Is there any advantage to going the certification route?
ASA and US Sailing are both nationally recognized sailing certification and accreditation programs. These organizations, which include sailing schools, charter companies, sailing instructors and sailors, set competency standards for both sailing knowledge and on- the-water skills for sailors and instructors from basic to offshore sailing levels. Certification simply means a person has demonstrated a standard of proficiency by passing both written and on-the-water skills test (much like a driver’s license). It provides a means for charter companies to assess a sailor’s ability. The Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering standards meet the requirements of many chartering situations. While certification provides a basis for chartering companies to evaluate a customer’s competency, even with ASA or US Sailing certification many charter companies may require an on-the-water test of sailing skill (called a “practical checkout”) before chartering. All Pacific Yachting and Sailing cour
