Cruising Instructor Certification Course
A three-day course for experienced Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising and Coastal Navigation Instructors to test and evaluate their teaching, sailing and navigational skills. The course evaluates candidates' ability to handle challenging conditions and navigational situations during daytime and nighttime, as well as their interpersonal skills in a live-aboard environment. Candidates will live and sail aboard their assigned boats.

Prerequisites

• Current US SAILING Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification
• Coastal Passage Making sailing skills and knowledge (US SAILING Coastal Passage Making Student Certification when available, or equivalent.)
• Minimum 5,000 nm of coastal and offshore sailing experience (relevant to Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising) on an inboard auxiliary powered sailboat equipped with stove, head, and fresh water and electrical systems
• Ability to perform the procedures necessary to be a Cruising Instructor
• Current U.S. Coast Guard License (includes Auxiliary Sail Endorsement)
• Current American Red Cross (ARC) or Green Cross Standard First Aid card and current ARC, Green Cross, or American Heart Association CPR card. A current state licensed EMT or a licensed MD is also acceptable
• Current US SAILING membership
• Letter of recommendation from current/most recent sailing employer or if self-employed, a letter from another instructor not associated with your program who knows you personally and professionally.
• Three letters of personal reference
• Written resume, including sailing, teaching and business experience.
• Completed application form accompanied by the required fees
• Completed Medical Form brought to the course and given to the Instructor Trainer before the course begins

Prerequisites for Coastal Navigation Instructor Evaluation:

• Be able to perform all commonly required Piloting Skills used in safely piloting a sailing yacht in all conditions of visibility, by day and by night, to a high degree of precision.
• Be thoroughly informed on the contents and application of the US SAILING Certification Series student training book Coastal Navigation
• Be familiar with the teaching methods described in the US SAILING Coastal Navigation Instructor Manual

Evaluation Length:
Three days

Successful completion of the course includes passing the following:

• Demonstrate Cruising Instructor skill level and knowledge in the following areas in 24' to 40' auxiliary powered sailboats, including wheel steering, inboard, and outboard:
  • Boathandling in moderate to heavy conditions
  • Sail selection and trim
  • Operation and inspection of boat systems and equipment: engine, electrical, bilge pumps, head, fresh water, stoves, emergency and safety equipment, winches, anchors, harnesses and jacklines.
  • Docking - departure and arrival under sail and power, and adverse conditions
  • High level of seamanship skills
  • Reefing
  • Sailing under shortened sail
  • Anchoring during daytime or night, including 1 and 2 anchors, use of trip line
  • Picking up a mooring
  • Overboard recovery methods: quick-stop, quick-return, lifesling-type.
  • Nighttime sailing
  • Limited visibility situations
  • Simulate procedures for engine failure recovery, sinking, fire, dismasting, grounding recovery
  • Use of VHF radio and emergency procedures: Mayday, Pan and Securite
  • Use of dinghy and outboard
  • Setting watches
  • Storm tactics
• Navigation: use of charts, tide/current tables, light list, coastal pilot, and cruising guides; use of variation and deviation; taking bearings and fixes; plotting a DR course and position using time/speed/ distance calculations; application of set and drift; use of accepted plotting and labeling techniques; use of ship’s log; confirm chartwork with Loran or GPS.
• Sailing skills test - Practical*
• Marlinspike Seamanship test - Practical*
• Demonstrative and communication ability – Practical
• Complete working knowledge of the US SAILING Keelboat structure and system - Practical
• Professional attitude and conduct – Practical
• Instructor Manual ( includes Navigation Rules, International - Inland, 1-38) test – Written
• Basic Navigation test - Written and Practical
• Instructor Trainers’ evaluation

*The sailing skills test, marlinspike seamanship skills test will be given to Instructor Candidates by the Instructor Trainer (IT) at the course.

Successful Completion of the Coastal Navigation Instructor Examination Includes passing the following:

• Demonstrate to a markedly higher degree all of the navigational skills mentioned in the Cruising Instructor Course, plus an increased level of awareness and demonstrated ability to pilot the vessel using practical "on deck" navigation skills as well as traditional plotting skills.
• Be able to use the teaching methods and skills described in the US SAILING Coastal Navigation Instructor Manual in a competent and confident manner.
• Complete the Coastal Navigation Instructor Written Test with an 80% or greater score, while using the US SAILING recommended plotting conventions described in the US SAILING Certification Series student training book Coastal Navigation.
• Be recommended by both of the Instructor Trainers conducting the evaluation during the course.
• Instructor Candidates will be provided with the review questions in advance. These questions can be used for open book studying prior to testing.
• The actual tests will be closed book. If using a calculator for the Coastal Navigation test, all programmable memory has to be cleared prior to taking the test.
• A passing grade for each test will require answering 80% of the questions correctly.

Practical and written tests each stand on their own. Each test must be passed and each practical skill demonstrated in order to successfully complete this evaluation session. Absence from any part of the course will exclude the Instructor Candidate from evaluation. The Instructor Trainers determine whether the Instructor Candidate successfully completes the course.

Course Outcomes:

• Passing:
 The Instructor Candidate has successfully completed each of the items above as well as the Instructor Trainers’ Evaluation.
• Plan of Improvement:
 The Instructor Candidate has not yet successfully completed what is required and has been given a specific Plan of Improvement to complete with approved and assigned Keelboat Program representatives within a specific time frame. Arrangements for re-testing and the completion of a Plan of Improvement must be done through the Keelboat Program office. The cost of completing a Plan of Improvement is $50, to be paid to the Keelboat Program office upon arrangement of the completion (with the exception of written make-up tests, which are administered with no charge). The responsibility for completion of a Plan of Improvement rests with the Instructor Candidate. Instructor Candidates will get only one chance to complete their Plan of Improvement; should they be unsuccessful at this attempt, they will have failed the evaluation. In this situation the Instructor Candidate may retake the entire course, at full cost, one year from the original course date.
• Failing:
 The Instructor Candidate did not come close enough to meeting the evaluative criteria at the time of the course to be given a Plan of Improvement or did not complete the specifics in the Plan of Improvement that was given. If an Instructor Candidate, who has previously failed a course, would like to attain Cruising Instructor Certification, he/she should re-take the Cruising Instructor Evaluation Course once the candidate believes his/her skills and knowledge have improved sufficiently to meet the evaluative criteria.
• Plan of Completion:
 Instructor Trainers were unable to complete the evaluation, therefore the Instructor Candidate must complete the course at a later date. US SAILING and US SAILING Instructor Trainers assume no responsibility for lack of wind or other acts of nature which may result in a Plan of Completion. Arrangements for completion must be done through the Keelboat Program Office within 90 days of the course date, and will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Any additional expenses are the responsibility of the Instructor Candidate.

For more information about the Instructor Certification Course, please contact us.