The CYA has developed nine national cruising certification standards for sail.
These are minimum standards and nothing may be deleted if these standards are to be awarded. On the other hand, an Instructor, a club or school may add to these standards if they wish. For example, it is recommended that sailors planning to follow these standards become proficient in first aid with emphasis on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and bleeding stoppage techniques.
CYA also offers its standards for sailors who wish to check their present skills and knowledge. These standards may be achieved by one of the following methods:
- a self-study course
- a program assisted by CYA qualified instructors
- formal training sessions by clubs and schools.
Those who wish to become certified in these standards should arrange to be evaluated by a current CYA cruising instructor. For the name of a registered cruising instructor in your area, contact your provincial sailing association or the CYA office.
Crusing Standards for Sail
- Basic Crew - To be able to act as a competent crew while cruising safely in familiar waters aboard a sloop rigged keelboat yacht of 6 to 10 metres in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.
- Basic Cruising - To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 6 to 10 metres in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.
- Basic Keelboat Racing - To be able to compete in a race with an understanding of the principle racing rules, protest procedure, and applying sailing and seamanship skills in winds up to 20 knots.
- Intermediate Cruising - To be able to cruise safely in familiar waters as both skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 8-12 metres in moderate wind and sea conditions by day. Emphasizes on-the-water skills. This is the recommended minimum qualification for bareboat chartering.
- Advanced Cruising - To be able to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing yacht of 10 - 15 metres, operating day and night in coastal or inland waters in any weather.
- Offshore - To be able to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing yacht on an offshore passage requiring celestial navigation.
- Coastal Navigation - To be able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing yacht in coastal or inland waters. The practical application is demonstrated in the Advanced Cruising Standard.
- Advanced Navigation - To be able to safely navigate a vessel in all conditions of visibility and weathers in accordance with a prepared passage plan, applying the principles and techniques of safe navigation aided by electronic instruments and radar.
- Celestial Navigation - To be able to demonstrate the celestial navigation theory required to safely navigate a sailing yacht on an offshore passage.
The practical application is conducted in the Offshore Standard.