Learning to sail is part dream, part great instruction, and part hands-on experience.

All of these come together in the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification System.  This Learn to Sail program guides you through seven levels of courses where you will accumulate skills and experience with each certification.

You will record your progress in your US Sailing Official Logbook of Sailing, documenting all course completions, certifications and on-the-water experience.

At the culmination of each course, you will receive a sticker and signature from your instructor in your logbook. Your Official Logbook of Sailing will serve as your passport for renting and chartering boats locally and worldwide and for continuing your sailing education at accredited US Sailing schools.

As you complete each level, your certification will also be submitted to the US Sailing database by where chartering companies and other sailing schools across the country will be able to verify your readiness to sail.

Learn to Sail with US Sailing Certification Courses 

 

Basic Keelboat

You will be able to demonstrate the ability to responsibly skipper and crew a simple daysailing keelboat in familiar waters in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Certification Standards

Basic Cruising

You will learn to responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during daylight hours, within sight of land in moderate wind and sea conditions. Certification Standards

Bareboat Cruising

You will learn to skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat within sight of land and bring it safely to anchor during daylight hours. Certification Standards

Coastal Navigation

You will learn the art of traditional navigation techniques and be able to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan. Certification Standards

Coastal Passage Making

You will learn 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. Certification Standards

Celestial Navigation

You will master the techniques of open ocean position fixing using sextant and timepiece. You will be able to apply your knowledge of sight reduction methodology to reduce a sextant sight to a plotted line of position using any celestial body found in the Nautical Almanac. Certification Standards

Offshore Passage Making

You will responsibly skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat to any destination worldwide. Certification Standards