Learn to Cruise

The Canadian Yachting Association Learn to Cruise standards provide safe standardized instruction on cruising sailboats equipped with accommodation and auxiliary power.

Competent Crew standard enables the graduate to be able to cruise safely by day in local waters as a crew of a sloop rigged keelboat, 20-30 feet, in moderate wind and sea conditions.

Basic Cruising covers the skills required to cruise safely by day in local waters as either skipper or crew of a sailing cruiser of 20-30 feet, in moderate wind and sea conditions.

Basic Keelboat Racing Standard provides the knowledge necessary to compete in club & local races with a fundamental understanding of the racing rules, protest procedures and applying sailing and seamanship skills in winds up to 20 knots.

Intermediate Cruising covers the skills required to safely cruise a keelboat of 8 - 12 metres in familiar waters. It is recommended as the minimum qualification for bareboat chartering. The recommended time for teaching and examining the standard is five days or two weekends.

Advanced Cruising covers the skills needed to skipper or crew a sailing cruiser of 8 - 15 metres, in both day and night conditions in coastal waters in any weather.

Offshore Cruising Standard is the highest level of the CYA Learn to Cruise Program. It covers the skills required to skipper or crew on offshore passages exceeding 500 miles in length and venturing more than 100 nautical miles from land.

For members who have completed the Learn To Cruise standards and have considerable sea time, the CYA Yachtmaster Awards standard is available. Two levels of Yachtmaster certificates are achievable: Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore.

Instructional courses meeting the Learn to Cruise standards are available primarily from commercial sailing schools, from community colleges, directly from CYA certified cruising instructors and through some member sailing and yacht clubs.