OSA's cruising courses take the lake and harbor sailor into the world of live-aboard cruising. Graduates will be have the qualifications and ability to bareboat charter a live-aboard cruising vessel for multi-day charters without the aid of a hired captain. You will gain a wealth of experience through the extensive practice of onboard sailing skills while sailing to a new destination every day and anchoring overnight.

 

Basic Cruising

This comprehensive 3-day sailing course introduces managing and operating a live-aboard cruising vessel for day sails within sight of land. Students train on heavier helm-steered vessels.

OSA p rovides strong emphasis on close-quarters maneuvering and docking. We introduces the entire array of cruising systems and the skipper's responsibilities for systems' operation and management.

"I wanted to send you a short note letting you know how much the cruising course helped me on a recent trip.. I FELT CONFIDENT in my planning, checking the boat out, handling it in a marine, calculating distance, speed and time. It made this short trip a lot of fun. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY CRUISING ADVENTURES.' -- David F., Newport, N.C.

Prerequisite: Basic Keelboat 1 & 2 or equivalent

Certification: US Sailing Basic Cruising

 

• Trip Planning: Advanced forecasting of the day's prevailing weather conditions and creating a sail plan accordingly. Executing the processes necessary to departure, and coordinating an inexperienced crew.
  
  
• Checks and Inspections: Identifying and inspecting all systems of a cruising vessel including safety equipment, auxiliary power, electrical systems, electronics, cooling fluids, bilge pump, head, fresh water, ventilation and anchoring. Thoroughly checking rigging and hull integrity.
  
  
• Sailing operation and skills: Use of proper knots, sail controls and deck hardware for larger vessels.
  
  
• Close Quarter Boat Handling: Mastery of close-quarter boat handling under power with an inboard engine and a shaft-driven propeller within adverse current and wind conditions.
  
  
• Docking Under Sail: Emergency docking procedures and recovery methods.
  
  
• Anchoring: Proper anchoring and weighing anchor procedures.
  
  
• Navigation Skills: Identifying chart symbols, plotting course and position, proper use of a VHF radio and fine-tuning knowledge of inland/international navigation rules.
  
  
• Sail Reefing: Executing proper reefing procedure and mastering sailing skills within heavy weather.
  
  
• Overboard Recovery Methods: Determining and executing the best recovery procedures based on the situation and conditions.
  
  
• De-rigging: Securing the boat properly and shutting down all systems.