US Sailing
Certifications
US Sailing Association
is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the
United States. A non-profit organization with a mandate from
the Congress to oversee the governance of recreational and
professional sailing, US Sailing truly has the
interests of sailors and the sport in as its foremost concern.
Here are the US
Sailing Certification levels most commonly requested and the J World
courses that best correspond to them. These are suggested pairings
only – you may opt for certification while attending almost any J
World program.
Common Questions:
-
Who
should consider certification?
-
What is the difference between certification from US Sailing and
others?
-
Do I have to test for US Sailing Certification while at J World?
-
Why should I attend J World to get my US Sailing certification when
other schools offer it too?
-
What’s involved in getting certified?
-
Do I need to let J World know in advance if I want to do this?
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What’s the cost and what do I receive?
-
What if I don’t pass?
-
Can I start with more advanced levels if I have the experience?
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Can I test for multiple US Sailing levels during the same course?
Q: Who should
consider certification?
A: If you want to charter, rent or insure a boat it is helpful to
have a documented record of your sailing skills and experience to
present to the charter or insurance company. In other countries
this is a prerequisite to chartering. In our opinion it is likely
that in several years it will be a requirement in the US and the
Caribbean as well. For the time being, however, please
remember that there is no such things as a true license or
'passport' which will guarantee your ability to charter. All
certifications can make it easier to charter; but none will make it
a certainty.
Q: What is the
difference between certification from US Sailing and others?
A: Any sailing school can give you a piece of paper that says you
are “certified” - and many do. US Sailing is the official governing
body of sailing in the US as designated by the United States
Congress. When they say you meet a certain level of skill you can
be sure that charter companies will recognize this. Also, they are
a non profit organization so there is no financial pressure to pass
you. If you pass, you deserve it. US Sailing sets forth
strict criteria regarding the quality of the facilities and the
instruction, to which candidate schools must adhere before being
authorized to grant US Sailing Certifications to sailors. In short, this is the toughest,
most respected stamp of approval available.
Q:
Do I HAVE to
test for US Sailing Certification while at J World?
A: Absolutely not. Certification is always optional. If you decide
against it, you will still be attending the finest sailing school in
the country - J World.
Q: Why should I
attend J World to get my US Sailing certification when other schools
offer it too?
A: You can receive a bachelor’s degree from hundreds of
Universities around the
US,
but this doesn’t mean you receive the same education. US Sailing
Certification is a benchmark to make sure you meet a certain level
of competency. J World is the top sailing school in the country and
far exceeds these requirements. When you graduate from J World you
have received the finest sailing course anywhere, regardless of your
decision whether to opt for US Sailing Certification.
Q: What’s involved
in getting certified?
A: At each US Sailing level you must pass a written test and an on
the water evaluation of your skills. All necessary study materials
are provided by J World and all on the water skills are thoroughly
covered during your course.
Q: Do I need to
let J World know in advance if I want to do this?
A: Certification at the Basic Keelboat level is available without
any advance notice in any five day course or in our three weekend
course. If you are interested in certification at more advanced
levels, it is necessary that you notify J World in advance.
Q: What’s the cost
and what do I receive?
A: Certifications are included at no additional cost in many
of our courses. Otherwise, the cost for your initial certification is $60 and includes an
excellent US Sailing manual that will prepare you to pass the
written test; a membership in US Sailing; a complimentary
subscription to Sailing World and American Sailor magazines; a
waterproof logbook that you will use to document all instruction
received, certifications received, all sailing time etc; a list of
all the standards so you know what is expected of you. The cost for
additional levels is $50 per level.
Q: What if I don’t
pass?
A: If you have the required experience to enter the J World course
you have selected and if you study while at J World, this is
unlikely. However, at J World we give you our promise that if you
don’t pass any aspect of US Sailing you may return to J World free
of charge to receive the instruction you need to pass.
Q: Can I start
with more advanced levels if I have the experience?
A: You may start your instruction at more advanced levels,
however your first certification must be the Basic Keelboat, the
second certification must be the Basic Cruising, and so on. In order to maintain the highest standards you must pass
each level before moving on to the next. Sailors with
experience are urged to contact us to determine the best way of
meeting their individual goals.
Q: Can I test for
multiple US Sailing levels during the same course?
A: In some cases, yes. However, you must discuss this with J World
well in advance.
Please don’t
hesitate to call J World at 800-910-1101 with questions.
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