Who is US SAILING?
US SAILING is the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing. Founded in 1897, it oversees, administers, and regulates all levels of competition in the sport and spearheads and facilitates training programs to enhance skill, enjoyment and safety. Working with many charter companies and commercial sailing schools, US SAILING has developed a sailing certification system that has universal standards, which are recognized nationally and internationally.

The Certification Process
All Learn to Sail courses are taught on the Colgate 26 – the ultimate training boat in the field of sailing. Cruising courses are taught on 35-49’ cruising yachts. The certification levels below explain what you achieve when you take a US SAILING certification course at Offshore Sailing School.

Basic Keelboat Certification
• Certifies your ability to responsibly skipper and crew a keelboat up to 30’ in length in familiar waters in most conditions.
• This is the first level and is a pre-requisite for all advanced levels of certification.
• If you are taking our Learn to Sail course you will be prepared to test for Basic Keelboat certification at the conclusion of your course – more than 95% of all Offshore participants pass this course with flying colors!

Basic Keelboat Challenge
• If you are taking an advanced course and are not yet Basic Keelboat certified you may take the Basic Keelboat Challenge for a nominal fee to receive Basic Keelboat Certification.
• You will then be eligible to test for the advanced level certifications listed below.
• The Basic Keelboat Challenge consists of a written test that evaluates your sailing knowledge.
• If you receive a grade of 80% or better, you do not need to be tested on the water.

Basic Cruising Certification
• Certifies your ability to responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during daylight hours within sight of land in most conditions.
• Offshore Sailing School does not require this as a separate course, unlike many schools – it is included in both the Bareboat Cruising Preparation and Live Aboard Cruising courses during which you will be prepared to test for US SAILING, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certification at the conclusion of your course.
• Prerequisite: US SAILING Basic Keelboat Certification (see above).

Bareboat Cruising Certification
• Certifies your ability to responsibly skipper, crew or bareboat charter an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat within sight of land to a port or anchorage during daylight hours in all conditions.
• If you are taking our Bareboat Cruising Preparation or Live Aboard Cruising course, you will also be prepared to test for US SAILING Bareboat Certification at the conclusion of your course.
• Prerequisite: US SAILING Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising Certification (see above).

Coastal Navigation
• Certifies your ability to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan
• Our Coastal Navigation course prepares you to test for this level of certification
• Pre-requisite: US SAILING Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certification

Coastal Passage Making
• Certifies your ability to responsibly skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during passages on coastal waters, in all weather conditions, including all levels of visibility and all hours of the day and night.
• Our Coastal Passage Making course prepares you to test for this level of certification
• Pre-requisite: US SAILING Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising and Coastal Navigation Certification

Course Diploma and Logbook
• After successfully completing your course, you will receive a diploma from Offshore Sailing School.
• You will also receive a US SAILING logbook to use to record future sailing experience
• After completing your course and successfully passing the certification tests, you will be mailed a US SAILING certification sticker to place in your logbook.

Please note: If you are taking an advanced course and already have previous certifications, be sure to bring your current logbook so that your instructor may sign it.

US SAILING Association
P.O. Box 1260
15 Maritime Drive
Portsmouth, RI 02871-0907

Membership: 1-800-USSAIL1
Phone: (401) 683-0800
Fax: (401) 683-0840
Email: info@ussailing.org