Introduction to US Sailing
S
ince its founding in 1897, the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) has provided educational
opportunities for
sailors at all levels of abilities—in all kinds of sailboats. The primary objective of US Sailing’s education programs is to provide a national standard of high quality instruction for all people learning to sail. The US Sailing Keelboat Certification System includes a program of student certifications, a series of books, and an extensive educational and training program for instructors. It is one of the most highly developed and effective national training systems for both students and instructors and is recognized nationally and internationally.
US Sailing is a nonprofit organization and is recognized by the U.S. Congress as the National Governing Body for the sport of Sailing in the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act. It has national training programs for sailors in dinghies, multihulls, and keelboats. It is also the official representative of the United States to World Sailing, the International Governing Body for Sailing.
The US Sailing Keelboat Certification System is designed to develop safe, responsible, and confident sailors who meet specific performance and knowledge standards.
The program begins with the Basic Keelboat certification level and progresses through Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, Coastal Navigation, and on to Coastal Passage Making, Celestial Navigation, and Offshore Passage Making.
With your US Sailing certifications and experience documented in the Official Logbook, you will have a passport to cruising and chartering boats both locally and nationally. Many graduates go on to confidently charter boats internationally.
Basic Keelboat is intended to give you the foundation in your sailing education. It was created to help you accelerate your learning curve and clarify your understanding of the concepts and techniques of sailing.
What Makes Sailing Special? Sailing is open to people of all ages, incomes, and abilities. Sailing offers virtually limitless choices of boats, each with its own unique characteristics, and the opportunity to explore a nearby cove or an exotic tropical location.
Most sailors will acquire entry-level skills quite rapidly. Mastering those skills is an experience that will be rewarding, exciting, and pleasurable for a lifetime.
As you continue to sail, you will find that sailing is more than simply being pushed and pulled by the wind. For most people, sailing is meeting new friends, enjoying nature’s beauty, challenges, and sharing a unique fellowship with all boaters. A tremendous camaraderie exists among sailors, particularly on the water, which makes sailing—and the people who do it—very special.
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