PERSONAL SURVIVAL TRAINING

INTRODUCTION

Sailors around the world take personal survival training to prepare themselves and their boats for coastal, offshore, and oceanic races and passages. Personal survival training is offered for sailors in many countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States. World Sailing specifies personal survival training requirements in section 6 of the Offshore Special Regulations and outlines a model offshore course in Appendix G of those regulations.

Many sailing events require some crew to hold an in-date certificate from an approved personal survival training course. Check your sailing event’s Notice of Race, well in advance, for event-specific training requirements and recommendations.

Personal survival training is also referred to as Sea Survival, Safety at Sea, and other similar terms.

PERSONAL SURVIVAL TRAINING IN CANADA

The Sail Canada Coastal Personal Survival Course (CPSC) is a 1 day course for experienced sailors who are participating in coastal and offshore races and passages, typically classified as Offshore Special Regulations categories 3-4. The course includes classroom and practical sessions. Topics covered include personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency communications & signals, search & rescue, weather, heavy weather & storm sails, damage control & fire, hypothermia & cold water immersion. The course is Sail Canada Approved. Participants who successfully complete the course receive a Sail Canada Coastal Personal Survival Course certificate, valid for five years.

The Sail Canada Offshore Personal Survival Course (OPSC) is a 2 day course for experienced sailors who are participating in offshore and oceanic races and passages, typically classified as 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. The course is Sail Canada – World Sailing Approved. Participants who successfully complete the course receive a Sail Canada Offshore Personal Survival Course certificate, valid for five years.