Keelboat Instructor Programs

Coastal Passage Making Instructor

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Coastal Passage Making Instructor course is an intense five-day clinic designed for longer coastal passage making circumstances, night-time navigation, fog situations, watch rotations, radar use, and more. Instructor Candidates should expect to be evaluated on a wide range of criteria including but not limited to the following:

PRACTICAL SKILLS
  • Practical Skills, Day or Night
  • Sail Handling
  • Helmsmanship
  • Docking
  • Anchoring/Mooring
  • Overboard Rescue
  • Response to Emergencies
  • Housekeeping
  • Navigation (DR techniques, electronic, chart/pub usage)
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
  • Communications equipment/use
  • Boat systems
  • Passage planning/provisioning
  • Safety equipment
  • Communication skills
  • Organizational ability
  • Structuring learning environment
  • Team building-group interactivity
  • Professional attitude and conduct

COURSE FORMAT & LENGTH

This is a 5-day, 40-hour course. Attendance at all course sessions is mandatory. Absence from any portion of the course excludes the instructor candidate from certification.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

  1. Current US Sailing Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification, Cruising and Coastal Navigation Instructor Certification
    This is a requirement for registration.
  2. Current US Sailing Individual, College or Family Membership.
    Only one instructor is allowed per family membership.
  3. Applicable Experience
    Minimum 5,000nm of coastal and offshore sailing experience (relevant to Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising) on an inboard auxiliary powered sailboat equipped with stove, head, and freshwater and electrical systems. Candidates should 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.
  4. Current U.S. Coast Guard license.
    Includes Auxiliary Sail Endorsement.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The following are required for successful completion of this courses:

  1. Attendance at all portions of the course.
  2. Successfully passing all written tests and skill evaluations.
  3. A positive evaluation by the Instructor Trainer.
    Demonstrate professional conduct, an open-minded, positive and enthusiastic attitude, appropriate appearance (clothing, footwear and tidiness), participation in discussions, collaboration skills/team player, confidence and ease of manner.

A Coastal Passage Making Instructor Certification is not valid unless accompanied by:

  1. First Aid and CPR Certification: from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or and  U.S. Coast Guard approved provider. Candidates  do not need to complete the CPR/First Aid Training in advance of the Level 1 course, however a certification will NOT be valid unless accompanied by current First Aid and CPR.
  2. Valid SafeSport Certificate (Register separately). Anyone 18 years of age or older is required to hold a valid SafeSport certificate in order for their US Sailing instructor certification to be valid.  This free online training course must be completed every year. This program, developed by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), is required training for all Instructors.

    This requirement is also being put in place for other National Governing Bodies.  Instructor certification is not active unless SafeSport training has been completed.

    • A few notes on completing Safesport:

WHAT YOU CAN TEACH WITH THIS CERTIFICATION

Coastal Passage Making Instructors can sign off on Coastal Passage Making student certifications. Certifications may only be issued through an accredited Keelboat School

COURSE MATERIALS

  • Passage Making textbook

COURSE FEES

The course registration fee is: $550*. Registration is on a first pay basis. US Sailing will not reserve spots without full payment.

*Please note that an additional boat fee may be charged in some circumstances. This course is underwritten by candidates’ fees and a major subsidy from US Sailing. There is also a provisioning fee that will be charged at the dock.

CANCELLATION & TRANSFER POLICIES

Course fees are nonrefundable but are transferable to another course up to one (1) week prior to the course start date. Course Transfers are not available within the week of the course start. Fees are not transferable to another candidate. The fee for all transfers is $25.00.

To transfer into a different session:

    1. Log in to your US Sailing account here: MyUSSailing
    2. Select the My Certs and Courses tab from the options on the left, then click the transfer link.
    3. Submit Payment details
    4. Confirm transfer

US Sailing reserves the right to cancel, postpone, abandon or change the venue, date and time of the course should unforeseen circumstances occur or course minimums are not reached. In the event the course is unable to proceed, a course credit will be made available which is good for one (1) year or you may choose a refund.

REGISTER

Courses are scheduled when requested. If your organization is interested in hosting a Coastal Passage Making Instructor Course, please fill out the online "Host a Course Form."

Reminder: In order to register for this course, you must hold current Basic Keelboat Instructor Certification and Cruising and Coastal Navigation Instructor Certifications

Questions? email: Keelboat@ussailing.org