The Offshore Personal Survival Course (2 days) is for experienced sailors who are participating in offshore and oceanic races and passages, typically Offshore Special Regulations categories 0-1-2.  The course includes classroom and practical sessions.  Topics covered include personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency communications & signals, search & rescue, weather forecasts, heavy weather & storm sails, damage control & fire, hypothermia & cold water immersion.  Practical, hands-on sessions include using lifejackets and life rafts in a pool environment; damage control; emergency signals.  This 2 day course is Sail Canada - World Sailing Approved.  Participants who successfully complete the course receive an Offshore Personal Survival Course certificate, valid for five years.  

Background

Sailors around the world take offshore personal survival training (a.k.a. Sea Survival, Safety at Sea) to prepare themselves and their boats.  Offshore personal survival training courses are offered for sailors in many countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States.  Some sailing event organizers recommend or require offshore personal survival training for participating crews.  World Sailing specifies offshore personal survival training requirements in section 6 of the Offshore Special Regulations, and outlines a model course in Appendix G of those regulations.  

In British Columbia, the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race and the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race require some crew members to hold current Offshore Personal Survival Course (two day) certificates, and the Southern Straits Yacht Race, Swiftsure International Yacht Race, and Patos Island Race require or recommend personal survival training (half day, one day, two days).  

Course Information

Comprehensive information about this course, including Student Requirements and Advance Information, is available at  https://www.vicmaui.org/sas-2day  

If you have any questions, please contact us by email at sas@bcsailing.bc.ca.