATION "ASHORE" KNOWLEDGE
Among the skills and information taught in this course include:
- How to read information provided on Canadian Hydrographic charts,
- Doing transit bearings;
- Plotting a dead reckoning position on a chart, using speed, time, and course through water,
considering the effect of current and leeway; - Determining a heading that counteracts:
Known current, and) Leeway; - Plotting a chart position from terrestrial objects, using two or more bearings on different objects taken at one time
- Preparing a plan of a coastal passage of at least 20 miles (using three diferent methods)
- Transfering positions between charts using nearest compass rose and measuring distances;
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Canadian buoyage and aids to navigation systems
- Use the Tide and Current Tables to find:
a) Times and heights of tides at reference and secondary ports, and
b) Direction and rate of current at reference - And much more....
This intermediate level CYA course (Coastal Skipper) is the minimum required by most companies for bare boat chartering. It will give you the skills and confidence to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 8 - 12 meters in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.
The Course consists of a 5 day program aboard our Beneteau 351 (or Catelina 42), 
learning what we need to know before putting these skills into practice. The "afloat skills" taught while aboard your floating classroom will cover trip planning, living afloat, weather, seamanshsip, and basic navigation. We will be sailing in the vicinity of the southern Gulf Islands. This is a beautiful part of the Pacific North West to learn your sailing skills.
Course Prerequisites: Basic Cruising Standard. You should also have a recognized first aid certificate, a VHF radio operator’s certificate and have completed the CYA Coastal Navigation Standard (see below). To maximize the likelihood of successfully completing the Intermediate Cruising Standard, a candidate should have:
1) at least 10 days experience in the role of a Skipper (taking charge of boat and crew); and 2) have applied the knowledge and skills taught in the Basic Cruising Standard.
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Coastal Navigation Standard
Objectives: To be able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing cruiser in coastal or inland waters. The concepts are introduced in a rudimentary fashion the Basic Cruising course. This is an excellent course to take if you are wanting to bare boat charter anywhere in the world.
Prerequisites: None. However, this is one of the courses/standards required by CYA as a prerequisite to taking the Intermediate Cruising Standard described above.
The above objectives are covered in the Home study Coastal Navigation Course. Once you have completed your navigation course you may wish to add a GPS to your tool kit, if you haven't done so already.
This Coastal Navigation course is offered in a home-study format giving you the benefit of learning i
n your own time and space. In addition to being a prerequisite for the Intermediate Cruising course and a basic requirement for most companies offering bare boat charters, this course will be of benefit to anyone who sails. Among the usefull skills taught are how to read charts and use Tide and Current Tables. (see opposite). If there are any questions, you may return the assignments for correction.
For more information about this course go to Bruce Stott's website. Successful completion of his course leads to the Canadian Yachting Association Coastal Navigation Standard.