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Sailing Courses › Intra-Caribbean Offshore

ASA 108Sail Canada OffshoreASA 107 / 117 exam

Intra-Caribbean Week Long Offshore Course

Earn ASA 108 / Sail Canada Offshore in the Caribbean

We run our Intra-caribbean offshore courses several times per year. Since celestial navigation is a prerequisite for Offshore Cruising, we offer guidance on self-study resources for acquiring ASA 107 or 117, or Sail Canada Celestial Navigation. We can administer the ASA 107 or 117 exam at the beginning of, or during, the offshore course. We also offer the possibility of ASA 106 and 105 certification on this course.

The courses are 7 days/6 nights, and cover ~500 NM in and around the Caribbean in a continuous passage.

Your Offshore Instructor is Rob McLean, who has taught at BOSS since 2018. Rob is certified as an Offshore and Celestial Instructor with ASA and as a Sail Canada Offshore Instructor. For details on Rob’s extensive offshore experience, see his sailing resumé at: robmclean.ca/sailingresume.html

Course Outline

Offshore Cruising Standards

Please review the relevant standards as linked below:

Offshore Course Components

In accordance with these standards, BOSS Offshore Cruising Courses have four main components:

  1. The standards specify a significant take-home “Ashore Knowledge” assignment that involves carrying out all of the planning required for an offshore passage. To complete this assignment, a candidate will need to carry out a significant amount of guided and independent research.
  2. Prior to the passage, candidates will draw on this research to carry out specific assignments such as passage planning, provisioning, watch assignments, etc., related to the specific upcoming passage.
  3. Also prior to the passage, a candidate must acquire the skills needed to reduce celestial sights, by completing ASA 107 or 117, or for Sail Canada candidates, SC Celestial Navigation. These skills are put into practice during the offshore passage.
  4. The on-water portion of Offshore Cruising involves candidates playing a significant role as helmsperson and crew for an offshore passage that meets the requirements of the relevant ASA or Sail Canada standard.

Offshore Course Preparations

  • Once you sign up for an Offshore Cruising course, we will be in touch to get you started on the Ashore Knowledge assignment. We have compiled a list of resources relevant to the Passage Planning assignment, as well as other texts you might refer to for research purposes.
  • We have also compiled a guidance document to help you meet the Celestial Navigation prerequisites: see BOSS Celestial Guidance (Rob McLean, July 2021)
  • Leading up to the passage, your instructor will organize a conference call including all participants to discuss course logistics, provisioning, watch schedules, what to bring, and other relevant details.

Target Participants

BOSS is recruiting 3-6 participants for each Offshore Course. A minimum of three participants is required to maintain a continuous watch schedule. Preferably, participants will be seeking Offshore Cruising certification according to ASA or Sail Canada standards, and will participate in self-study and online training prior to the passage, and practical on-water training during the passage.

Participants seeking certification should have ASA or Sail Canada Advanced Cruising as a prerequisite, and must already have a prior celestial certification or be prepared to write a celestial exam prior to departure. For otherwise experienced sailors, it may be possible to obtain an Advanced Cruising certification while on the Offshore Passage.

If space permits, BOSS will consider participation by experienced sailors who wish to join one or more legs for the offshore experience and are not seeking ASA or Sail Canada certification.

Further details on pre-requisite qualifications, required personal safety equipment, and the BOSS Crew Agreement and BOSS Course Contract will be provided to those expressing interest. Regardless of qualifications, all prospective participants will be interviewed by Rob McLean and are subject to approval by BOSS and Rob McLean.

Course outline

A typical itinerary

  1. Day 1, Sunday

    Orientation sail from Blue Lagoon to Bequia

    Anchor for the night, complete celestial exam

  2. Day 2, Monday

    Sail north along lee side of SVG and St. Lucia

    ~100 NM

  3. Day 3-4, Tuesday / Wednesday

    Pass between St. Lucia and Martinique, tack until 100 NM east of Martinique

    ~150 NM

  4. Day 5, Thursday

    Reach south around east side of Barbados

    ~125 NM

  5. Day 6, Friday

    Sail downwind to SVG

    ~125 NM

  6. Day 7, Saturday

    Return to Blue Lagoon

Offshore Cruising

Course Objectives

Planning for an Offshore Passage

Your Offshore Instructor will coach you through the process of completing the take-home assignment that demonstrates all aspects of planning for an offshore passage that should be undertaken by a prudent sailor

Offshore Certification Prerequisites

Your Instructor will guide you through the process of acquiring all the prerequisites required for your Offshore ASA or Sail Canada certification, including Celestial Navigation

Offshore Skills and Experience

The on-water component of your Offshore Cruising course will enable you to acquire and practice the skills needed by an offshore sailor, and the experience gained will build the confidence you need to skipper your next offshore passage on your own.

Price includes

Base Participation Fee

Because some people wish to participate in our offshore courses for the experience without necessarily wishing to obtain official ASA or Sail Canada certification, our pricing structure for Offshore Cruising has two main components. 1. Base Participation Fee: for our week-long Intra-Caribbean Offshore experience, the Base Participation Fee is $4,495.

Included

  • Shared accommodation on the yacht for six nights. Given the nature of an offshore passage, this may include sharing a berth, hot-bunking, sleeping in the salon, etc.
  • Provisioning: six breakfasts, six lunches, six dinners, non-alcoholic beverages, some basic snacks
  • Yacht running costs: diesel, water, etc.
  • Access to instruction throughout the passage

Not included

  • Pre-course coaching, marking assignment or exams, processing ASA or Sail Canada certifications, ASA or Sail Canada Membership (this is covered by the relevant Certification Fees)
  • Travel to or from SVG
  • Personal snacks (since only you know your snacking preferences!)
  • Provisions or dining ashore while in port
  • Cleaning / disinfection fee of $250 per person
  • Alcoholic beverages while in port (consuming alcohol will not be permitted while at sea. Recreational drugs are not permitted on board)
The Base Participation Fee can be paid in installments: 50% on booking, and the balance 45 days in advance of the start date of the course.

2. Certification Fees. Since multiple certifications may be offered in conjunction with offshore courses, certification fees are specified separately. Details are here. Certification fees are paid at the beginning of the course.

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