The completion of the course enables learners to acquire practical skills plus obtain a certificate. The certificate grade depends on the course, the skills being learned, and passing the tests. Students at Capt. Mac’s School of Seamanship learn to pass the practical cruising course that leads to the Sail Canada certificate, also known as CYA certificate, based on Canadian sailing standards.
What Certification Do You Receive After a Sailing Course?
The standard certification is based on the particular course that is done by the candidate. There are three different cruising standards offered by Sail Canada, depending on the experience of the sailors, including Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Cruising.
A basic standard certification will be one of the most popular ways of getting started for beginners. In order to obtain this kind of certificate, students should prove their practical skills and also do the theory part. It means that only doing the course is not sufficient for certification.
What Does the Basic Cruising Certification Show?
The Basic Cruising Standard seeks to prove that the sailor has acquired the necessary knowledge and practical skills for sailing a sailboat in appropriate daylight hours.
It involves important topics like boat handling, docking, mooring, safety practices, basic navigation, knots, seamanship, and emergency drills. It aims at helping students learn how to sail responsibly as crew members and skipper.
The Capt. Mac’s employs the method of live-aboard training, thus providing an opportunity for students to learn these skills under cruise conditions rather than purely theoretically in class.
Can You Continue to More Advanced Certification?
Yes. The Sail Canada cruising course is intended as a progression, allowing students to build upon their skills even after they have finished the beginning course.
The Intermediate and Advanced Cruising Standards provide for more difficult topics such as passage planning, navigation, boat systems, and weather as well as increased responsibilities while aboard the boat.
Sail Canada certification through the former CYA system would be an excellent path for students wishing to develop a progression.
How Does Capt. Mac’s Support Certification Training?
Captain Mac’s School of Seamanship includes a mixture of formal training standards and practical training in smaller groups. The training programs at Captain Mac’s for cruising have been formulated with the intention of providing students sufficient hands-on practice and the development of skills needed to meet Sail Canada standards.
Live-aboards can be considered helpful in this regard as well because students get hands-on practice with everyday procedures involved in sailing.
Conclusion
The certificate you get upon completion of your sailing program will depend on the level at which you take your course, as well as whether or not you succeed in meeting both the theoretical and practical requirements. In Capt. Mac’s case, the process may result in a Sail Canada Certification.
FAQs
1. Does Sail Canada Certification Expire?
Sail Canada cruising certifications generally document the standard achieved. However, sailors should keep their practical skills current through regular sailing and continued training.
2. Can International Students Take Sail Canada Courses?
Yes. Sail Canada training can be taken by international students, although recognition or charter requirements may vary by country or operator.
3. Do You Need Your Own Sailboat to Take a Certification Course?
No. Training schools such as Capt. Mac’s provide access to a suitable training vessel, so students do not need to own a sailboat to participate.